5.9

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5.5

Draught pint at the brewery with Muzzlehatch on 3/11/06
Deep ruddy-amber with deeper chocolate brown notes, approximately transluscent with a small bit of cream-yellow head atop, fading eventually to ring, little to no lacing.
Heavy toffee and buttercream rises up to meet me, with a strong dose of yeast and plenty of bready spicing from the various German brown malts used, and noble hops. Bready again, with a choco-caramel note that seems to get drowned out in the yeast on the end.
Flavor shows light soy-toffee, earthy, brown bread beginning to build on the palate, with a very deep, but yet very resigned roastiness. Chewy, chocolate and caramel fight threw heavy yeastiness, coupled with spicy noble hops, but it all comes out too heavy. The beginning, with the hint of roast and light chocolate flare really hints at potential, but the beer seems to be too vinous and bready, overloading the palate with heavy, thick flavors as did the Alt. Texture is thick and chewy again, with some residual sugary grit, no alcohol apparent, though a touch of warmth on the end. Carbonation is moderate.