Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Draught pint at the brewpub on 3/21/07
Unlike usual, this one actually had a head (small, dark tan) and showed light lacing (slight ring at the top). Body is a very deep dark-brown mahogany but shows magenta highlights on the edges. Clarity is medium.
Controlled roastiness nicely melds with layers of both dark and milk chocolate to create a very lovely complexity and ample malty aroma. Quite a high strength of aroma, as well, being served from a shaker at a crowded brewpub and quite cold to start. Light vanilla and just a hint of licorice-infused coffee dot the finish, adding a bit of poignancy. Soft, mossy/earthy hoppiness adds freshness and further complexity without any bitterness or acids. No alcohol or flaws in the nose.
Deliciously rich body is surprising for its gravity. Strong, unfiltered mouthfeel with medium-low carbonation really accentuates the malt, and there’s lots of malt. Mostly chocolatey, but with a dry roasted edge to balance and just a pinch of char and coffee on the finish. Opens up very sweet, but pleasingly so, with light hop bitterness adding to the roast to further balance things. Very velvety, chocolatey and smooth with no alcohol or flaws apparent. Never gets syrupy, sticky or even very chewy, which helps keep the drinkability high. Drank this one down quickly. Nothing groundbreaking on the flavor or aroma, but one of the better balances between rich malt and easier drinkability I’ve come across recently.