Smog City The Nothing

“Enticing pepper aroma, chocolate notes suggest a molé complexity. The flavors are a balanced blend of cocoa on top of peppers, without much overt heat. Very approachable, with light spiciness lingering in the aftertaste.”

“A coffee stout where the line between roast malt and roast coffee is blurred. Here, the aroma hits that sweet spot; the flavor leans hard into coffee, balanced by some dark-roasted malt. In the finish, a creamy coffee character persists without too much of the bitterness or harshness that some stouts can have.”

**Aroma:** “Assertive bourbon and alcohol, with a light smokiness and moderate vanilla. Moderate chocolate, as well as caramel and dark candi syrup are also present, along with some burnt malt. Notes of raisin, cherry, plum, and prune.” **Flavor:** “Bold chocolate, with some roastiness from that malt that forms the scaffold. Mild bourbon flavors, with a nice blend of cherry, prune, plum, and raisin. Vanilla and umami add some complexity, along with the oak and bourbon. Some chewy qualities to the body. The finish is pleasant and not too hot, but it still has some lingering warmth.” **Overall:** “This beer came together nicely. It’s a nice blend between all the flavors throughout and is balanced without rough edges. The chocolate was the backbone and played well with the sweetness from the fruits. The pronounced alcohol burning lingers for a while with the umami notes, which makes it difficult to say whether or not to drink it at a warmer temperature.”