Dark Ale
Muskoka Brewery

This a very nice English brown ale. The Canadians are getting very good with their dark beers. This a prime example.

 

 

 

 

 

Single bottle from a mixed pack poured into a mug. I am immediately struck by how dark this brew is, a stout-level black with a gentle orange near the bottom of the glass and a light dusting of light brown bubbles. Aroma is rich and sweet, complex and smooth, with chocolate milk, raisins, lightly toasted nuts, and a faint tinge of smoke all apparent. Fortunately the flavor is almost as good, more chocolate milk and raisins along with some chocolate malt roast, light caramel ... Initial flavors are decidedly sweet but the finish is drier and earthy, with a faint metallic tingle and a ghost of red berry and coconut. Wonderful malt flavors that go for miles. Minimal hop flavor lets the malts shine. Moderate degree of carbonation and full-bodied. Starts a bit like a milk stout but goes to other nutty and toasted places. Another example of this brewery doing some nice work at the malt level, dessert or candy bar-like yet not overdone, more to my liking than some draft English browns in this country.

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from a 355 mL bottle into a pint glass.

1-finger head over an extremely dark, opaque black-brown. Lamplight couldn't be seen through it.

The head smelled nice, with nutty aromas and other sweet smells characteristic of this style. After it settled, these faded away to just some metallic scent. Given some more time, though, the nice aromas returned. Cocoa, chocolate, coffee-like.

Taste: a rich, coffee taste with the right amount of moderate bitterness. Roasty. Pretty good overall taste.

Only mild to moderate carbonation.

Overall, a good beer that I wouldn't mind having again.

Update June 2017: This has come to be one of my top 2 favourite beers.