BBA Raspberry Espresso Torte
Masthead Brewing Co.

16 ounce can, canned 11/21/24, thanks to Brutaltruth for this one! Served in a snifter, the beer pours a dark brown/black color with about an inch tan head that stuck around for a while. Decent amount of lacing. I like the aroma, the brew smells like espresso, raspberry syrup, roasted malt, dark chocolate and some vanilla. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some dark bread and burnt/charred malt flavors noticeable too. I think the espresso and raspberry flavors stand out, but don't overpower the others. I do wish the barrel had more of a kick here but that's really not a complaint in this case. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's coating and a bit creamy with a moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was pretty good, but then I do like raspberry and espresso a lot so if you like those too then it's worth picking up for sure!

It looks like cola, but lighter and duller. Small touch of a head on the outset. The aroma is VERY apparent. It smells like a dessert, heavy on the listed ingredients. Not for the faint of heart. The coffee is, by default, more behind the intense ingredients it is competing with. And taste? Yes, it is exactly as advertised. Perhaps better, because it tastes dead on. What caught me was how the chocolate flavor changed across the first sip. First, the beer was like a raspberry chocolate from an assortment box. The coffee came in to compliment it, but then the chocolate changed. It became milkier and lusious in a good way. The barrel aging is there at the back to round it out. It's a heavier beer, of course, and is sweet, but it's very well done. It's quite smooth, finishing a touch dry.

From the 16 oz can in a snifter. This nice little imperial pours a
dark brownish black with a nice head of tan foam that settles to a thick
ring, thin dusty layer, and sports some light lacing. Nose of bourbon,
vanilla, raspberry, vanilla, espresso, and dark chocolate. Flavors follow the nose
with some light exceptions with notes of bourbon, woodsy oak, vanilla,
moderate char, deep roast, raspberry, and dark bakers cocoa dashed with
espresso. Mouth feel is full, smooth, rich, lightly warming, light carbonation,
and a bitter malt moderately dry finish.


Overall, a solid little brew!

Cheers

Downtown Cleveland, January, 2024, on our annual after-Christmas getaway!

Completely opaque, tight ring of tan foam.

Aroma is incredible. It's the drinkable cocoa, raspberry, whiskey, jelly-filled donut!

Super soft in the mouth, no effervescence at all, just silky smooth.

Taste follows aroma. Slightly saline.

The finish draws the mouth slightly. Drying.