Day 56, 2.25.11., Sheaf Stout

I pick up Sheaf Stout at the Harvest Market in downtown Mendocino.  It's a cool little old school market/general store with a pretty good beer selection.  I love places like this.   I've never seen this bottle before before.  It's from Australia.
This is a deep, dark black stout.  No light gets through this badboy.  It has a creamy beige head.  Basically it appears just like a good stout should.
And it continues down the right path.  The nose is full of coffee and smoked spice.  There's a very interesting aroma in this beer of smoked, dry chilies.  Very intriguing.
Sheaf has a a big strong bitterness that's nestled oh-so nicely among a very round and slightly sweet malt body.  It's a terrific stout, albeit one on the sweet/cream/milk side of the stout spectrum.
I really like this beer.  Such a pleasant surprise to pick up a random beer, just because it was the only one on the shelf I hadn't tasted/seen, and have it turn out to be one of my new favorite stouts.  Kudos, Australia.  I can only assume that the brewery is run by koalas, kangaroos and the entire cast of the Road Warrior, but they are doing something right.
9 out of 10