01/25/17

2016 vintage

8.5% now, but honestly, much the same as below. The extra alcohol doesn’t really bit that hard, and the coffee is still the watchword here.

Interestingly it’s now a 500 mL, 16.9 oz bottle, AND more expensive! Huh.

Original notes 04/25//2015

2014 vintage.

Out of the black waxed dipped, 22 oz bottle with the parchment style label, goes the jet black beer with a light, mocha head.

Nose is stronger than I thought it might be at this age, and it carries through to the tastes.

The coffee is really VERY strong and unrelenting. he chocolate element is strong as well, and for a change things meld quite gently. This is no doubt partly due to the simple (relatively) ABV, which clocks in at a mere 6.1%. Beers of this nature often add 2, 3, 4 perhaps even 5 or 6 % to that number, and the whole package can seem overwhelming.

Even thought this beer does not wear out its welcome from an ABV point of view, the strength of the coffee really makes this better suited for 12 oz bottles or for sharing. I don’t dislike it as much as many other coffee beers that I have had over the years, but it still remains a bit of work for me after the first 15 oz.

I dunno, it’s not horrible, but my days of wanting to drink beer that tastes anything other than beer are a long way behind me and that about sums it up.