The Independent
Taft's Brewing Co.

Full draft pour at FoBAB, quick review from written notes.

Dark mahogany with some light tan foam around the edges, spotty lace.
Rich aromas of toffee, caramelized plantains, woody vanilla.
Flavors were similar, big chewy malt with dry woody oak notes in the finish.
Abv makes itself known with a noticeable warming presence, though not harsh.
No signs of infection here. A big barrel forward beer that is likely best shared.

I see that Taft's issued a statement that there was a quality issue that affects bottles stored at room temperature.
Good for them to acknowledge this, and hopefully the issue will be corrected in the future.

 

Armed with some information I received beforehand, I opened this carefully over the sink and it looked like it wanted to bubble over, but thankfully it did not. The Independent pours black with a very large, dark tan head that is a tad bit unusually active.

So, this aroma bouquet was probably not intended, but on top of the oak and bourbon is a little metallic and tart cherry.

Taste is like a very light, more quaffable yet metallic Tart of Darkness, which is to say, this one went south. Not bad actually, roasted malt and sesame, chocolate, with lightly tart cherry reminiscent of the super hardcore sour stout, but just, kind of there enough to ruin the intended flavor of the base beer but not be a stellar sour like an actual wild ale would go for.

Tinny, slightly waxy, fizzy and semi dry.

This is so unfortunate for the blend, the ingredients, and the time spent in the barrels. I'm not sure how these breweries can't detect these infections ahead of bottling or selling, but, I do have to say, I have had worse uninfected beers in my day.