Hemel & Aarde Imperial Stout – ABV 10%
Made with Bruichladdich distillery malt – the most peated malt in the world – this smokey stout has creamy chocolate and liquorice notes to sweeten the deal.
Look: Just off pitch black and opaque, with creamy beige head.
Aroma: Imperious smokiness backed up with spicy licorice and dark chocolate,
Taste: More sweet peatiness plus a chocolate creaminess. Massively full-bodied with a bold, thick mouthfeel that persists before floating off in a cloud of sweet smoke.
Verdict: Hemel & Aarde, which translates to Heaven & Earth, uses loads of Earthy peat to make a beer that is really is rather Heavenly. Go figure.