Matryoshka (Cocoa Nibs)
Fort George Brewery + Public House

Bottle at share.Dark, ruddy brown pour, small beige foalmy head. Aroma is roasty, notes of chocolate, coffee and of course, bourbon. Taste is full and thick, plenty of warmth with rich chocolaty flavors, hint of vanilla , oak, whiskey. Nice.

 

 

 

2017 vintage, on tap at the Orenco Taphouse.

Black, thin brown head. Similar to base beer with more of a cocoa butter note, honey, brown sugar, mild hazelnut, dark caramel, toffee, mild bourbon, coconut. The palate opens with a blend of smooth cocoa butter, bitter roast and dark caramel, quite enjoyable. A mild bourbon note is also present. Bitter and moderately chocolate-like on the finish, this is great.

aged in four roses barrels with cocoa nibs, a glorious imperial stout, layered and earthy and huge, i lived this one, and am now frothing for some of the other variants i see here. this is dense and black, frothy brown headed, with some lacing as i drink it down, tons of body, but this is sweet, caramelized tasting, or sticky, instead its roasted like crazy and teases cold brew coffee concentrate and bitter baking chocolate, the nibs are abundant in both aroma and flavor. tons of roast, charred even, with notes of minerals and licorice and coffee, as well as the nibs, which add a nice bitterness to this that somehow lightens it up for me. there has to be some oats or something in here, its almost creamy feeling going down which is awesome with the bourbon. subtle vanilla and booze, oak with the nibs is nice too, the barrel is as forward as the spirit, mellow on both counts though. oddly easy drinking for how big this is, perfectly warming and wintery, and really complex too. i thought this was downright amazing, and would kill to try the raspberry edition, i could see the piquant and jammy berries adding a righteous wrinkle to this, but this nibs version is special on its own. expert quality, absurdly robusts beer, not too much barrel ageing covering up the base beer. splendid!