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Problem Solved Imperial IPA – ABV 7.5%

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An extension to Stewart’s core range, this collab brings in some Dutch expertise for a Belgian Double IPA that is full-on with sweet fruit, piney hops and biscuit-flavoured malts.

Look: Amber-orange on the pour with a well-lasting white head and medium carbonation; quite subtle-looking for a Belgian DIPA.

Nose: Naturally hoppy, almost grassy, with those obvious bold citrus orange notes coming through, plus grapefruit and mango.

Taste: Again subtle for a DIPA but obvious hints of caramel and biscuit, toasted malts; some yeast shining through. Sweet and juicy fruits in abundance: orange, pineapple, melon, maybe even some cherry tang the sugars moving to a mildly bitter finish.

Verdict: If the “problem” was that you couldn’t find a good beer collaboration between a brewer Edinburgh and a brewer Bodegraven, then this is indeed the solution.

Imperial Export Strength Stout – ABV 10.5%

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Rich and complex, the imperious Dark Star won gold in the Stout class in the London & South East Area section of the CAMRA Champion Beer Of Britain 2015.

Look: Deep ruby, bordering on jet black, on the pour with a small creamy brown head. The long maturation process makes the beer look dense and full-bodied, with a small to medium carbonation.

Nose: Rich aromas driven by coffee and darkly roasted malts, dark chocolate. Some tinges of molasses and oak as well forest fruits and berries.

Taste: Again focus on espresso coffee mixed with rich dark chocolate plus vanilla, rum and coconut, plus a boozy, treacly velvety mouthfeel those Magnum and East Kent hops, flaked barley and Crystal malts.

Verdict: Dark Star’s stout as imperious as the Death Star. Strong, complex and meant to be savoured.

3 Way Action DIPA – ABV 9%

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Launched at Craft Beer Rising, this DIPA is dry-hopped with shedloads (that’s a technical term) of Galaxy, Vic Secret and Mosaic hops for a tropical finish.

The “three-way action” here simply refers to the three Welsh teams behind this collab beer: Tenby the southwest, Cardiff’s Crafty Devil and Heavy Industry the northeast, to make a Welsh triple-pronged brewing powerhouse.

It’s got a nicely balanced, juicy tropical beer full of peach, mango and passionfruit – but with a very active, bitter kick.

Of Foam & Fury DIPA – ABV 8.5%

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Furiously high levels of fruity flavour this hard-hitting 8 percenter. Beoir voted Of Foam and Fury Imperial IPA the Beer of the Year in 2014.

Look: Hazy golden orange with a foamy white head and nice amount of lacing.

Aroma: We were surprised at the amount of fruit going on in this boozy imperial IPA. There’s loads of bold tropical flavour like grapefruit, mango and orange.

Taste: The galena, chinook, Pacific jade and simcoe hops provide more sweet and juicy tropical fruit, plus some resin, pine, spice and citrus. This is all supported by a hearty malt backdrop to give a complex yet balanced bittersweet character with a lasting bite and soft finish.

Verdict: No fury here; just a happy beer drinker. It’s not hard to see why Beoir has been singing the praises of this brewery, just like the boys of the NYPD choir were singing ‘Galway Bay’.

14|04 – Tripel – Hallertau Blanc – ABV 8.5%

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BBNo’s Abbey tripel uses the Hallertau Blanc hop which produces notes of white grapes and a refreshing bite to balance that classic Belgian sweetness.The fourth version of the traditional Abbey beer comes hot on the heels of 14/01 Mosaic, 14/02 Wai-Iti and 14/03 Ella.

Look: Hazy amber-gold on the pour with a just off-white foam which lasts nicely throughout, plus fine to moderate carbonation.

Aroma: Fresh and sweet with some soft sweet fruits thanks to that Hallertau Blanc hop – there’s an almost candied orange peel feel to it. Sweet caramel and toffee are interspersed with subtle spice for nice balance.

