I've had the pleasure of tasting a number of really remarkable beers lately.  Among them is Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, a seasonal beer from that strange brewery in Delaware that we all love so much.  The bottle promises a hearty stout brewed with chicory and Mexican coffee under a "bone-white head".  It lived up to almost all of these promises.

When poured, this is a black beer through which little or no light can seep.  The head, instead of being bone-white, is tan, thick, and healthy, with nice retention.  On the nose, dark roasted notes of coffee and chicory are certainly present.  I haven't had chicory in a very long time, so it's difficult for me to remember exactly what it smells like, but this beer definitely stirred some distant memories.

This beer is a pleasure to drink.  It has a spritzy effervescence that one might find surprising in a stout.  Its strong coffee and bitter chocolate flavor is held up by a roasted sweetness and stout deliciousness.  At 5.2% ABV, this is a beer that one can savor long into the cold Winter night, where I am certain it would be a most welcome companion.  This beer earns four stars for being a rather outstanding and interesting stout.