Big Bad Leather Daddy Almond
The North Brewery

an awfully weird name for a beer, they appear to have a whole series of these. this one has almonds and lactose in it, is super rich and complex, the nuts really add a lot. its a little flat from the tap, shiny and viscous in the glass though, cant believe the big glasses they are serving it in, yikes, seems almost irresponsible! the aroma is cool, i get the almond right away, and its not an extract or amaretto character at all, but like the actual nut, fats and all, lightly roasted with hints of coconut, milk chocolate, and tobacco happening around it, not even as boozy as it seems like it should be, very appealing. the almonds are a little more in the background in flavor, but i can still really appreciate their contribution to this. some sweetness here, not sure i like the lactose in it, id be cooler if it was drier, but in the spirit of big long finishing put hair on your chest winter stouts, this makes sense. good roasted character to the malt is nice, coffee and cocoa come out a lot, and the whole thing is very very smooth given its absurd alcohol level. a neat brew, i picked up a bottle of the honey one to take home which i am stoked on, a great use of the almonds here too, they really come through nicely. i hope to try some other variants next time...