Taste: The first thing you notice is that it doesn’t get too sweet – a bit of a signature (and smart) Brew by Numbers manoeuvre to keep it drier and more bitter than usual – the hoppy finish keeps it nicely crisp. There is still of course a lot of grape and fruit sweetness, including jam, fruit peel again with some light spice and stewed fruits, plus toffee and caramel.

Verdict: Sweet but not cloying and surprisingly refreshing for a tripel. If this doesn’t make you want to move to Belgium and become a monk, not much will.

Bone Idol Barrel Aged Imperial Brown Ale – ABV 9.8%

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This chocolatey imperial brown ale the Salisbury-based brewery includes pale, rye, crystal and roasted malt plus wheat and oats, matured in bourbon barrels.

Look: Black and densely rich with a creamy long-lasting tan head

Nose: Lots of chocolate and vanilla the oats and wheat plus those magnum hops and there’s a definitely a whiff of the bourbon the BA; it’s sweet and slightly sickly yet pretty addictive.

Taste: The bourbon without a doubt gives a clear alcoholic buzz but this is balanced well with the oats and chocolate which give some creaminess and richness to leave a velvet soft mouthfeel overall across plenty of complex layering.

Verdict: Powerful BA notes but the oats shine through nicely. Welcome to the revolution – it’s surprisingly rich and creamy.

King Slayer DIPA – ABV 8.5%

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Tangy marmalade, creamy sweetness and more subtle on hops compared to some Buxton brews, this Vermont DIPA hides its booziness under layers of tropical fruits.

Look: Pours clear  and yellow-amber in the glass with a small, creamy white head.

Aroma: Tropcial fruit punch stuffed with mango, pineapple and orange with highlights of pine and some grapefruit zest.

Taste: Under the light aroma notes are jammy strawberry and zingy marmelade with some biscuit increasing the body and mouthefeel. Slight boozy warmth but otherwise the alcohol is well hidden with a moderate carbonation and persistent crisp finish.

Verdict: Layers of rich sweet jammy fruits, tropical hints and interludes of hoppy crispness – long live the King Slayer!

Imperial Black IPA – ABV 7.5%

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Fresh hop aromas, pine crispness, orange zest and bitter lime peel taste with lingering forest fruit and candied red fruits – this is a black-belt Black IPA.

Look: Very dark, almost jet-black with a pale tan headthat just clings to the side of the glass, and medium carbonation.

Aroma: Strong starting notes of pine and tropical fruits plus some berries and strawberry jam.

Taste: Red berries move to centre stage accompanied with stone fruits. Still some background orange zing and zest of lemon; long, roasted malt and bitter finish and full bodied.

Verdict: For something so dark this tastes like Mediterranean sunshine.

White Cell White Imperial Stout – ABV 9.7%

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This collaboration between Time and Tide and Weird Beard is packed with Sorachi Ace hops, coffee and cocoa nibs for a full-bodied, toffee / mocha coffee finish.

Look: Yellow gold in colour and clear, with a foamy, white head and small levels of carbonation.

Aroma: Cocoa nibs and coffee lead the way with a mocha / milky latte sweetness backed up with biscuity breadiness and waves of toffee and caramel plus some light citrus twangs.

Taste: Full and chewy with more of that sweet milky coffee, biscuit and toffee. Good level of alcohol warmth with more toffee and caramel the cocoa nibs.

Verdict: Sticky, sweet and satisfying – like enjoying a latte and biscuit in one. This is a Cell we would happily be locked up in.

Magic & Tricks NEIPA – ABV 8.4%

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Billed as Strong Vermont IPA, this collab with Magic Rock gets its magic a bittersweet and fruity yeast character and loads of ripe orange and peach notes.

Look: Pours hazy amber-orange pour with a creamy off-white head and moderate carbonation.

Aroma: Zesty strong tropical fruit – a zing of orange, mango, passionfruit and peach and some creamy banana notes.

Taste: Layers of intense sticky sweet fruit; more mango and orange plus papaya. Soft carbonation yet bold and full-bodied with a nice boozy finish.

Verdict: Vermont IPA or Double IPA, call it what you will – this fruity, creamy beer is complex, juicy and bursting with boozy fruit notes – ceratinly is absolute magic.