Knife Shoes (Sea Salt Stout)
Refined Fool Brewing Co.

 

UPDATE: Refined Fool has been re-using beer names. Knife Shoes was originally a chocolate sea salt stout, but it is now a Vienna lager.

473 mL can from the brewery, one of four from their "Winter Danger Sports Pack". Dated Dec 1 2022 and served barely chilled.

Pours jet black with glints of crimson red under the light; it's capped with about an inch of rocky, foamy tan-coloured head that seeps away within three or four minutes. It leaves behind a beautiful coat of fractal-patterned lace, with a frothy collar and filmy cap living on - lookin' good. Roasty, malt-forward aroma that includes chocolate, roasted grains and light ashiness with hints of molasses and burnt sugar.

Robust flavours, but the saltiness is barely noticeable. Milk chocolate syrup and rich dark chocolate flavours are present, bolstered by roasted grains, molasses, caramel and a touch of dark roast coffee. Baker's chocolate bitterness rounds out the back end, which is bittersweet and a little boozy; the sea salt is most discernible here, as the chocolate and roastiness fades into the aftertaste. Medium in body, with low carbonation that softly rolls across the palate; feels smooth and just a little sticky.

Final Grade: 3.76, pulling off a B+. Knife Shoes is teetering on the edge of being an imperial stout, and its bitter dark chocolate flavours only help push the experience in that direction. I was expecting more sea saltiness, but relieved when I didn't actually get it. Nothing to write home about, but I believe this could work as a local substitute for, say, Wellington's Imperial Stout (my go-to imperial stout for the winter months). There's still one more beer to go, but so far I'd say this is the highlight of the pack, as well as the only one worth bringing back.