An old friend dressed up in some new (06/07/23) clothes. The 35th Anniversary Black Butte seeking inspiration from ‘bold German Black Forest cake’. (Imperial) Porter, although that moniker sits badly with me TBH.

Great looking pour. Black body, thick looking mocha head. The beer looks like it has presence. And it does.

Big warming alcohol up front even at two years old, and it is well-incorporated. This might have been a bit aggressive when young, I’ll never know.

Chocolate nose, light acidic cherries break-in across the palate. Alcohol is still present, but is very smooth. I rarely go for beers like this, but this has either aged nicely over two years, or is an exception to the rule. Either way it feels like a well incorporated (there’s that words again) package.

As the beer reaches the end of 12 oz and it warms, the chocolate kicks-in a little more. This smoothes the beer out even further.

Great beer, and I never thought that I would have said this about it, however, it’s bones are so solid perhaps that should not be too much of a surprise.