Black Is Beautiful
The Alchemist

16 oz can at BiB share. INky black pour with a thin beige head. Aroma is roast malts, hint of chocolate, hint of cherry. Taste brings a little smoky flavor, but mostly thick, deep roast malts.

Appearance: Pours coal black with a half finger of beige foam; leggy with dribbly lacing

Smell: Roast and dark chocolate with considerable char; smells like yesterday's campfire

Taste: Charred wood forward with a touch of chocolate; increasingly ashy, through the middle, with just a little chocolate that lingers into the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: The char here is just too overwhelming to my palate

 

Alchemist really knows how to brew a plain ole stout with no barrel and no adjuncts like no one else.

While Alewife and I were vacationing in VT at the end of July, I snagged a 4-pack of this at the brewery. Was $13.45 with tax and deposit. Enjoyed the last of the 4 cans today whilst laxing out in The 'Zebo...

Poured most of the 16oz into my trusty Smutty snifter... Was a rich, oily, opaque black, with a lovely 1" layer of mocha colored foam. Topping was creamy and fine, lasted well, with lovely lacing (Linda Lovelace?). Nose had mocha aromas, with dark choco and roasty notes. Was a medium to medium-plus for body, with a smooth feel. Could have had a touch more heft, imo

Taste had semisweet chocolate with cocoa and then some espresso. Also dark fruit, like raisins and dates, along with an ever so slight tinge of bitterness in the finish. Solid, well-made and tasty!! Prosit!!

4.21/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

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