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22 oz bottle purchased from Hop City. I think it was around $7 or so. Served up in a snifter.

A: Pours up the expected deep, glossy black colored body. Light has no chance of getting through the body. The pour got me almost two fingers of dark mocha colored head. It is decently frothy and falls slowly to about half a finger. Spotty lace dots the glass. The liquid is oily/slick, causing a film to be left on the glass and most of the lace slips back down into the body and head. All is well in this department.

S: The smell is kind of weirding me out a bit. It has most of all a smell of dark fruits such as black cherries, figs, and raisins. All of these come together and have an almost red wine like aroma. Not at all what I am expecting. There is barely any roasted, heavy malt presence. Barely getting any chocolate notes. The best I can get is a boozy, almost bourbon like note from time to time. There is also a decent lactose/cream presence. Very Strange.

T: Once again, getting this heavy dark fruit presence. Its wine like and slightly tart, could be intended, could be the on set of infection. Don't know. With all taht said, it drinks pretty well. That black cherry and raisin note works nicely with the malt notes coming out in the flavor. Like chocolates (dark chocolate) come through and there is a good amount of roastiness coming out. Lactose/cream is present but not as much as in the nose. Things round off with a bit of bourbon sweetness and booziness.

M: Light side of full in body with a medium carbonation. The feel is slick and sticky, lingers and coats the palate. I was expecting more heat from this beer considering the ABV, but it stays pretty mild in that respect. Aftertaste is that black cherry tartness and that booze.

OA: Not bad, not great. I really don't know if this beer is on its way to infection or if all of this was intended. It just seems strange and very different from typical RIS's out there. It drinks decently and challenges the taste buds. Don't know if I would have it again because I was after an expected RIS and I got something completely different.

Served In: Snifter