Scotch Oaked Nyx
White Birch Brewing

Small batch growler only release at the brewery.
Pours a solid dark brown/black color with a huge frothy tan head that slowly recedes while leaving a bit of spotty lace down the sides. Aromas of dark chocolate dominate with bits of earthy floral hop, a hint of wood, vanilla, and dark fruits. The flavor is vanilla and chocolate up front with a light brown sugary sweetness. The tannins and alcohol break through the sweetness somewhere mid sip before a long lingering bitter hop bite sits at the edge of every sip. The scotch is very subtle but adds a hint of smoke and a bit of drying to a beer that is really a bit sweet. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet resinous mouthfeel. Feels a lot like a porter with all the chocolate maltiness going on here. Even with the drying effects of the oak aging and the liquor employed here this still feels a bit sweet for a black ipa. That being said this is a pretty damn good oaked hoppy porter and if I disregard the style guidelines maybe we can all get along ;)