Kahuna Matata
Atlanta Brewing Company

A: Pours an opaque yet still clear extremely dark cola brown (approaching jet black) in color with light to moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising slowly along the edges of the glass and faint chestnut brown colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall sudsy foamy dark tan head that slowly reduces to a handful of small patches of thin film surrounded by a large patch of very thin film covering the remainder of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Slightly heavier than moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of roasty + chocolate malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. Hints of citrus/orange peel, tropical/pineapple, and coconut. Very light aromas of toasted oak + caramel + vanilla from the barrel aging.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of roasty + chocolate malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. That is followed by light flavors of toasted oak + caramel + vanilla from the barrel aging. There are very light flavors of citrus/orange peel, tropical/pineapple, and coconut. Light amounts of roasty bitterness in the finish which lingers for a moderate amount of time.

M: Slightly heavier than medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Drinks fairly easily with decently well hidden alcohol. Enjoyable as a milk stout but the fruit additions feel slightly lost in the beer with the roasty + chocolate malts and barrel aging.

Sadly, kind of disappointing. It's a solid milk stout, but I was hoping for more of the fruit flavors. I maybe get a hint of them at best. It's mostly chocolate / coffee.

16oz can from Sprayberry Bottle Shop (Marietta, GA). 4.99. Canned 9/14/18. Served in a Red Brick snifter. Enjoyed 11/5/18.

Pours pours essentially black with a tall, frothy cap of pale khaki head. The bubbles fade to a light surface wisp, thin rail and a few spotty trails of lace.

Smells of lactose, barrel, chocolate, slight roast and some vague fruit.

A sharp whiskey-tinged wood note leads the flavor, which straddles bitter and sweet throughout. Barrel char, milk sugar, mild citrus peel, faint cocoa, roast, some coconut and a far away hint of tropical fruit.

Smooth, medium full feel with moderately light carbonation. The bittersweet finish tastes roasty with faint lactose and fruit sweetness and some lingering barrel.

Atlanta Brewing Company has been churning out all sorts of collaborations in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Kahuna Matata is a decent milk stout with some original aspects but ultimately didn’t really do much for me.