Many times, I have found myself lured into decadent decisions by a beer that promises to meld some cornucopia of sweet treats with the heartiness of a rich, dark brew. Nearly as often, I’m left grimacing at a flagrantly artificial-tasting concoction that is immediately cloying, coating the tongue with a candy-stripe lacquer. So when I encounter a beer that manages the balance properly, that drinks like a caress and tickles the palate like a satisfying dessert, my relief is exceeded only by my gratitude. And when there’s a perfectly applied whiskey tinge, too, the experience pushes close to full-on swoon. And that’s the best way for me to recount the drinking of the luscious glass of Barrel-Aged S’mores Stout presented to me during a recent, overdue visit to nearby Octopi Brewing.

Previous entries in this series can be found by clicking on the “Beers I Have Known” tag.