Big Red Roostarr
Starr Hill Brewery

From a pint can into draught class. Pour had a very persistent, dense head of beige on top of a dark brown body. Scent is rich with notes of roasted malts and coffee and a bit of chocolate and the 8% ABV peeking out. Taste is stronger on the roast side to start with the coffee coming along quickly thereafter. Feel is smooth with a dose of the alcohol peeking through (unsurprising at 8% ABV). The aftertaste has a delightful balance of sweetness against a bit of roasted bitterness. Admittedly more of a fan of Little Red Roostarr which is a bit more drinkable, but this is a solid (big) offering!

 

Can dated early November - about a month old:
The liquid in my glass is black or near it, with a nice beige head that splattered lacing on the glass as it settled, but gave up as I drink it down. This is a bit surprising given the solid covering of small bubbles on this pour.

Nose is a bit light, and has the slightest note of tang on an otherwise straightforward roasted malt/coffee aroma. Maybe a hint of milk sugars? I can't tell. Taste is a little more straightforward roasted malt to start. It takes a pause in the middle, and then a thick, dark roasted coffee comes through and lingers in the second half of the taste.

Overall, a neutral bitteresweet-ness, thoough it might just dip a toe into the sweet side, if I had to pick one or the other. It's more like any roasted bitter is just balanced by any "cream" versus trying to sway it from its nature. As is typical of Starr HIll, in my opinion, they hit the basic style pretty well and add just a little nuance here and there, and in this case, petty successfully.