Petro Dragon
DSSOLVR

 

Pours dark but not as dark as most imperial stouts. Head was a darker shade of tan. No lacing to speak of. Nose was mostly like charred malts. Taste was more similar to weak caramel, less like salted caramel or hazelnut as described on can. Abv was not evident. Decent stout.

Bold, brash and brazen, Dssolvr's Imperial stout hits the gullet like a dragon out of hell. Hazelnut and salted caramel fuel the ale as this ale offers no apology heading down the hatch.

Very dark brown and crowning with a gentle sandy froth, Petro Dragon drifts across the nose with a toasty, roasty and robust perfume of campfire, cocoa, soothing caramel, nuttiness and vanilla. Boldly malted on the early palate, the session opens with caramel, toffee and brown sugar with hints of nutella and chocolate.

As the session evolves, the sweetness slowly drifts and the more roasty elements of campfire, burnt toast, dark roast coffee and chicory spice decorate the middle palate. Trending more bitter, any hoppiness seems of coffee, woodsy spice or cocoa with a softer followup of vanilla and hazelnut as prescribed.

Full bodied but driying in nature, the session falls malty-dry on the senses with a bitter-sweet balance. More drinkable than pastry stout but not as flavorful as them either, this salted caramel, hazelnut stout lacks the body or roast to garner more excitement.