Huge 1L bottle. Pours a dark brown with a fairly thin head of dense bubbles that has died to a film as I wait. Aromas are thick with hops (Centennial?) that impart a pine/medicinal edge that covers a bit of roasted/chocolate malt. Flavor is kind of edgy... Has a lot of a medicinal hops presence, some smoke and chocolate, and a little pine. This is OK, but I thought it would be heavier handed. It does get much better as it warms.

Had this one at the RB Pittsburgh tasting thanks to Scott of East End Brewing, 8/2009. From a cask. Quite clean coffee aroma. Very strong black coffe flavors that are right on, somebody get me some creamer! We-ew, lots of coffee but you can still tell it has a black strap base. First its coffee then its morphs to balck strap. Staining my glass! If you like coffee stouts you better get to this before its all gone. One of the better coffee beers I’ve tasted. Too many are over the top in alky but this one seems to be just right. Reminds me of the whisky coffe grandma use to make for grampa after a hard day at the aliquippa shoemaker shop. All I can say is Scott is the beerman of Pgh, fer sure.

Sampled from a 750 ml brown bottle this beer poured a black color with a large dark brown head. The aroma was dry, roasty and malty with a moderate floral hop presence. The flavor was dry, roasty and malty with moderate elements of wood smoke and coffee. The finish was long, dry, roasty and smoky. The body was moderately thick. Nice.

Experimental coffee brews and ratebeer gatherings do so go together. Sampled on draft this beer poured a thick black color with a small dark brown head. The aroma was strong with dry coffee and roasty malts. The flavor was strongly roasty and bitter with strong espresso, light vanilla and a toasty undertone. The finish was long, dry and bitter and full of coffee. A bit drier than I tend to go for but the coffee was excellently featured. Well done.

Sampled on draft at the Maproom in Pittsburgh this beer poured a very dark brown color with red highlights and a small brown head. The aroma was nutty, malty, tangy and lightly fruity. The flavor was lightly sweet, nutty and malty with a touch of molasses and cherry and a hint of wood smoke. The finish was long, dryish, malty and woody. Fairly thick and smooth. The alcohol is well hidden. Well done.

Big, huge, bottle from East End. Pours a thick and dark brown with a little bit of a tan head and aromas that seem a bit non-smokey. They are dense with leathery sweetness and a bit of molasses or some other sticky sweet thing. Maybe if I’m imaginative I can pick up a little smoke... maybe. That said, the smoke comes through nicely in the flavor... there is kind of a swirling mix of vanilla, chocolate and woodsmoke. At times it seems very full, and then the next sip it seems thin... Still, this is very good stuff.

Homewood reserve batch 2009. Well, I’m glad this aint no impy stout, I was under the impression that it was. Big brown flip top bottle, must be at least a quart+. Nice roasty stout aroma, comes across as very enticing. Big black pour that I think is staining my big clear beer mug. Creamy thin choco moose head. First taste I think its going to be too impy bitter but it never quite gets there. Burned charcoal taste permiates this brew but it is not overwhelming. I think this stuff may be milder than the black strap, if that is possible. I’m not sure what oak barrels have to do with the taste but it is ceratinly different than the black strap. Not much carbonation on the tongue but you can sure tell there is a fizzy creaminess down the throat. Overall an impressively dark beer that is much heavier than most stouts but much more well behaved and enjoyable compared to impy stouts. Good session. Hope this brown stain comes outta my glass, wew.

On tap at the brewery. Very nice dark pour but not black. Big head and smell is just plain old beery good. Friendly personality for a lager lover. No ill bitter effects can be detected. Has enough personality to let you know its beer but never over the top, quite enjoyable, I like. Fun and interesting thru the whole session. Good tingle on the back of the throat. Tho no real bitterness, some mild roasty bitterness does develop on the finish. Good overall experience.