The Big Friendly Rummy (2023)

“Aroma of light chocolate and coffee with a hint of WO sauce. A touch of wood, with some spirit, light raisin. Rich and deep flavor: sweet brown bread, chocolate, espresso dominate. Savory/sweet backbone throughout. Finish is rich. Carbonation seems a bit tingling and not creamy. Great rich flavor throughout. A touch of acidic sharpness in the finish takes away from it some, but overall enjoyable.”

“Black with a wisp of brown head. Decadent nose of brownie batter, vanilla, brown sugar, bourbon, espresso. Roasted maltiness adds complexity. Espresso, dark chocolate, vanilla, treacle, rum, vintage port. The age is there with some raisins and amaretto. Heavyweight body, with a lot of residual sugars, but not cloying. Alcohol is warming but not hot. A great beer.”

**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.”