Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

Bottle, mail ordered from Hokkaido. Man, was that expensive! Roasted malt aroma with coffee, a bit of dark fruit. Dry, mild, smooth. Black with a lacy tan head. It lets some light through. Slightly sweet, roasty, flavor. Rather fruity, but then a woody, smoky and roasted finish takes over. Bitterness lingers a long time. Light bodied (a bit too light) and flavored. That subtle but unmistakable tart fruitiness is strange and interesting. As the label says, it is very mild. Well balanced, crisp, dry finish. I doubt Jackson would include it in his top 500 if it was done today, but it is still a decent dry stout. Yes, licorice too.