Poured opaque with a nice looking brown, two finger foam. Retention was outstanding leaving a nice solid covering over my beer. As it receded it also became creamy and thick to the eye. Lacing was thick but not lasting.
Aroma is solid for a porter: roasted, chocolate with a side of smoke and even coffee. Toffee and bread malt add to the complexity. Even a touch of chili character eventually comes through too.
Taste is just a complex and big as the aroma. The foam, as it touches your lips, adds a nice creaminess up front. Sweet caramel and toffee notes meet the tongue first followed by a wave of bread and smoke. The smoke character I would describe as peat and about as perfect a compliment to the beer as can ever be expected. A bit of spice and bitterness into the end and finish. The finish rounds out with some heat: I think from both the alcohol and chilis. It warms, even in the stomach.
This is quite a big beer with a mild carbonation that is accented by the creaminess of the foam.
This is top notch. I don't care for smokey beers but this one did it perfectly, as not to be an annoyance. Big, chewy, and outstanding. I didn't think this was going to win me over so I only bought one. Yeah, one. Egghead. Enjoy!
"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. Sooooo, let's all get drunk and go to heaven!" - Brian O'Rourke