Red Sea Rift
Level Crossing Brewing Company

 

a wonderful strong stout here brewed with oats and high end coffee from ethiopia and yemen, among the best beers level crossing has made to date as far as i am concerned, and an unexpected standout in a very heady session of popping beers. this is shiny black in the glass with long legs and a luxurious mocha head, elegant for its size. it smells of lighter roasted high terroir coffee, dried red berries, baking chocolate, wet soil and minerality, and mild toffee sweetness set against the roast in perfect balance. lots of chocolatey layers in the flavor interwoven with the coffee, creamy feeling but drier at the end than a lot of these, and if there is lactose in this, its well restrained and more a texture thing than a flavor one. the coffee is epic, super fresh and present from start to finish, seemingly enhanced by the bit of alcohol presence this retains. nothing smoked or burnt about it, nothing acrid, acidic, or all that bitter to the coffee, and the malt build around it is genius. really professional execution here, silky smooth and very dynamic. i could have drank a whole four pack of these in the sitting, i loved it, and so did everyone else sharing in the experience. great brew to highlight some obviously very cool coffee, this has taken level crossing to new heights for me! not to be missed if you are a coffee beer person like me!