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Thanks to TipTop for the growler!

Pours a deep garnet brown with a foamy big tan head and what the hell just fell into my glass? Wait, there's another. There are NUTS in my beer. Yes, nuts, hazelnuts to be precise. Nothing like pouring a cold one and seeing an unexpected filbert or two plop into the glass. Appearance gets 3/3 just for the surprise factor alone. Aroma is coffee, milk chocolate Ovaltine, earthy hops, and definitely a hint of roasted nut.

Starts out with a creamy, cafe au lait with a dash of Ovaltine flavor before a mildly roasty, hazelnut nuttiness kicks in. Balancing undelying bitterness. The roasty, cocoa/coffee/nut flavor just carries through nicely from front to back, not overly sweet or overly roasty, nicely balanced. Faint trace of bitter nut in the background. Finishes cleanly, leaving a lingering roast coffee, cocoa, and hazelnut flavor all over the tongue. Very faint lactic flavor waaay after the swallow. Moderate mouthfeel, slightly thin for 6.5% but not objectionably so.

Overall a very enjoyable porter, leaning slightly towards the sweet side in the same way a milk stout does, with the added benefit of nuts in the growler... and probably in the brewhouse as well. By the way, it's freaking outstanding with really good dark chocolate.

Served In: Mug