7.4

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

Draught at the brewery, 12/12/15.
Dark, indeterminable clarity, ebony body is topped by a tan head showing moderate retention.
Very roasty in the nose, with some dank and citrusy hops folded in nicely. No harsh pine/resin and no alcohol fumes. Just lots of bitter cocoa, dank spruce and grapefruit. No flaws or alcohol.
Reasonably strong texture supports lightly sweet malts that balance the roast and hop bitterness pretty easily. Assertive bitterness, but it’s nothing outlandish and just seems like a hoppy, nicely roasted porter. Vanilla and baker’s chocolate dry out the finish, with a deep malt structure that allows room for the flavors to coalesce. Ample, but not overdone carbonation and no flaw or alcohol.