Nitro Shelled
Sapwood Cellars Brewery

 

16 ounce can poured into a snifter.

L: Clear dark brown pour, near black in the glass, leaves oily residue, 1/2" medium brown head, small bits of lace.
S: Nutty malt, chocolate ice cream, mild alcohol.
T: Medium sweet, roasted and chocolate malt, coffee, some nutty flavor.
F: Medium-full body, smooth and creamy, medium carbonation, finishes with some heat.
O: Good...

Drank from a 1 pint can purchased on Tavour
Canned on 02/13/23
Served in a tulip

The beer poured a viscous and oily looking, complete pitch black. A super tight and creamy, caramel colored crown topped the liquid and slowly fell to a thick, lasting collar. Some streaky patches of lacing stuck along the glass.

The aroma was really rich and robust. Roasted malts came through strongest. Good dose of caramel malt sweetness and brown sugar too. Lots of fresh vanilla bean as well. Moderately boozy. Semisweet chocolate was also noticeable. The chocolate intensified as the beer warmed.

The flavor profile was similar to the nose but not quite as interesting initially. Roasted malts dominated up front. A bit smoky and char like. Some vanilla was noticeable in the center. Semisweet chocolate came through as well. More deep roast character and char on the back end and the finish. A fairly acrid bitterness lingered after the swallow. Like with the nose, the roasty notes mellowed with time, and the chocolate/overall sweetness became more pronounced.

The mouthfeel was rich and full bodied. Creamy, slick and smooth on the palate. The liquid contained a super fine, mellow effervescence that gave the beer a nice suppleness on the palate. After a few sips, the sugars in this left a slightly sticky film on my lips.

Nitro Shelled is an interesting beer that reminded me of an old-school, roast-forward take on an imperial stout. While the walnuts were completely undetectable and the roast was rather excessive for my palate, it was nice to try a beer that bucked current trends.

Pitch black body with brown speckling and full finger of foam. Smell captures the roasted malt base with a decently large walnut aroma, accenting toast and earth, before vanilla and baker's chocolate with a hint of plum meld in. Taste is chocolate sauce forward, vanilla adds sweet on sweet, roasted malt and walnut is mild in comparison. Feel is barley nitro though, cool and smooth but not enough creaminess or roast

 

 

Poured at fridge temp. Pours pitch black with a thin layer of brown head. The nose is full of roasted malts, some dark fruit, dark chocolate, charred wood, and burnt toffee.

The taste is excellent. Vanilla, coconut, chocolate, walnuts, raisins, charred wood, and roasted malts. Lovely.

Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Aftertaste is mostly burnt wood and some dark chocolate.