Samurai Slippers
High Branch Brewing Company

 

Appearance: Pours with an opaque espresso color capped by a tan film that fades to a ringlet; very leggy, with speckles of lacing that coat the glass like a translucent shower curtain

Smell: Milk chocolate, caramel and vanilla, with coffee accents

Taste: Caramel and milk chocolate forward with vanilla cream flavors developing; hints of coffee emerge, in the middle; the finish is dominated by the sweeter chocolate and vanilla cream tones

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low carbonation

Overall: A bit thin and a bit sweet for my palate but still an easy drinker

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear thick viscous jet black in color with moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising along the the edges of the glass and faint dark cola brown + garnet red colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of thin film covering the entire surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Just shy if strong aromas of roasted + chocolate + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel + lactose sweetness. Moderate aromas of freshly brewed coffee, vanilla, and hints of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of roasted + chocolate + caramel malts with a moderate amount of caramel + lactose sweetness. That is followed by moderate flavors of freshly brewed malts + light flavors of vanilla. Finally there are light flavors of earthy hops. There is a light to moderate amount of roasty bitterness which does not linger for too long leaving lingering coffee + vanilla + lactose flavors.

M: Slightly lighter than full bodied with moderate amounts of lacing. Smooth.

O: Easy to drink with well hidden alcohol. Enjoyable with a really nice combination of coffee, vanilla, lactose, and roasty malts. Would definitely have another of these. very well constructed.