Stave Joint Stout
Campanology Brewing

A cold pour yields little foam but subsequent ones as the bottle warms produce a good head of tight construction and sticky bits of lace. A slowish fade to a nice thin layer that stays and is refreshed as I drink. A syrupy cling of liquid on the side of my glass clues me in to the fact that this is one thick brew. Opaque and so dark brown it's near black. The carbonation activity shows every time I tilt my glass with a nice curtain of lacing on the side I drink from.

Nose is sweet and inviting with a heavy chocolate overlay. Kind of reminds me of Southern Tier Choklat. There are light note of bourbon and even fainter wafts that bring coffee. What is big besides the cocoa nibs is the heavy dose of dark malt infused sugar. Caramel, toffee, molasses, it runs the dark sugar spectrum. There is a decent amount of roasted malt as well. The overall character is one of a lucious shake or desert. You just want to dive in.

So I did and I loved it. Thick, sweet, and satisfying. Multidimensional in it's flavor profile and When it's cold its kind of a one trick pony. It's a thick and lucious chocolate shake of a beer.nothing bad about that but the complexities and nuance are lost. Then it warms, and at traditional cellar temps this baby really opens up.Lots of roast and chocolate. Subtle undertones of bourbon and coffee in the finish. Light but easy drinking booziness begins to express itself as it warms. When cold you can easily miss the high abv. Finish is shorter that you would think leaving a touch of bourbon, fusel alcohol, and very mild espresso bitterness. Healthy notes of cocoa lingering .

Feel is thick and rich with a lucious , velvety quality. Carbonation is smooth and perfectly proportioned. Carbonation lasts as you slowly sip, not going flat and tepid. Syrupy consistency is perfectly cut by the bubbles and leads to a perfect swallow. Mouth is coated and still it give the impression of sessionability. Don't do it. Respect this beer or it will take you out despite it's deceptively smooth and mild character.

This is an exceptional beer that is a steal at its price point. I should have bought at least four instead of one. It's delicious and as the fat and winter months approach I can't think of a better brew to address the chill and flavors of this time of year. It will go well with roasty and hearty main courses, desserts like pumpkin pie, ice cream, nuts, cheese and a cigar or pipe. Trader Joes's really gave us a gift in this beer. Love it!