The Variant II
Schlafly Beer - The Tap Room

I am trying this beer off the tapper at The brewery as part of a five sample flight. It poured an opaque dark with tan ring head that did not leave any lace. The scent had dark fruit medley with fig, date and dark cherry notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to sip with dark fruit pleasure. Figs, dates, dark fruit presence. The mouthfeel was fuller in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

Black in color with no penetration to light. There’s a fingernail of brown around the rim. The aroma is of cherries brandy, barley, oak, and smoke. I’m tasting brandy sweet cherries, and barley. There’s a lightly cloying sweetness. The mouth is thick and boozy.

 

Had on tap. Much more robust than variant one. Cherry comes through with wood, smoke, molasses, brandy booze but not sweetness, vanilla and tons of malt. Thick and chewy, but smooth and refined in finish. Smell is charred cherrywood, brandy and roasted malt. Lots going on, but parts seem better than their sum. Still worth a try

 

 

On tap. Poured an opaque, jet-black color with a small, bubbly, light brown head of foam. It smelled of bourbon, oak, vanilla and roasted malt. Rich bourbon taste with subtle notes of vanilla and oak. Nice roastiness, too.