Three Floyds Brewing Co Dark Lord 2022

Aroma: “Molasses, sherry oxidized character with moderate raisin, Tootsie Roll, dark brown sugar, dark cherry, plum, and blueberry notes. Light ginger spiciness, Moderate alcohol lingering as it warms.” Flavor: “Like eating an alcoholic gingerbread house. Heavy sweetness, molasses, gingerbread spiciness that extends into the aftertaste. Cloying sweetness covers everything but the gingerbread. Finishes with light bread, chocolate, and coffee.” Overall: “Too sweet, too much molasses and sugar, cloying. Other characteristics are present such as spiciness, coffee, and vanilla, but they are diminished by the sweetness. One ounce is almost too much.”

__Aroma:__ “Concord grapes and cherry cough syrup followed up by pumpkin. There’s some chocolate in there and maybe some spice. But a lot of root vegetables, such as sweet potato and carrots. Weirdly reminiscent of processed baby food.” __Flavor:__ “Earthy maple sweetness up front. It’s quickly crushed by waves of pepper heat. The beer is thick, but it’s hot from spice and alcohol heat. Lot of fruit in there, squash, concord grape, and artificial cherry. Very sweet and syrupy with a touch of umami.” __Overall:__ “The thick and viscous body is visually exciting, but one whiff of carrots and peas in the nose jolts you back to reality. On the sip, it gets a bit better at first with a touch of barrel sweetness, but then the vegetal pepper notes catch up and the heat starts to sear the painful memory into a deep part of your psyche that no amount of counseling can cure. Booze and vegetables. Hot and weird.”

Wheaty aroma, light pineapple notes. Grain covers the fruit a bit, but pineapple pairs nicely. Light, lively, refreshingly dry, but with round body from carbonation, haze, and fruit. Fantastic complexity and balance.