Dark Adaptation
Branch and Blade Brewing

Purchased a couple years ago, finally got around to drinking it.
The pour was used oil black with almost no head until I lifted the can a good 10” and poured right down the middle. Then a nice dark chocolate brown head rose from the depths.
The taste is actually quite good, at this point there is abundant chocolate, pomegranate, maybe some strawberry. But subtle, not overwhelming at all.
The feel is very appropriate for the style, lightly viscous, nice.
OA, I think I need to go buy a recent one to give it a better review, but this is what I got today.

A big thanks to @Roguer for the can; received in the Barleywine/Stout BIF #1); my first from Branch and Blade
16oz can poured into an Allagash tulip

P deep mahogany w/ no head- just some funky small reddish bubbles and small chunks; a touch of tan foam as well; not real attractive
N light-med aroma of almost peanut butter-like nuttiness and chocolate; more nuttiness as it warms
T follows the nose with nuttiness, complimented by jammy strawberry notes, chocolate, and a touch of coffee; moderate sweetness and light alcohol warmth; solid nutty and chocolate presence for sure; maybe a touch of coconut in there as well; no marshmallow or barrel picked up; fairly tasty, though
Mf med-bodied w/ med carb; slick, yet a touch gritty (however not unpleasant)
O has some elements that throw me off a bit (the pour and mouthfeel), but pretty solid nonetheless

review date: 11.22.23
can date: not captured

 

Pours a dark brown color with a minimal, but quite bubbly, head. Aroma of black coffee and dark chocolate. Taste is sweet caramel and vanilla with an alcohol warmth at the end. Thick and creamy.

Poured from a can at fridge temp. Pours black with a very thin layer of very dark brown bubbly head. The nose is pretty modest. Some lactose, marshmallow, light nuts, and some chocolate. The taste is super smooth. Chocolate for days. Some lactose, oak, almonds, burnt marshmallow, light tar, nice roasted malts, and a raisin thread throughout. Really tasty! Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Really glad to have tried this one!

 

well this beer has a cool enough descriptions - marshmallow, chocolate, vanilla, let's see what it actually does. Got this at a new mom and pop grocery store that somehow has an incredible beer selection. strange cover art, seemingly three people's faces combined into one, the middle being a zombie type creature. this poured out black as night with zero head, just a stillwater dark haunting liquid standing there waiting for something to disturb it. the nose is quite nutty, almost like if i was smelling a bag of fresh roasted peanuts. maybe a faint hair of chocolate in there. wow the taste! wholesome rich chocolate nuttiness! almonds and cashews and sweet chocolate galore! maybe a little coffee and a roasty afterbirth flavor complete this excellent brew. the label says it has marshmallow, i could agree - but roasted marshmallow, after toasting on a stick in the campfire for a little while. There is some smokiness in the blend. Mouthfeel is medium bodied,and overall this is a satisfying pastry stout. Wouldn't mind enjoying this again sometime.

Very dark cola coloring with a slight head that was brownish red, almost purple. Nice chocolate covered peanut aroma. Taste is sweet with large amounts of peanut brittle and vanilla. Pretty much a desert.

Can from the Packie enjoyed at home.
Inky black color with a decent sized tan head that persists.
Aromas of roast and chocolate with a bit of nut and cherry. Light tart twang in there somewhere. Not bad thick and sweet.

Modest head production and very little retention.

Quite a bit of banana on the nose, which seems to be driven by the vanilla addition. Other notes on the nose include toast, chocolate, caramel, and cola, but it's overall fairly restrained.

Quite sweet on the palate. The banana-vanilla connection is emphasized, along with notes of chocolate, coconut, pecan, cola, prune, caramel, and toast.

Despite the description, there isn't any hint of barrel presence. Perhaps it was aged the briefest amount of time, and any bourbon is lost amid the huge malt base and tons of additives. Not quite as thick and chewy as you might expect for a self-espoused pastry stout.

From an undated 16 oz. can sampled on Jan 8, 2023.

The pour is chocolate brown to near black with no head to speak of and no lacing.

The aroma makes me think of chocolate cake, chocolate fudge, Hershey's dark chocolate...do you get the picture? Malt forward. No alcohol considering its ABV.

The mouthfeel is medium to full but creamy.

The taste is sweet and all about the chocolate, but I also sense a cherry character. Malt forward. Again, no alcohol jumps out in the taste. It is really as advertised and I'm not a pastry stout fan. Real pastry stout fans should enjoy this a lot.