Posts

Sublime Chaos Breakfast Stout – ABV 7%

/in /by

The ‘Best Stout in Europe’ at the World Beer Awards 2015, this huge sticky breakfast stout is made with Ethiopian coffee beans and dry crisp New Zealand hops.

Look: Black pour with a thick pale tan head on top and average carbonation.

Aroma: Loads of rich black coffee and mocha, plus some chocolate and roasted malts.

Taste: Again plenty of coffee and chocolate with the roasted malts coming through stronger. A nice balance of caramel and toffee, nutty sweetness and dry bitter finish in a medium body.

Verdict: Sublime? Absolutely. Chaos? I’m not sure about that. I think these guys knew exactly what they were doing – and it seems like the World Beer Awards 2015 think so too.

Black Oktober – ABV 9%

/in /by

A beautifully balanced unfined Imperial Russian Stout with layers of chocolate sweetness, notes of spice, rich roasted malts and a bitter lingering finish.

Look: Opaque and deep black colour with brief but foamy beige head.

Aroma: Dark roasted malts with black coffee, chocolate and hints of spicy liquorice.

Taste: Malty, roasted taste with black coffee, more dark chocolate and liquorice, with some subtle bread and red fruit undertones. Pretty full-bodied with a great balance of sweetness and hoppy bitterness, joined on the palate with lingering bitterness to finish.

Verdict: A belting impy stout with loads of layers of flavour and long lingering bitterness. It’s an Oktober-fest in your mouth. Prost!

Da Hong Pao Barley Wine – ABV 9%

/in /by

East meets West in an innovative take on a British-style Barley Wine. Gansu (Sichuan) pepper brings the heat and highlights the boozy warmth in this syrupy BW.

Look: Clear dark amber colour with a slightly foamy off-white head; medium carbonation and good lacing.

Aroma: Sweet dark malts and some orange, like a classic British Barley Wine, with a strong zing of pepper and spice.

Taste: Sweet malts and spices, more dried fruit with caramel and toffee base. Towards the end the pepper kicks highlighting the bitterness and the alcohol warmth. Syrupy mouthfeel, and full-bodied.

Verdict: There are plenty of beers out there that are too innovative to be tasty, but this syrupy, peppery, sweet treat is not one of them. Gānbēi!

Export Porter 1750 – ABV 10.5%

/in /by

Brewed to an English recipe dating 1750, the Fuggles and Sorachi Ace hops plus Carafa and Caramel malts give this robust porter a huge fudge flavour.

Look: Just off-black and a little cloudy with a creamy beige head and small carbonation.

Aroma: Loads of fudge sweetness backed up with black coffee and dark chocolate.

Taste: Surprisingly hoppy with great complexity. More coffee, fudge and chocolate but with plenty of fruit, vanilla and caramel notes.

Verdict: A sturdy beast of a porter, as good as they come.

Bommen & Granaten – ABV 11.9%

/in /by

With an almost Champagne-like foam, malty sweet aroma, fruity notes and chewy mouthfeel, ‘Bombs & Grenades’ Barley Wine is as explosive as you would expect.

Look: Hazy amber-brown with foamy off-white, mousse-like head and medium carbonation.

Aroma: Malty sweet, caramel and toffee, plus some sweet fruit such grapes and orange.

Taste: Loads of sweet fruit like orange and apples, plus more toffee, treacle syrup and more honey sweet malts. Full bodied with a really thick, chewy mouthfeel and a floral hoppy finish

Verdict: Boom.

Sun & Moon Umami Imperial Stout – ABV 10%

/in /by

Celestial collaboration with Tempest Brewing, this imperial stout is made with shitake mushrooms, miso and salted seaweed for an explosion of umami-flavour.

Look: Dark black with a light brown head.

Aroma: Roasted malt with notes of dry roasted peanuts.

Taste: Salty, sweet and bitter with the earthiness of the mushrooms, miso and seaweed.

Verdict: Imperial Stout x Oyster Sauce. In a really good way.

Sgt Nightvision – ABV 10.5%

/in /by

This French oak-aged American Imperial Stout has a smoky sweet character and a roasted chocolate base, thanks to Peated, Maris Otter, Caramel and Cara malts.

Look: Clear dark black-brown colour with a foamy beige head. Soft carbonation and nice lasting lacing.

Aroma: Dark roasted and sweet malts, chocolate, caramel and a hint of dried fruits.

Taste: Sweet with more dark malt, caramel and chocolate, some tones of roasted malts and charcoal smokiness. Medium to full-bodied, lingering bitterness and some lasting boozy warmth.

Verdict: Copy that, Sergeant. Because we’d like another one, please.

Oerbier – ABV 9%

/in /by

Strong, dark Belgian strong ale made with no less than 6 malts and a characteristic sourness.

Look: Hazy dark brown with a beige head.

Aroma: Sweet prunes stewed in red wine.

Taste: Sweet, spicy and fruity with a slightly tart acid finish.

Verdict: De Dolle once again demonstrate why they are one of the great innovators of Belgian brewing. A superbly balanced beer that you’ll want to drink again and again.

Imperial Cafe Racer – ABV 8.5%

/in /by

Collaboration with Devil’s Peak, amped up with Kenyan espresso and Bourbon vanilla Madgascar.

Look: Pours opaque black with a small beige head.

Aroma: Chocolate, coffee and vanilla.

Taste: Big on the roasted malt, with dark chocolate balanced out with sweet caramel and vanilla.

Verdict: Just the kind of rich dessert Stout we love; rich, complex and satisfyingly boozy. Curl up on the sofa and enjoy sipping this one.

Smoke n Barrels – ABV 7.5%

/in /by

Belgian Dubbel, made with liquorice-smoked wild sloes in a Foudre (a large wooden vat, popular with winemakers).

Intense.

Look: Nut brown with a frothy head. 

Aroma: Smoked oak, with nuts and the tartness forest fruit.

Taste: Sweet with lots of dates, figs and dried fruit, mellow wood-smoke and subtle red wine tartness.

Verdict: Never your usual Wild Beer, and this beer shows why they are so highly regarded.