Best before Jan 2006 bottle from Suttree, thanks! Pours very similar to their brown ale, though this is a more cherry-copper-amber color, but the head and carbonation are the same; that is to say, small and rapidly dissipating, with little to no lacing. Sort of a dull-beige color to this one. Aroma shows lightly dry hops, soily, nutty, touch of floral notes, with light crystal malts, a touch of round fruitiness (peaches, nectarines) and a little hint of vanilla or buttercream. Plenty of hard, caramelly sugary malts add enough body but it is just a hard, unwavering crystal malt, with lightly dry, grassy and nutty hops, ultimately. Ends on a dry papery note, rather bland, but there is some caramel flavor lingering from the main body. Heavily filtered, leading to a loose, unsubstantial texture, high carbonation. Medium to medium-light bodied, but otherwise, clean.

2005 bottle from Suttree! Pours a chestnut mahogany, with light red tints and a tan overtone. Head is beige and recedes quickly to a ring. Aroma of toasted/roasted malts, light burnt caramel. Hops are soily, farmy, lightly nutty and a touch bitter. Flavor is roasty, light licorice, sweet brown sugar mixed with hay and barley grains. Touches of chocolate and light almonds, walnuts and creme brulee. But not quite that sweet. The roast is dominant, but yet, though it is dry, it is not undermalted. Just roasty, dry and lightly bitter. Low carbonation. Clear, seemingly filtered and force carbonated, with a dry, lively texture and no alcohol. Clean with little to no yeast presence.

I am not a huge stout fan. This one came to me in my beer club. I have never heard of this brewer before. Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer pours thick black and oily with almost no head at all. The aroma is dry roasted malts and light floral hops. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky. The flavor is dry roasted malts with strong coffee notes and a light chocolate undertone. The finish is mildly creamy.

Clear deep ruby brown body that forms a huge tan head. Weak aroma. Weak flavor, some coffee notes that lead into a unpleasant astringent finish. Not worth finishing