The prodigal son picked up a 12 oz bottle of Black Venom for me at a Total Wine in Houston, my thanks. In honor of where the beer is from, I will use my Buffalo Bayou snifter for this evening's tasting. The arrival is a dark mahogany brown with a surviving ring of tan bubbles. It opens with a nice scent, chocolate, strawberry and grain with a candy sweetness emanating. The taste does not quite match up to the promise. Chocolate again, burnt toast, burnt pecans and cough syrup. I anticipated more sweetness than delivered, not exactly a criticism but there your are.

Bottle at Hubcap Grill & Beer Yard at terminal A IAH. Pours black with a brown head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has roasted malts and dark grains with a bit of brown sugar coming through. Flavor has sweet dark grains and brown sugar with a hint of roast underlying.

12 oz. bottle. Pours dark brown with a beige head. Aroma and taste of roasted malt, toffee, coffee, wood, molasses and chocolate notes.

On tap at Hughies. Pours a dark brown with smal beige head that lasts. The aroma is cocoa, cracker, roast, wood. Medium body, strong roast, cocoa, wood, dry finish, good.