Yersinia
Lost Grove Brewing

 

500 ml bottle from Hops & Bottles. Near black pour, thin silky beige head. Rich, chocolaty aroma. Taste is more chocolate. The cocoa nibs dominate, the vanilla lends some supporting sweetness. Smooth, sweet, rich and no sign of the 11% ABV.

deeply roasty and flavorful, very well refined, i have not had anything this robust from these guys before, but they really have this pretty well dialed in already, although i hear they are gearing up for a barrel aged version as well, heck this even has a light bourbon hint to it as is. it already almost has oak notes to me especially, warm natural vanilla and even honey swirling around with the dark and bitter grain profile. i can appreciate a strong coffee note here, an almost burnt element that resonates like barrel char, and a cool lack of sweetness, this is decidedly dry as the style goes, clean on the ferment, and very well refined and cleaned up. its got high shine, feels slick and full but never heavy, and there is a certain uniqueness to the dark malts as well, more than just roasted barley, maybe some oats, specialty dark malts, a molasses thing that is both sweet and bitter in the middle, and some neat earthy minerals. this is wintery and cozy without being a fire breather, and it warms up well. this is definitely not the kind of thing i have known these guys for, everything they brew seems to be highly approachable, but this is very soid, and i look forward to trying the barrel aged version when it drops this winter, i am sure it will be fire!