Hermitage Brewing 'Ale of the 2 Tun' Imperial Stout. 9% abv. 30 IBU. Black in color. Thick foamy mocha colored head. Outstanding retention and superb lace. Nose of dark chocolate, heavily roasted malt, ground coffee. Front taste of bitter dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, alcohol, port. Aftertaste of heavy plum, cocoa, black coffee, bitter fruity hops. Full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, creamy on the front end, astringent on the back.

This is an outstanding imperial stout. The tall malt profile coupled with almost harsh bitter chocolate and fruit, with coffee notes throughout, makes it a big, big complex brew. Grab this today. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Our Imperial Stout pours out black with a thick brown colored head. The aroma is a mixture of cocoa, black coffee, roasted malts and a hint of molasses. Its flavor is a decadent balance of black coffee, bittersweet dark chocolate, roasted malts, a touch of molasses and a soft fruit character. A moderately full bodied beer with matching carbonation, this imperial stout has just enough alcohol to keep your cheeks warm, and a dry finish to keep you coming back for more."

[source: hermitagebrewing.com]

Rocky Patel 'Catch 22' Toro. 6x52. Roasted brown wrap with darker shades. Good construction with some veins. Nice straight lines. Good cut and light. Easy draw throughout, pre- and post-light. First half tastes of walnut, roasted dark leaf, earthy exhale. Second half is light wood, mild herbal spice. Burn was somewhat even though it did take some careful turning. Ash was clean and marbled well, light gray with spots of darker ash.

This is a nice smoke. It's well crafted with a smooth draw and decent burn, with a pleasant mild nutty taste with a background faint spice. A good value cigar from a premium cigar maker. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Catch 22 is a well-balanced medium-bodied cigar. A solid earthy core is accompanied with flavors of cocoa as well as a lingering sweetness."

[source: rockypatel.com]

The burn required some careful maintenance, but was mostly even throughout.