Middling dry medium body lacks charisma, determination, and froth of robust category. Bittersweet cola nut, dank chocolate, and raw molasses lose potency by drab roasted coffee finish. Orange peel stint falters.

Frothy jet-black cream stout with scattered bronze lace merges slick chocolate-milked sweetness with vanilla hazelnut coffee romp as hop-toasted charred oats thicken molasses-tarred resolve. Slight astringency blocks resinous raisin-prune subsidy and wispy cherry tartness. Mild black chocolate finish picks up ethereal creaminess. 2017 re-tasting: Creamy dairy-free full body offers ten specialty malts to create caramel-burnt chocolate syruping, maple molasses sugaring and vanilla-spiced nuttiness above ashen dark-roast hop bittering.

Despite dark mahogany hue, sweet sticky milk creaminess, and unmalted flaked barley roast, arid brisk-watered stout remains lighter bodied than expected. Tranquil dark chocolate surge, mild burnt coffee sourness, and latent overripe cherry ascension wisp above earthy vegetal base.

Surging vanilla aromatics penetrate brown chocolate, sugary molasses, and cream soda sweetness of ambitious milky-textured jet black stout. Tobacco ash dryness envelops peat-malted hazelnut scamper, but sharper hop bite needed to sustain adjuncts.