(On tap @ Anvil and Stave, April 5/17) Pours black with a medium tan head. Nose of chocolate, dry coffee grounds, wood, light bourbon, smoky chili, moderate roast. Flavour is dark malt with rich caramel and light molasses, cacao, light vanilla, dark fruit, smoky pepper, coffee with floral notes and surprisingly bright fruity hints, a little wood, earth, bourbon is quite balanced and intricate rather than hitting you over the head. The chili heat definitely kicks up at the back end though, dry and smoky and emphasizing the earthy notes and bitter cacao, unfortunately slightly overwhelming the nuances from earlier in the sip. Finishes dry thanks to the heat. Quite full bodied, smooth carbonation. This is lovely stuff, but a touch less burn to the chili and I think it would have been even lovelier, because what I think would have been an impressive aftertaste was somewhat truncated. Small knock against a top notch stout.

355ml can at Matt’s. Canned on 2017-02-13. Pours a very dark brown with a weak brown head. Aroma is chilli pepper, coffee, cocoa, and some bourbon barrel. Taste is the same, moderately sweet and hot. Good stuff, but too much spices for me.

12 oz. can, pours black with a small tan head. Aroma is amazingly complex, with loads of bourbon, vanilla, dark dried fruits, and a touch of cocoa. Flavour is intensely complex, with a wonderful blend of dark dried fruits, bourbon barrels, vanilla, and a touch of chili peppers. Fantastic blend of flavours, as always from the masters. Lovely stuff.

Can. Inky, near black. No head. On the nose, a lot of chocolate, earthy coffee, and a touch of vanilla...smells rich and beautiful. On the palate, a really nice balance between chocolate and coffee. Probably too much vanilla for me. But the chocolate is this rich sweet milk chocolate. The coffee offers a nice roast. Not sure about the chiles, if I’m really finding them much at all. But wins points for being really inky, sweet, touch of barrel and alcohol but you’d certainly never know it was 13%. Excellent dessert beer. Crowd pleaser for beer nerds, no question.

Nice chili taste, lingers in the background.

On tap. Pours black with little head. Aromas of sweet sticky toffee, oakey bourbon, and dry roasted malts. Flavors of sugary raisins, roasted peppers, fresh brewed sweet coffee, graham crackers, and sweet roasted malts. With a nice afterburn, Superb sipper.