Aroma: “Rich malty nose, full of caramel, chocolate, and a little nut (pecan, maybe). Lots of fruity esters join the party with cherry and raisin dominating. And it is a party; I can tell because of the alcohol. Not getting much roast, though. Some citrus/spicy hops aroma. All the above are nicely balanced but not very strong.”

Flavor: “Light chocolate and coffee with slight roast notes toward the end of the sip. As it warms, more flavors start to come out with light fruity esters. Alcohol is present but is slightly more than warming. The rich malt, warming alcohol, and fine toffee notes all make this a wonderful drink. There is a bit of black malt and roast in the finish, but more as an afterthought. Hops bitterness and flavor are strong, and there is some tartness in the finish.”

Overall: “This is wonderfully drinkable, but I’d prefer more roast and coffee. It’s not complex at all and quite muted. Lots of big flavors, but not very smooth. Some harsh notes interfere with well crafted background malt.”