8

A deep dark stout with a thin lacing mocha head. In aroma, sweet chocolate stout with vanilla, caramel, light nutty characteristic, pleasant. And mouse, sweet chocolate with vanilla, caramel, light nuts, alcohol warmth, very rich and smooth.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8.5

(950ml growler from the BG18e brewpub) Pours black with a small white head. Aroma is burnt brown sugar with semi-sweet chocolate, bitter cacao, clear nutty presence though not intensely almond per se, moderately roasty with a touch of acidity. Flavour is mid-sweet, not too heavy for pastry, with a core of brown sugar and cocoa powder dusted with almond flour, nutty but not heavily so, with a floral vanilla overtone, light roast acidity, quite dry into the finish where the toasty nutty notes provide some bitterness that’s augmented by earthy cacao and roast, but with a seam of sweet brown sugar persisting through the sip. Light to medium bodied for style, a bit slick, with basically no carb (though 2 day old growler…). A solid brew, though I felt like the mouthfeel was a little lacking and I expected a bit more richness. Tasty almond profile though.