Draught pint at the brewpub on 12/18/2005. Pours a deep blackish-brown with a proper, creamy, nitro-induced tan head. Fair retention, light lacing. Seemingly unfiltered, though somewhat clear as it gets to the bottom of the glass. In the nose are piquant raisins, baker’s chocolate and light notes of grapes and soy. Sharp coffee notes waft up as well with no hop apparency. Oily vanilla as it warms, emerges and a light touch of yeast as well. The flavor is initially rather chocolatey, though of a darker variety, not as milky sweet as the Watch City Moody street (which is fairly similar). Light graham crackers, vinous grapes and lightly dry plums on the finish, all the while swept along by a fair amount of sharp, moderately bitter roastiness. As it warms, somewhat, the medium-full body falls prey to alcohol and bitter, lightly astringent roast. The texture becomes much too loose and oily, instead of lightly firm and creamy. Too much black coffe-like apparency and noticeable alcohol apparency on the end.

Dark black color with a brown head. A coffee aroma with dark chocolate and coffee flavors.