Baba Yaga - Hazelnut
Ethereal Brewing

Taster at brewery. After a rather disappointing flight, here's the money shot. Near black pour, tight, creamy ring of beige head. Big hazelnut aroma, then sweet, then boozy. Taste is sweet, milky, nutty, boozy. Velvety smooth, creamy, luscious. Nectar...

Trolling the Nutella fan in all of us, Ethereal Brewing shamelessly uses the built-in chocolate notes of their Imperial Stout to couple with copious additions of hazelnut for a savory taste to go along with the spicy and sweet.

The Hazelnut version of Baba Yaga is a boisterous beer, pouring with a near motor oil viscosity and an overall jet black austere. Riddled with chocolate, vanilla and coconut, the aromas are mouthwatering to any chocoholic, fully anticipating dessert-like effects on the tongue. Roasted malt, and obvious nutella flavors slather across the tongue with the very first sip, enlivening the sweet tooth with those promised flavors of chocolate, mocha, hazelnut and bourbon nuances.

Full saturation of the tastebuds happens quickly as the savory ale seeps deeply into each and every tastebud. Bittersweet chocolates tie together the tastes of espresso, hazelnut, condensed milk, roasted marshmallow and woodsy hops en route to a late palate of bourbon laden vanilla, caramel, char, oak and yes- heavy notes of candied hazelnut for extra measure. Bourbon, cinnamon and soothing coconut takes an edge off of the malt sweetness for a slight semblance of drinkability. But this beer is a testament to decadence in the end.

Lavish, creamy, velvety and silky smooth, the full-bodied beer is achingly dessert-like as it satisfies any hankering for nuttiness and chocolate. A full latte character engulfs the session as the alcohol warmth simmers like kahlua on the throat while its savory chocolate and bourbony spice lingers long in the after palate. Its simply an incredible beer!