Paralysis
Northway Brewing Co.

Dark, anodized bronze, with red mahogany tones that verge on dark brown. It is crystal clear (SRM 22-29) from the bottom of a pilsner glass to the bottom of a one-inch creamy chestnut head. That head quickly drops then holds one-quarter of an inch for the duration. Two columns of fine carbonation race upwards in tight formation, while minimal lace forms above.

The aroma opens with sweetness and a light touch of mildly roasted malt. There is no real sensation of coffee. Light caramel leads to faint milk chocolate. The aroma is surprisingly complex, given that it is mild overall.

Bitter Baker's chocolate and black coffee present up front. Mild roasted malt is more charred than observed in the aroma. It is dry, with a long, roasty finish. Warmth brings out faint vanilla, which is more than enough for my taste.

Modest fine carbonation forms on the tongue and back of the throat. The texture is soft and lush, while the body is smooth and medium.

The coffee is never "bright", yet it is certainly obvious. In my opinion, it is more similar to cold, black coffee. The base beer is showcased well, without being overshadowed by the adjuncts. I am enjoying this one on a warm and sunny late summer afternoon, while a light breeze rustles through the trees.

This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells like sweet milk chocolate, smoke, roasted malt, and sweet coffee.

Death Wish coffee is fairly bitter and intense, but doesn’t come across that way in this beer. It adds some dark chocolate and sweetness to an already semi-sweet base lager. There’s a hint of smoke, but nothing overwhelming. It’s mainly just really chocolatey with a nice coffee component. Fans of traditional dark lagers need not apply, but I’m a fan of those and I’m still enjoying this.

This is light bodied, creamy, and very drinkable.

Northway is an underrated brewery in the Albany/Saratoga region.

Espresso brown appearance with a loose foamy beige head and sparse but blotchy lacing. Sweet malt, molasses, espresso, roasted bean. Medium body, medium to light carbonation. Really nice!