Bottle from O’Brien’s, Athlone [120815]
Black, large frothy tan head, some lacing
Aroma of dark malts, soft roast, dark chocolate, soft coffee, getting a spicy note
Taste of soft quite rich dark malts, mellow roast, dark chocolate, chocolate cake, no burnt notes, tasty, star anise is very subtle
Palate - Medium carb (needs a swirl as all O’Hara’s beers do), medium body, smooth texture, soft sweet, no booze. Finish of soft smooth dark chocolate, nice dark malts, richer malt finish
Overall - I liked this, maybe less complex than 2014 (and less strong) but nice dark malts in this. Given this the same score as last year’s version.

At the 8th tasting (round 1), held at Vlada Beerville pub in Belgrade-Serbia. Thank you Matt. Pours black color with some minimal no-foam just an off-white lacing. Nose: blast of dark chocolate, coffee, some fresh lavender notes. Quite nice. Mouth: far too frizzy for a stout (in my modest opinion), a bit too watery as well, some herbal (unidentified) finish. Ok, but not my cup of tea.

Bottle from McHughs. Black with a thin tan head. Aroma of burnt malt. Flavor starts burnt, almost smoked, coffee, milky as it gets warmer. Long dry stout finish.

Keg tap at Chmielarnia, Warsaw. Very dark brown with a hint of plum purple. Opaque. Liquorice, charcoal and instant coffee in the aroma. Bittersweet taste, with a noticeable blackcurrant sour near the finish. Chocolate, coffee, prune and tobacco in the aftertaste. Very well put together.

Draft sample @ Berlin Braufest 2015. Brune foncée, col crémeux café au lait. Arôme est malté sur un léger bouquet de lactose, rétro grillé, chocolaté et accompagné d’un houblonné noble UK. Palais est malté grillé, léger en café mais excellent avec son ajout lactose qui donne une belle douceur en bouche. Caramel doux avec une fine amertume qui vient ajouter un léger fini citronné noble anglais.

Tap (VI FDP). Piwo calkowicie nieprzejrzyste o ciemno-brunatnej barwie, bezowej pianie, obfitej, srednio trwalej, szybko redukujaca sie do cienkiego pierscienia. Aromat delikatnie czekoladowy, slodki z wyczuwalna nuta laktozy, przyjemny po pewnym czasie ustepuje miejsca nutami palonym. Palone w smaku z wyrazna slodka nuta mleczna i gorzka czekolada. Goryczka zanzaczona ale nie gra glownej roli. Posmak slodkawy z delikatnym kwaskiem. Piwo tresciwe ale pijalne, bardzo gladkie i delikatne. Ogolnie bardzo przyjemny slodki stout.