Catherine's Anchor
Chestnut Hill Brewing Company

This begins with a pour to empty the entire contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. A lovely pour it is, producing a proper head that's dark tan/brown in color. The brew is basically black coffee brown, just a little softer. Its aroma is rich with roasted barley malt, carrying notes of chocolate and espresso. The mouthfeel is creamy, rich almost to being thick and incredibly smooth. Soft things end there. This tastes boldly and it bites. First, there's a delightful sweetness in the introduction. It's complex and somewhat earthy, like blackstrap molasses. Then there's an onslaught of flavors, including black coffee, dark chocolate, black licorice and even some smokiness. The malt is roasted to the point that this bites with bitterness, in a good way. There's so much flavor the 8.8 ABV is barely noticed. Amazingly, for its richness and velvety delivery, there's no glass lacing. This is truly a remarkable brew. From its complex sweetness, extraordinary body and taste transitions that finish cleanly bitter, it's worthy of carrying the name of someone known as The Great.