Aroma: “Light coffee and honeysuckle aromas. Roast malt with a slight peppery sparkle and an earthy but mild hops nose. Sweet malt and roast character balanced with a bit of vanilla, chocolate, and coffee flavors. Interesting, though out of place, floral notes.”

Flavor: “Medium roast and light malt sweetness with light-moderate earthy hops bitterness. Finish is a touch grainy and slightly astringent. Some dark malt but more like a brown ale than a stout. Bitterness in the finish is clearly from hops, not roast, and though appropriate, is a little out of balance with a low perceived sweetness. A bit musky.”

Overall: “This beer is tasty, just not very exciting. The body is bit thin and the roast character is one-dimensional. It’s clean and drinkable but it doesn’t really deliver on the stout promise.”