Aroma: “Heavy roast, with a touch of soot. Pepper and roast dominate, and there’s a definite smoky character. Dark chocolate, coffee, light alcohol, roasted marshmallow, and earthy notes are also present.”

Flavor: “A healthy mix of sweet chocolate and roast, with a sooty smokiness that seems a bit out of place. The roast dominates, with an underlying cocoa note. Wet oak and vanilla, with light syrup and molasses. Rich, silky mouthfeel, but the overall body is a bit light for the style.”

Overall: “The barrel is very restrained, and the underlying beer isn’t quite balanced. The barrel comes across as a scotch barrel—kind of ‘dirty.’ Moderate chocolate with light roast and smoke, with light alcohol warming and a light body.”