Katabasis
Ethereal Brewing

 

With the name like "ethereal" you know that they can't leave well enough alone. Perfectly capablle of constructing a strong, old world type of stout, but then dumping it into wine barrels for a complex, tangy and fruity balance that takes the classic roasty taste in a whole new direction.

Katabasis comes with a very dark brown, nearly black austere. Crowned with a creamy swath of foam, the beer swoons the nose with a robust perfume of coffee, char, wine, oak and burnt sugars. To taste, the steely sweetness of toffee, caramel and burnt toast slather a thin film of malt on the early palate.

As the sweetness fades, the roasty, toasty edges of the stout prevail. Dark french roast coffee, charred toast, a hint of smoke, dark chocolate and black walnut simmer on the middle palate ahead of mysterious twang of red wine with its berry, cherry and red grape nuances. Spicy, peppery and lightly oaken, the finish is broadly bitter with smoked chocolate, bordeaux tannins and that of perceived dark coffee.

Full but not lavish, the beer's bold and firm body keeps a drinkable edge due to it smooth and drying roast along with the spicy, tart and tannin rich barrel application. Pepper and roast roll along with a long after palate of fruity roast and the scant taste of burnt cream looming.