Scratch Beer 27 - 2010 (Cocaoabunga)
What the hell happened to my review? Ok--good thing I save notes. Here we go again.... On cask at the release party on 2/11/10. The following is a review of cask offering #1 aged on cocoa nibs and vanilla beans and dry-hopped with Simcoe. A-Deep brown with the faintest of deep garnet highlights. Topped with a medium rusty tan head. The head diminishes slowly and leaves a healthy dose of caking lace. S-Becomes better and better upon warming with heavy, deep, rich, dark, bitter chocolate dominating. Lactose sweetness and a touch of vanilla in the background. A nice dose of perfume like hops accent the rich chocolate aroma nicely. T-Rich bitter chocolate is dominate but smoothed nicely by the lactose and vanilla bean sweetness. Healthy body building dark roasted malt and lightly floral but mostly earthy hops accent the rich chocolate bite. M-Medium bodied, rich, lucious and so smooth and creamy. D-Almost completely off da' hook. Maybe boost up the chocolate a touch and this one would be nearly perfect. I like the nib and bean addition to the base beer....certainly praise worthy.