2005 bottle consumed on 11/9/05. Very deep amber-crimson body with very fine, bottle conditioned bubbles rising to create a large, beige head that is well-retained. Lacing is in large quantity as well. Surprising for such a low gravity beer. Hops in the aroma give notes of nuts, damp earth and underbrush. Malts provide notes of baguette, soft caramel, honey and light toasted grains. Flavor comes alive with light roast, chewy, dry caramel and balancingly bitter, nutty hops. Fruitiness in both aroma and flavor is quite light, surprisingly. Chocolate malt apparency really comes out as it warms while the roast dies down. Gives a soft, fluffy landing as you near the bottom of the bottle; right as you get tired of the roast, the chocolate softens the experience. Impressive amount of flavor depth when drunk over a range of temperatures. Yeast in the nose creates some drying. Quite light bodied, but not for the style. Everything is dry, but the little bit of sweet malt is used VERY efficiently and artfully. Mouthfeel is soft, with a moderately tight carbonation. No wateriness and no astringency as in some of their other beers. Perhaps just a bit too salty/seltzery. But I think this is just the dulling yeast influence.

Muddy chestnut; light chocolate & praline notes; a little earthy. Light, muddled.