7.4

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

Draught at the brewery, 10/21/16.
Clear amber with a medium-sized, beige head showing moderate retention.
Big caramel, raisin and vanilla notes in the nose are dotted with boisterous fruits from the melanoidins, a hint of coffee and lots of strong citrus character. Candied oranges, light pine and such, but it’s easily balanced by the rich malts. The base malts are amply used and don’t allow the specialty malts to come across as overly dry or grainy. No alcohol or flaw.
Rich and moderately sweet, but still appropriately attenuated, the beer has a good complexity. For once, I think a brewer has used quite a number of specialty grains to good use, not just gratuitously. Lovely fruitiness from the melanoidin malt with caramel and honey, as well. Balancing bitterness, but not resinous, thankfully. No alcohol or flaw.