Opaque black beer. Looks oily. And shiny. Restrained carbonation. Still, the tawny foam exceeds one finger before it retreats to the sides. Milk chocolate, cacao nibs, marshmallow and vanilla dance in the scent. Biscuit, cookie and cream join the group. Well, yes. Rocky Road can, indeed, be imagined as a result. The taste gains a bit sharper nuances. Alcohol is obvious. This time, the components include dark chocolate, raw cacao powder, salty licorice, cookie, roasted malt, cream and vanilla. Marshmallow is considerably vague, just a hint and as if it had lost all of its sweetness, or at least most of it. The body is full although not huge. The end doesn't give any more mercy than the actual taste experience. The mouthfeel is full, intense, medium-deep, slightly roasty and lip-glueing. Modestly alcoholic and marginally sharp, as well. Maybe still too raw, the best before of 3/30 could allow even a longer cellaring. Well, not exactly a masterpiece anyway.

Lucid, dark brown beer. Looks like coca-cola. The label says ”vintage 2024”. Somewhat introverted carbonation. A creamy lacing emerges on the top, remaining below one finger's height. Soon a lace ring adorns the surface. Dark plum, a hint of sour raisin and sherry linger in the air. Wheat malt obviously, as well. The scent gives a powerful promise of something lovely, as if Flanders Brown. The taste profile, indeed, resembles that of Sour Brown/Flanders Brown. That's awesome! Wow! The specific flavors are medium-sour dark plum, purple gooseberry, sherry or madeira, wheat malt and intensive brettanomyces. The body is light to light-medium. The end is sour fruity, especially dark fruity with red wine and madeira barrel. The mouthfeel is light-medium, tart, puckering, vinous, funky, Belgiany and woody. Tastewise, this could well be barrel aged although it isn't in practice. Furthermore, it's soft, elegant and astringent. Success!

What would be the most scary beer for you? Would this be a real horror factor: a lager with 12 %, flavored with honey and barrel aged? Vintage 2023. To me, it doesn't sound like my first choice. Still, I bought this. Stupidity? Let's see. The appearance is limpid copper. The carbonation is virtually eliminated. Very flat. The head, too, is truly oppressed. The nose receives honey, sweet-leaning malt, biscuit, peach, orange and a whisper of booze. Not hugely attractive... And not a massive success is the taste either. Mama... This is boozy. Sweet malt, honey, mango, biscuit, cane sugar, maybe a bit of dried apricot and a wink of orange zest. Alcoholic, for sure. Did I say it already? This is barrel aged but I can't find anywhere information on the type of the barrel used. The sugary sweetness hints at rum. The body is medium-full. Basically nice, but at 12 %, it can't keep the booziness in control. It just can't. It's haunting me. Aarghh! Okay, I gather myself. [•••] The aftertaste is sweet, tangy and alcoholic. Surprise! The sensation is medium-full, tangy, heavy but also soft, smooth and flat. And alcoholic. Big time. Nicely warming though. Verdict? Well, a 12 % lager can't be enjoyable. It's almost by definition boozy. When I had my first couple of sips, I was ready to do a quick review and pour this down the drain. However, in the course of “enjoying” this beer, I became convinced that I'm going to finish it no matter what. It took me two and half hours but now I'm there ✅ Not enjoyed but completed. Over and out.

Kyllä vain tätä kelpaa maistella. Kaunis väri ja miellyttävän hedelmäinen maku.

Kuparisen läpikuultavan sysimustaa ja sameahkoa. Vähäinen, paahteisen rusehtava ja pienikuplainen vaahto. Tuoksu runsahkon, makean ja kevyen paahteisen tumman maltainen, ohuen ruislimppuinen, kepeän suklainen, runsaan ja makean tumman siirappinen, poltetun sokerinen ja kuivatun hedelmäinen (rusinaa, luumua, taatelia) ja makean laktoosinen. Maku runsaan, makean ja paahteisen tumman maltainen, ruisleipäisen mausteinen, paahteisen kahvinen ja tumman suklainen, runsahkon ja makean tumman siirappinen, poltetun sokerinen ja kuivatun hedelmäinen (luumua, taatelia, rusinaa), makean ja pehmeän laktoosinen ja vaniljainen sekä selkeähkön katkera. Hyvät, runsahkot, melko makeat ja hieman kotiolutmaiset maut. Suutuntuma on runsas, täyteläinen, pehmeähkö, melko kuivakka ja vähähiilihappoinen. Maukas, runsas ja mukavasti nautiskeltava, mutta hieman raa'an ja kotiolutmaisen oloinen imppistout. Lisäksi "rocky road" osuus jää melkolailla kokonaan piiloon. Kuitenkin mukavaa tumman maltaan paahdetta etenkin jälkimaussa. Ihan ok olut.