Draught at Row 34, 5/3/17.
Dark, viscous-looking, mahogany-to-ebony body is topped by a small, rapidly-fizzling, tan head.
This one begins with what seems like could be some semblance of balance; light vanilla, maple sap and char-like acidity seem like they may combat the intense caramel and milk chocolate notes behind them. For a few minutes, they do, but as it warms a touch and breathes further, alcohol, sweet, rich maple and intense caramel all but take over. While there are a few interesting maple notes from the barrel, it would be far better presented atop a more dry beer so that the notes aren’t lost amidst a sea of sugary caramel-chocolate-fudge.
In the mouth there’s a fleeting burst of acidity and barrel dryness before the loose, low carbonation leads the palate down an increasingly sweeter, more syrupy path that finishes on light oak, intense maple, brown sugar and caramel. Underattenuated, just as the BA Umbra (and regular Umbra), and just syrup and sugar for days, on the finish.