My first try of a Sam Smiths beer, and this beauty comes in a very attractively labelled bottle, capped off with some pretty golden foil... Everyone loves the golden foil. Here goes...
This pours pure black; there is no light getting through this. Topped off with a frothy mocha coloured head that goes down to a thin layer after a few minutes.
The nose is a boozy mix of deep, roasted malts giving off dark chocolate, burnt sugars and a mix of cherries, figs and raisins. Very nice.
The taste is equally complex. First, the thick, chewy malt wraps around your tongue: tons of roast, and that bitter dark chocolate comes though with coffee and chestnuts with undertones of smokey wood chips. There is some lactose sweetness in the middle, along with hints of anise, burnt brown sugar, figs, cherries and other complex fruits flavours that I can't quite pinpoint.... It's all deliciously wrapped up in that alcohol, which makes itself known at all times, but sits in the background and doesn't take over. No real hop flavour of note, but I didn't miss them...
Full bodied, rich, thick, creamy, chewy and delectable. It's top drawer indeed. There is little carbonation, and has a pleasing astringency. I have a few more bottles of Sam Smiths beer sitting my beer cellar (aka, kitchen), and If they are anything like this, then I'm in for a treat.
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