Against the Grain Brewery 35K

**Aroma:** “Big dark chocolate and coffee aroma. Big plum, dates, moderate cherry, light acidity, moderate caramel, light umami, light earthy hops, some brown sugar notes. A backbone of bready malt. I’m sitting by the fire with a snifter of...not barleywine, but this beer. Rich malt complexity with sherry, dried figs, and raisins, and warming alcohol. More caramel than roast, but the coffee and chocolate are there.” **Flavor:** “Lovely complex malt sweetness—like chocolate-covered Fig Newtons, or maple syrup, with a touch of earthy hops to help balance. Like a shot of strong expresso, no cream. Complex and deep, but a bit intense so sessionable is not part of this section. Big cherry, light plum, big chocolate, moderate coffee, light hops bitterness, touch of alcohol, moderate caramel. Aftertaste: big chocolate, touch of coffee, light bitterness. Starts out like a thinner-bodied barleywine, but the hops and roast bitterness crack that illusion. The promise from the nose is here, but it doesn't quite mesh as well in the flavor because the lingering hops and slight astringency add some harshness. Hops flavor is as big as the roast. Sherry, malt, dried fruit and esters are still nice, though.” **Overall:** “Very tasty, but could use a bit more carbonation to help the flavors pop. Love the fruitiness. Fun dark-fruit dominated imperial stout. The chocolate, caramel, and roast notes are present throughout with just enough hops to balance. It is fairly well carbonated, but that works to bring out the brighter fruit notes. The nose had me, but the flavor not so much.”

Aroma: “Soft milk-chocolate aroma with a faint nuttiness. Pretty delicate, nice and inviting with malt sweetness and a touch of coffee.” Flavor: “Coffee and chocolate tastes up front with light spiciness from the coffee toward the end of the sip. Moderate carbonation and light astringency help the spiciness give a light bite at the end. More bitter than sweet with a light lactose creaminess.” Overall: “Coffee-forward in the flavor but lacking in the aroma. Aroma presents a sweeter and creamier beer than what is delivered by the coffee-fueled flavor. Well executed.”

**Aroma:** “Assertive earthy, musty, noble hops present, with some spice and light background sulfur. Hops aromas are balanced by a light malt sweetness in the back, along with some diacetyl, DMS, and acetaldehyde.” **Flavor:** “Light and delicate, with some sweet light cracker-like notes that carry through. Herbal and floral hops add some unusual woody dankness and bitterness, as well as a lemon-like citrus complexity, without being overpowering. Perfectly fermented, with a fresh, clean, dry finish.” **Overall:** “In keeping with a Czech Pils, this beer is slightly more balanced toward the malt, but is still deliciously refreshing and perfect after any summer activity. Nice flavor that’s clean and drinkable, balancing the unusual hops characters.”