Heaven Sent
Ten Eyck Brewing Company

Grabbed a crowler at Ten Eyck yesterday. Have had a couple nice brews there when visiting but no time/ long drive coming up. So brought home and drank pretty fresh today.
Overall it was a tasty big stout. But at 11% had expected a bigger fuller malt base.
Poured a very nice deep dark color with nice accents of garnet and burnt orange to light. But noticed immediately that while white head foamed large…it was briskly dissipating small beads vs creamy smoothly thick head. Head quickly broke down and disappeared. No residual covering layer of foam and very thin thread like halo. Body was a happily bit more smooth and silky, but counterbalanced by relatively bright brisk carbonation. Kind of at odds. Again somewhat surprising for big ABV stout.
Nose was faint but notes of barrel, vanilla, wood. Taste mirrored but instead of honey or caramel sweetness really showing off there was more a roastiness and slight bitterness.
Finally, began beer at 55 degrees and finished @ 50. No improvement noted as beer aired, settled in and warmed to better release flavor or lighten carbonation.
All in all each rated characteristic had something good going on, but each also had something distracting that for me made for a good beer but nothing really to recommend or seek again.