Natural Necessities - The Cup of Excellence
Round Table Brewery

Poured from bottle into a snifter glass at 64°. It pours a very dark mahogany - nearly black - and sports a half finger fizzy cap of light khaki-colored foam with excellent retention. The aromatic smell offers roasted malt, freshly-brewed coffee. earthy, nutty, char, and just a whiff of chocolate. The taste is spot-on! Despite the fact the bottle is nearly a year old, the coffee tastes fresh and acidic - like you would get in a diner. The chocolate is more apparent in the taste than in the nose. And there is a very nice base of burnt, nutty char which adds bitterness and balances the other flavors. There is also a faint taste of dark fruit deep in the background, which I think would have been more evident when first bottled. The barrel notes are delicate and don't distract from the other flavors. The mouth feel good and creamy with low/moderate carbonation, and I like the 8.5% ABV. Round Table resisted the temptation to go big with this Stout and it is highly drinkable. Another plus is the 500 ML format. At just over a pint it can easily be enjoyed in one pour. Very well done!