Mantra Toasted Coconut & Cacao Nibs
Braxton Brewing Company - Braxton Covington

16 ounce can, no canning date I could find. Thanks to Brutaltruth for this brew! Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch and a half tan head that didn't stick around for too long. Not much lacing. The brew smells like cacao nibs, coconut, vanilla and roasted malt. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some dark fruit, nuts and coffee flavors noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's slick and has a low/moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was OK, but just seemed underwhelming. Thinking this one would have been fresher too, would like to try again in the future.

From the 16 oz can in a snifter. This excellent brew pours a dark
brownish black with a decent head of fizzling foam that sizzles to a
thin ring. Nose of coconut, dark chocolate, cream, brulee, spicy bourbon,
and dark coffee hints. Flavors surpass the nose with a fine presentation of
dark cocoa, vanilla, cream, brulee, char, roast, dark fruit hints, nutty malts,
and dark coffee with lightly warming bourbon hints. Nice mouth feel;
medium full verging on a full body, smooth, rich, coating, faint
carbonation, and a warming bitter malt finish.

Overall---SOLID!

Cheers

Ever torn between candy bar and beer? Well, tear no more, Braxton and their Lab-brewing approach has you covered with a toasted coconut and cacao Imperial pastry Stout.

The candied focused Toasted Coconut & Cacao Nibs version of their Mantra series gets going with a dark brown appearance held in a slightly murky coffee-like haze. As a full and lofty froth rises to the rim, the scent of coffee, whisky spice and campfire create a robust but sweet perfume. Sweet on the tongue, the beer soon leaves impressions of latte, cream, vanilla, caramel and chocolate to suggest something of a Mounds type of candy bar.

As the flavors roll along the middle palate, the sweetness holds firm and the roasted elements of charred also rises to bring bold coffee flavors of Breakfast blends to the forefront. Never reaching espresso strength, the beer begins to fade into a nutty, toasty and milk chocolate finish with a mild but broad toasty bitterness to close.

Full bodied but relaxed on the finish, the beer reads more like a sweeter and milkier porter as the sweeter cream and coconut flavors round off the sharper edges of roast. Its a plush stout with candied influences that extend into a long but effortless after palate.