Half Sack
YaYa Brewing Company

 

this is excellent, lighter to drink than its abv seems to suggest. frankly i now regard these guys as one of the best breweries in the spokane area, they do everything super well. this is neat stuff, lighter on the malt than a lot of them, like super modern light roasted espresso to me in the nose, where its more about chocolate and raisin and fruitiness than it is about roast and bitterness, the malt here is the same in that sense, simple but allowed to shine in a way that highlights the complexity it does have, if that makes sense. maybe a hint of smoke in the flavor which is neat, its earthy and drier than many, and has a slightly bready yeast complexion that really flatters the grain, great balance and mix of flavors here, they get a lot out of this one. texture is soft too, smooth and not overly carbonated but its right one, almost has a cask feel to it, which i like in a nut brown type, hints of hazelnut and black tea as this warms a little, mellow and drinkable overall, just very well made and tasty example of the style!