Black Oak Nutcracker

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Single bomber from the LCBO. Pours a real dark brown with very little highlights. The beige head is slightly creamy with decent retention and some good amount of lace. Beautiful mild aromas of coffee at first, but seems to go away quickly. Roasted malt, dark fruits and then, after breathing, the cinnamon and other spices come out. Smooth wet mouthfeel (oily a tad) with a medium-full body. Roasted malt flavours with again, mild dark fruits and the cinnamon showing in the finish. Even hints of berries and mint show up which makes this interesting. Just wish it was not as mild overall.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Pours a very dark brown with a creamy beige head. Good retention and lacing. Roasted malt and a little nuttiness in the aroma. The flavours blend well and are subtle. Slight roasted, breaded malts. Some coffee, cocoa, dark fruits and a bit of spice. Smooth full body. Very enjoyable.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

550ml draught
5.8% ABV
C'est What? (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
November 25, 2011
$6.64
The beer poured a solid dark brown with a 1" creamy brown head. The aroma was roasted malt, cinnamon, and chocolate. The mouthfeel was medium to full bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour was coffee, dark fruits, and some weak spices. Very enjoyable seasonal ale.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

This was a very dark pour, licorice black, with a thin head. The aroma was filled with fruity spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The flavour was roasted malts, chocolate, and some spiciness.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Bottle: Poured a black color porter with small foamy dark brown head with good retention. Aroma of roasted malt with some light cinnamon. Taste is quite rich with a nice dose of roasted malt and some spices, which definitely includes cinnamon. Notes of chocolate and coffee are identifiable but a more important presence would have been nice. Body is above average.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

2004 edition; Poured fresh from a growler filled at the brewery (thanks Jeremy). Displayed a deep dark chestnut color with ruby highlights when held to light. 1 finger tight pored brown cap that leaves some nice lacing. Moderate, small bubbled carbonation. Aromas of coffee, nuts, spice, treacle, some grassy notes...wonderful nose to this. Chewy roasted malts punctuated by toasty-chocolate tones, burnt treacle sweetness is well balanced by grassy leaf hops and spice notes (cinnamon? nutmeg?)...a bit of woodsy mustiness....the finish is long as the complex spicey malt character is stripped away slowly by an encroaching bittering...damn fine porter with some unique character. Sturdy, spicey-bitter and warming and very drinkable. It’s a sin against man and nuture this is not more widely available.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

Thanks to mr_kimchee for this one. Dark brown, nearly black and looking like a stout, this porter has a strong coffee/chicory profile in the flavor. Very roasty, it's an enjoyable brew on a winter's day.