Lump Of Coal

 ~ One of the very last bottles purchased in Asheville NC (Weinhaus, $4.59 for a 500mL bottle), and consumed on a quiet and warm Thursday evening in San Diego CA.

I've generally had good luck with the Ridgeway beers, even when I think their "Bad Elf" series has more than out run it's welcome (e.g. what next? "Most'est Baddest Worsest Elf Ale, Evar!?"). So when I spied this rather mysterious and ominous looking beer for sale, I decided to give a shot, pricey for a half-liter, or not. More than a month -- and five business trips -- later, here goes.

As I've discussed in previous reviews, my sense of smell has really taken a hit over the past year or so. Nor sure how or why, but `tis true. So I can only honestly make certain semi-well founded assumptions and guestimations as to the aroma. And in this case? Not bad. Some hints of anise in the nose, it seems to me.

Ditto for the flavor profile. Some black licorice/anise notes in the mix, along with some more standard, semi-vinous notes in the mouthfeel, letting the semi-silky body carry the load. A bit sweet in the middle, though this is fleeting, and the finish is a bit dry and clean -- especially for the weight and ABV% of this particular beer. 

This is a rather interesting "on-the-edge"-type of beer, in that a dash here or there could easily push it into the Imperial Russian Stout category. But since I'm quite a bit removed from a "style Nazi", all I can say that really matters is that is a pretty satisfying beer, IMHO. Big enough to be considered something of a Holiday/Winter/X-Mas Seasonal, but still approachable enough for more routine drinking, too. I dig it.

//TB