pudding in a bottle

I'm always on the lookout for those dark beers.  Smoke & Dagger had an eye-catching label, and black lager isn't something I see every day.  The label calls it a blend of schwarzbier and smoked porter, promising chocolate along the way.

It comes out a bit more transparent than stouts do, but once in the glass it's opaque enough.  The head is off-white and bubbly, another sign of not-stoutness.  The smell is a little sweet and tangy, reminiscent of porters.  The first taste also recalls a nice porter, with a little bit of light fruitiness, but that is immediately overtaken by an earthy chocolate.  After swallowing, it's the chocolate that lingers on the taste buds, something like a light chocolate pudding.  The beer remains smooth all the way down, and the aftertaste is very subtle, not overpowering, and not too long-lasting.  The smoke comes out after a time, not so noticeable right away.  In the end, it floats out, just a mild touch, making a nice balance with the chocolate.

A relaxing beer, good for anytime I'd say.  And it has the decency to wear the dagger on the front, no backstabbing in the cards.