Side Project Derivation Blend #9

Aroma is dominated by leather, smoke, sherry, dusty almond skin. Flavor is almost port-like: saddle leather, vanilla, toffee, and molasses. Mouthfeel is rich.

__Aroma:__ “Spiced fudge for days. Lots of dark chocolate, cinnamon. Underlying toasty and roasty malt. There’s a deep sweetness of dark maple, and the barrel brings all the character of vanilla along for the ride.” __Flavor:__ “Rich chocolate malts, cinnamon, and vanilla finish. There’s some booze and barrel to balance, but there’s a lot of sweetness. Sweet chocolate, almost chocolate syrup–like, with candied almonds and cinnamon. Caramel malt sweetness comes through, with bourbon and even a hint of coconut. Very low carbonation is just a notch or two above still.” __Overall:__ “This is a big-beer lovers dream—fudge chocolate brownie batter that your kid accidentally spilled some cinnamon in. Incredibly sweet, almost syrupy, yet not as cloying as expected and works surprisingly well with the adjuncts and barrel character. Subtle spice character works great with the bourbon.”

Overtly coffee- and maple syrup–forward in aroma, this beer looks thick and viscous in the glass. It delivers on the promise of its aroma with distinct notes of bitter coffee balanced by maple syrup sweetness within a roasted malt and chocolate backbone. The mouthfeel also delivers on its appearance with its thickness and body along with a noticeable alcoholic warmth. Breakfast in a glass, as long as you don’t have plans to leave the couch.