Distinguished Scholar
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.

 

 

A: Poured into a snifter to a black beer topped by a dense and rocky finger of light tan head which fades slowly to a collar around the edge of the glass with minimal lacing
S: Smells of roasted malts and bourbon barrels with some nice vanilla notes
T: Taste is nice and roasty up front with some bitter dark chocolate and cocoa powder. Nice dark roasted coffee notes along with some strong maple and vanilla with a hint of caramel from the bourbon barrels. Decent oak notes throughout as well. On the swallow there's more vanilla and maple with some lingering roasty notes, dark chocolate and coffee.
M: This beer is about a medium in body with a fairly supple feel on the palate. Carbonation is effervescent without being prickly and the beer has a drying finish.
O: Overall this beer is top notch. Great flavors, complexity and balance. Everything is there and in solid harmony without anything falling too far into the background. Really nice adjunct flavors without overshadowing the base beer as well. This one is worth a try if they make it again.

Poured into a Hair of the Dog Tulip glass. Jet black with chocolate head of about a half inch. Starts with initial stout aroma followed by faint maple and vanilla. This is an amazing beer. Perfect balance of barrel, base beer, lactose. Went down do smooth with a velvety milk taste which was just right. This beer alone made it worth getting Brewer's Intent!