Winter Cocoa
Smuttynose Brewing Company

Another one-time brewed Smuttynose beer at NERAX Novare Res. This is their Winter Ale with cocoa nibs added to the firkin.

Pours a clear dark mahogany brown colored beer, slight bubbly head with even a touch of lacing.

Nose has a light brown ale aroma, hint of chocolate ale, not a dark stout or porter like beer but more like light pale ale with cocoa added (there are a couple on the market these days including this one). light cocoa nib aroma, Belgian yeast fruit aromas, dark fruits and hint of esters, chewy light malts.

Taste is creamy, cocoa and caramel, dark fruits, smooth, with a Belgian yeast fruit and typical flavors, light floral hops, fruit hops as well. Then a light wintergreen flavor and hint of spices, rusty dark malts, caramel. Bitter sticky syrupy finish with powdered chocolate and dark chewy malts.

Mouth is med bodied, lighter but decent for firkin carb.

Overall not bad, interesting, the winter ale is nice in general, and the cocoa nibs add a weird but interesting touch. Not something I would seek out or drink regularly, but something interesting to try. I commend them for radical experiments.