Moody Ales from Port Moody, BC and Ridge Brewing Company from Maple Ridge, BC have collaborated to create their 1880 Export Stout as part of the Moody Ales Small Batch Series.

The eye almost slides off this beer it is a dark, murky brown that almost seems like an absence of colour, it is kind of fun to stare at it and try to really see through it.  The head is a creamy light tan with bubbles that look almost nitrogenated.  I normally don’t go on about how beers look but I really love staring at this one.

The nose is so rich, leading with a little bit of alcohol heat and coffee, almost like a Spanish Coffee for after dinner.  There is a touch of prune underneath.  A roasty malt aroma rolls up on the heels of the coffee.

The mouthfeel is luxuriously smooth, almost creamy and glides across the tongue.  The carbonation is very mild, just a whisper of a tingle just as you swallow.  The flavours are amazing, dark chocolate with a hint of coffee and a little alcohol warmth but not heavy and chewy, just smooth.

This is exactly the beer I want sitting in front of a fire on a cold night.