Basic Freedoms
Koto Brewing Company

awesome dark one from these guys, done with locally roasted coffee and a little vanilla, extremely well made, huge roast profile from both the java and the dark barley, good complexity to it too, i get some chocolate and even hazelnut from the coffee, and a leathery layer in the grain too, but no middle malt sweetness which i like, the vanilla kind of fills in there, and there is nice bitterness without it being harsh, real drinkable for me too, even with the appreciable caffeine jolt. close to black in color with some shine and a short off white head, creamy looking and deep. it smells and taste about the same, fresh on the coffee, pretty dark roast to me, earthy and mineral forward too, fragrant vanilla is maybe a little bolder than in the flavor, where its all on the finish, natural and subtle enough, well incorporated, not at all cheap to me as it can sometimes be in these. pipe tobacco, licorice root, and even a little black pepper if we are talking nuance, smooth and lighter body for the style, long mellow finish, almost cozy and wintery like a much bigger stout, but i love the low alcohol here too, makes it a pint beer. maybe the best dark beer ive had from koto so far, really good.