Newest Totem beer, a pastry stout with macaroons and coconut flakes, based on earlier experiments from the time when Totem did not yet have their own brewery. Now coming from a sleek can in the same style as the others – but apparently the brewer, Klaas Dellaert, whom I thankfully owe this can to, wasn’t happy with the results and withdrew them, so that this beer for now is only available on tap (if I am correctly informed, that is). Open, loose, off-white bubbles form upon pouring, but no actual head is retained; black robe with mahogany glow – and indeed tiny coconut flakes floating around on top of the liquid, which probably accounts for the lack of head retention as well. Aroma of indeed lots of actual coconut (unsurprisingly) and macaroon to a certain extent (mostly linked to the coconut too), toffee, vanilla, melting ‘fondant’ chocolate, walnut liqueur, cola, white chocolate. Sweet onset, candied dates, soft carb, thick and full body, deeply sweet-chocolatey and toffeeish with a hazelnutty core; the coconut flavouring in this one is very strong, but I love it so I cannot be bothered. Aspects of vanilla, sugared tea and molasses join in towards the end, held together by a soothing glow of brandy-like alcohol, while the coconut and the sweet ‘Chocotoff’ effects linger, barely hindered by bitterness, even if a whiff of roastiness is discernible. Too bad for the lack of head: flavour-wise there is nothing wrong here, on the contrary even, this is a great pastry stout – if you like the aroma of coconut, that is.