A massive, fizzing, dense coffee-colored head rises from the pour and settles to a foam lace. Deep, rich, nearly opaque black, with ruby hues around the edges. Soft but distinct fresh coffee grounds in the nose, along with chocolate and roasted notes. Smooth, firm and even in the mouth, and not too heavy. Quite acrid up front, with a mouthful of roasted astringency, char, a sharp and semi-sour bite and a weakish watery hop flavor of the rind-like citrus variety just beneath the sourness. Minimal sweetness provides little balance, and allows the dryness of the beer to dominate. Smoky undertones. Bone-dry finish with residual roasted, stale-ish coffee grounds and acrid flavors lingering, not overly pleasant, too tannic-like.

The beer pours dark brown, near black, with ruby hues. Tan foamy head with a decent amount of clingy lace. Loads of complex roasted and smoked aromas, pear, grain and husk beneath. Smooth and creamy on the palate. Medium body, with a nice malty base. Light fruity grape flavors add some nice balance to accented smokiness. Pear-like flavors and feel. Bitterness is balanced and allows the Weyermann rauch and chocolate wheat malts to flex. Nice hints of chocolate smooth things together quite nicely. A raw leafy character leaves a tannin feel on the palate, along with some smoky husks. Slightly dry finish with smoky lingers.

The 22-ounce brown bomber pours with a thickness and leaves three fingers of stodgy head. A head that does not want to move. Slightly hazy reddish-amber color. Spicy herbal hops with suggestions of wintergreen, pine sap and grapefruit rind. Some alcoholic fruity esters, rum, cane sugar and toasted malt in the nose as well. So damn smooth and creamy, with a sumptuously full body. Light brown sugar on the palate, then a fume of well-placed alcohol, and then the hops show up bitter as ever, but not a sharp bitterness or astringency. Big tobacco, citrus rind, pine sap and mint flavor from the hops stick to the taste buds for a while. Lots of malt behind the hops; toasted bread, caramel and yeast dough come to mind. A bit fruity with pineapple, papaya and ripe mango. Sting of alcohol in the end with a bittersweet finish.