Flashlight shows a deep clear ruby color with light head retention, smells of toasted bread, chocolate, and faint smoke. The taste is crisp and smoky up front with subtle hints of chocolate and coffee underneath the medium body. The finish is short and low in bitterness with just a flash of herbal hops flavor before vanishing into a clean lager finish with a hint of residual smoke. Overall, it’s pretty good, reminds me of a schwarzbier, but if I had to choose, I’d go with the original Stella as it’s just a touch more refined.
