Dominion Delivery--Dark Night of the Soul

Dark Night of the Soul is a big ox of an Imperial Stout from Dominion City Brewing Co.—a 10% ale made with cocoa nibs from Hummingbird Chocolate, vanilla, and hazelnuts. The Ottawa, Ontario ale comes in 355mL cans that advise “meditate on this and it will be revealed.” It’s a near-black ale that pours with a thin layer of tan head.

DNotS has a sweet, confectionery nose with big cocoa and vanilla notes, complimented with ardent booze heat. The beer has a smooth and thick mouthfeel. The front end of the flavour is rich, malt-driven, and toothsome, driven by two-thirds of the palate of Neapolitan iced cream. The finish turns gloomily bitter, though the sweetness only lets up a bit.

A jumbo booze ball, sure, but DNotS is ale also a complicated brew. If you like stouts with a dessert-y vibe that aren’t gimmicky pastry oriented, this is a grand option.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.