Shared a third at the fab Sutton Arms, Great Sutton Street, London EC.
Appearance dark browny black with reddish glints.
Aroma quite gentle with distant tang of tobacco, liquorice, and stronger chocolate whiff.
Pours with a small darkly creamy head that's subsides to a dark cream ring around the top of the stout.
Taste belies the strength. Alcohol taste gives way to a gorgeous stout. Initial mild coffee and tobacco notes dissipate. Predominant is milk chocolate. Aftertaste is chocolate and mild coffee with a slight bourbon barrel kick. Taste really lingers with chocolate dominant, back notes of tobacco and woody bourbon barrel.
Mouthfeel is surprisingly creamy with a gently warming alcohol heat after several sips.
It doesn't taste/feel like a 9.5% beer.