Pours way too much foam, dark brown and clear. Aroma is toasted wheat bread, nutty, and yeasty, with a sweetness hiding. Flavor is very rich, exaggerated versions of the aroma with a hit of chocolate and an almost hazelnut flavor - more actual hazelnut, not amaretto; there is a brightness in the taste but it's tough to describe. Body is leans just past medium and the nucleation is very sharp. Overall, this is a fantastic brown ale in all aspects but the carbonation. It is a great base upon which to add further complexity or as is. 4 stars.
Pours nearly black with 1 finger of foam that dissipates slowly. Aroma is a meaty, nutty roast, strong on the roast. Flavor follows the nose except less meatiness and much more nutty roast; there is a salty, acrid presence in the finish to it as well, oddly enough, but it is not off putting; in the breath, there is a slight vanilla, barrel flavor, but quite slight. Body is medium and nucleation is light. Overall, this is a fantastic brown ale with really bold flavor. For my personal preferences, I would lighten up on the roast character. For what I was trying to achieve, I was hoping for more barrel flavor. 4 out of 5 given how great this brown ale is but still lacking in some ways.
