King Moonracer
Aslan Brewing Company

pours dark with head that would not stop - great smell came from the pour . malty vanilla flavors the best beer do far this year

2019 vintage, gorgeous packaging, an english porter types as a base beer, or a very dark brown, with a mix of holiday spices, not sure which ones, but ginger seems obvious, like a warm out of the oven gingerbread, very flavorful, some might say too much so on the spice front, but i like the boldness, especially with the alcohol being so light for the style and for a winter beer in general, the intensity kind of slows it down and makes it drink like a bigger beer. its really pretty in the glass, high tan head resting on an eggshell luster near black body, active and handsome, even fancy looking. it smells and tastes like some rather dark barley is in the mix, a roasted and bitter note permeating through the whole thing, a coffee hint there as well, maybe just a kiss of smoke. the spices have an almost juniper thing with the ginger, nuances of cinnamon and black pepper, really prominent, but unique at the same time. its remarkably dry overall, fluffy feeling for its color suggesting maybe some midnight wheat in the mix, and its really effervescent too, highly refined, almost a bottle conditioned texture here. i love the beers ive had from these guys and they seem to cover a lot of ground competently, i wish their stuff came to idaho. one of my favorite winter dark beers of the season so far, a perfect christmas eve sipper and sturdy enough to hold up to braised beef short ribs.