Guru Of The Dark
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

Pours a garnet hued deep brown with a thinner well sustained tan colored head atop.A mix roasted red pepper and cocoa in the nose with a tinge of iron/metallic lingering.Chocolate is the main flavor component wich was expected,a bit of brown sugar and earthiness into the finish.It never gets too sweet although it starts out sweet, a nice twist to the style.

$ 12.00 (Including tax)/bomber ($ 0.545/oz) from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. Reviewed 12/18/18.
Undated bottle on shelf at distributor. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque. When held to the light, minimum penetration occurs at the rim.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.2 cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, average retention, diminishing to an eleven mm ring fed by effervescence and a thin complete layer with rocks.
Lacing – Excellent. Wide bands of tiny bubbles
First pour – Medium brown, clear.
Aroma – 4 – Moderate cocoa and very weak toasted malt.
Flavor – 3.75 - Cocoa predominates with a little toasted malt in the background. There is just a touch of bitterness. No alcohol (6.3%), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3.25 – Light, watery, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation - 3.75 – Pleasing enough, but not spectacular, kind of like adding cocoa powder to water rather than milk. The cocoa dominates the flavor, pushing the malt aside. I’ve grown to expect Hoppin’ Frog’s Boris/Doris/Toris line of dark beers to be excellent so maybe I’m expecting too much from this.

Coffee blackish-red with a dark yet clear sheen and a thick fluffy khaki head.

Smell is nutty with a dark toast, corn and a hint of cocoa.

Taste is semi-sweet chocolate and cocoa with nuts, corn and a hint of gingersnaps via a light drinkable body with a big froth that finishes semi-dry and tingly.