Fanø Viola Sofia 2011 (Kunstner Øl No. 2)
Fanø Bryghus

Draft at Tørst in Brooklyn.

Pitch black and completely opaque without even the faintest hint of lighter color and a two finger, frothy beige head that has excellent retention, only slowly fading into a cap/thick, lasting ring.  Splotchy lacing left behind.

Really impressive smoke/rauchbier aroma.  More like an American version like Alaskan smoked porter with tons of smokey charcoal, barbecued meat, campfire and butane but doesn't overpower the roasted and sweet malt notes of chocolate, coffee been, fudge and oatmeal.  Smells incredible!  

Viscous full body with a slightly less aggressive smoke profile than nose hinted at.  Still burnt, smokey, mesquite tasting with charcoal, campfire, barbecued bacon and wood flavor but it's countered by sweet chocolate, lactic cream, toffee, oatmeal and coffee bean.  Full bodied for a porter and the smoke is nicely integrated while remaining the dominant flavor.  

Pour is jet black with very little dark mahogany head. Nose has light pest and barrel up front with a heavy sugary and sweet malt presence. Taste is overly sweet malt, under attenuated and messy for the most part. It has a dry finish with a fair bit of peat, ash, light barrel, and some bitterness. The sweetness and ash linger together. It lacks focus and integration. It's big, thick, well carbonated but messy.

Picked up a bottle of this at a clearance sale of the Alvinne-shop, best before 2015

A: pitchblack with a minimal brown head, foam disappears fast

S: smeels sweet, coffee, chocolate and subtle smoke and roasted malts

T: mouth follows the nose, again coffee and chocolate with a hint of smoke and peat, no alcohol or significant bitterness detected

M: full bodied beer with an oily mouthfeel, lingering aftertaste

O: this is a full bodied, full flavoured beer, smooth and complex sipper