Bravo to big craft beers in North Carolina! This one was on tap at MacGregor’s in Cary. Deep obsidian pour, with a great roasty chocoffy malty aroma. The mouthfeel was nicely dense, with solid flavors of chocoff and some molasses. Very well made.

From notes 9/27/05: Mmmm, roasty! Pours a jet black color, virtually impenetrable to light. A modest chocolate milk head formed and exhibited some meager staying power. Lacing was sparse and loose. Aromas...roasty. Roasted malts, coffee bean, and chocolate bar dominate. A faint whiff of alcohol. Flavors...roasty. More roasted malts, roasted barley, some char. Alcohol seems more hidden to me in the flavor vs. the scent. Smooth chocolatey Ovaltine finish. Aftertaste...roasty. A lingering roasted note. Very drinkable and smooth. A fine offering from Jon. A quality first brew post-Cap popping.

On tap at the brewery. Thick black color with thin brown head. Very little aroma, even as it warmed up. Tasty flavors of roasted malts with licorice and chocolate chewiness. The mouthfeel, however, makes this brew; very thick and chewy, without too much carbonation. Alcohol is either well-hidden or not very present, which is a plus but might have enhanced the flavors and aroma. An excellent beer, but missing some characteristics of an imperial.

Draft at the Durham World Beer Festival. Black with a brown foamy head. Big roasty malt, coffee, something like teriyaki notes. Flavor follows the nose. Rich thick mouthfeel. Odd about the teriyaki, but somehow it seems to work. I liked it.

This was a very good beer. Poured in a snifter because of the higher alcohol level. Smelled like alcohol. Hoppy and dark.