Nicholas Nikolaievich
Talking Cursive Brewing Company

a neat smoked tea stout, done with largely new york state ingredients, a very cool recipe and quite a dramatic drink, a highlight on their menu when we were in, but a beer for sipping and not drinking all day, thats for sure, polarizing i can imagine, but we really liked it. the tea is obvious, both in aroma and flavor, even though all the dark grain character, insane that it comes in so robust, because there is a ton of roast and depth and body to the base beer, but it does, tea is apparent the whole way! im not enough of an expert to say which teas are in here, which i taste, or what they all do individually, but i love the overall complexion, its both floral and earthy, with notes of jasmine, sage, juniper, black and white pepper, even dried oregano or something, crazy, lavender too, the tea is all over this one. deep fudge and dark chocolate in the taste, slight bready english yeast, robust cherrywood type smoked malt character, burnt coffee, and even licorice with the tea thing going on. light spiciness, some residual sugar, and a wet boggy sort of earthen quality, i love it! a bit of a linger on the palate, the smoke and tea hang around, and the body is full. a really excellent and distinctive beer, ambitious and well executed, pipe tobacco and plum and leather, adult, super cool brew!