Draught at the brewery.
Dark mahogany body shows good clarity and deep magenta highlights on the edges, with lighter tan hues as well. Beige head atop is large but quickly recedes to cover.
Quite subtle in the nose, with very light raisin, hints of cinnamon, black pepper, wood and almost a fig-like character on the end. Obviously some dark malt interplay with the wood and esters. Light vanilla and caramel lingering.
Big cedar flavors develop from the light toffee and dry, woody and earthy flavors, as pinches of sourdough-like malts add depth and strength. Tons of tannic bitterness on the finish, lending all sorts of peppery notes as well as light spice character, as suggested. Soft, yet ample and tight carbonation, with an oily, cedary texture and a good deal of acidity. Challenging for sure, and there is a lot of near-astringent bitterness on the end, but the cedar flavors along with the raisin-toffee malts are just pure bliss.

A deep dark brown ale with a thin lacing brown head. In mouth, a sweet burned caramel, with light spices, cinnamon, and maple. In mouth, a good sweet chocolate malt with developping hops bitterness, roasted nuts, light ginger, quite nice, medium bodied. On tap at brewpub, Dec. 28 2009.