Pours black into a snifter. Mocha head with medium retention recedes leaving mottled pools. Summer fruit and coconut aromas. Thick with hot vanilla, coconut, molasses dark pit fruit and earthy fig upfront turning to hot molasses, rum and dates in the warm, lasting finish.

2022 bottle drunk 8/2/23. Clear, dark, small, dark beige head shows low retention. Nose shows the rum right away with a bit of raisin, a hint of oxidation and light wood. Maybe some floral notes from the rum, with brown sugar and pretty minimal coconut in the nose. Clean, not boozey, not overdone with the rum, but fairly mellow overall. Big rum character softened and balanced by coconut. Love the coconut despite not loving coconut. Everything is mellow here and the body is medium-plus for the style with just a hint of oomph on the finish before tapering back off with good attenuation. Rum and coconut operate excellently here, neither overdone and both balancing with the richness of the base beer helping to keep both in check, as well. No booze.

Aromas are roast, dark malt with a little black patent and a hint of molasses. Flavors are somewhat similar to nose, with coconut and cinnamon coming on strong, good balance between bitter, sweet and carbonation. One of the better pastry stouts.