Immensely complex oak-aged Old Heathen dry stout (with maroon-highlighted deep mahogany hue) scatters bittersweet black chocolate urging across charred hop frontage as tannic grape-soured cherry tartness infiltrates Black Forest cake illusion. Further sips reveal sherry-port kick at lingering lacquered vanilla finish, though stabilized aftertaste recalls marshmallow-imbued chocolate liqueur. Updated 2013 version ‘aged in whiskey barrels’ brought deeper wood-smoked bourbon tenacity to oaken cherry and tannic grape pucker – overriding chalky mocha thrust.