~ Initial Tasting ~
May 28, 2004
Click on a photo for Tasting Notes

Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster
Lee Chase
Head Brewer
Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions




Steve Wagner
President & Brewmaster
Appearance:
Dark brown/black with a nice tan foam head.
Aroma:
Roasty, malty, alcoholic and some toffee notes.
Flavor:
Sweet, caramel, malt flavor balanced by roasty dryness. Has a long finish with warming alcohol qualities.
Palate:
Full bodied and thick, coats the mouth, teeth, and throat.
Overall:
Very dinkable now but some cellar time will help flavors meld and develop additional complexity.




Lee Chase
Head Brewer
Appearance:
Deep, dark brown with a dark tan head.
Aroma:
Dark malts, some hop aroma/coffee/toffee nuttyness with noticeable alcohol. (cool aroma?)
Flavor:
Aromas pull through. Toffee aroma is there as flavor along with the black malt and coffee flavors. Finishes with delicious black malt roastiness/bitterness that lingers nicely...slightly sweet.
Palate:
Soft & sturdy. Full for sure, but not so sweet which keeps it from being cloying.
Overall:
Even though I made it, I'm goin' to say that this is one super-duper beer that is only bound to get better with age!





Greg Koch
Chairman & CEO
Appearance:
Inky black with brown head and lacing. Very viscous with great legs
Aroma:
Aromas of alcohol invite you in on pillows of roasty-roastiness, and coffecake waves of black burnt dark fruits.
Flavor:
It's like picking a perfectly ripened fruit from the roasty-plum-black currant-anise tree and giving it a good solid bite, bursting it in your mouth! Subsequent eyes rolling back in the head is an involuntary (but very positive) reaction.
Palate:
Not as heavy as I imagined, but hardly light on the palate! Warming. Sticky sweetness on the lips. Must...resist...can...not..
Overall:
This shouldn't be so damn drinkable -- but it is. Doesn't this beer know that it's supposed to tough to drink? Did no one tell it, or is it simply being defiant? I suppose I can relate to that.





Chris Cochran
Marketing & Promotions
Appearance:
The viscosity is thick as usual. Very dark with decent carbonation and a nice tan/plum head.
Aroma:
Alcohol, roasty, sweet (malty); a beer that's almost as good smelling as it is tasting.
Flavor:
Very BIG, comlex, roasty, toffee/coffee-ish and warms nicely.
Palate:
Full-bodied, tongue-coating goodness!
Overall:
I can see why people love this beer...I sure do. As usual it's very complex and has huge character that is sure to get better with some cellaring.