Lion Stout
Has a rich, nutty and chocolaty smell, with caramel and malty sugar aromas filling out the nose. The flavor is far more sugary than I was expecting, the malts coming at me in waves of caramelized brown sugars, molasses, and toffee. This is, however, a stout, and so there are many stout-like flavors to complement those sugars: chocolate malts, hints of tobacco and coffee, lightly-burnt grains. As well, there are distinct vanilla and dark chocolate notes that ride between the sugars and the more bitter flavors. The aftertaste is dominated by tobaccos and burnt grains, and seems to disappear quickly, leaving only a slight alcohol burn on the tongue. The brew itself is slightly more viscous than water, sliding across the tongue like extra virgin olive oil. Overall, I thought this an excellent stout, full of the lovely darker flavors that I expected, but also containing a nice sugary surprise that kept me coming back for more.