Alaskan Perserverance

On tap at Freshcraft during Great American Beer Fest was Alaskan Perseverance, the 25th Anniversary beer, and I did not hesitate to order a glass. The beer pours a black color with a very lofty and foamy tan head. The aroma consisted of smoke, chocolate, toasted malts, vanilla, and oak. The taste is dry and silky smooth because of milk chocolate and the amount of smoke entrapped in this beer. Toasted malts also provide some dryness as well as a hint of caramel. The finish has warming alcohol bite before being smoothed out with some vanilla. The after taste is all about the oak flavor that again is dry. The alcohol content is 9.0% ABV. The Perseverance was a wonderful beer that was very dry and smoky, two things that I definitely enjoy in a beer.