Beer- #500(a) - Epic - Epicurean Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout

#500, and it's a Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout, the 2014 version. In a massive re-think because I can't arrange a night in when I can do a head to head it's postponed until a few beers time.  I must stay in more. So, then, 500 (a)...

Big number, Big Volumes, Big number and Big party mood.

Each year a different coffee variety from a different country is used and the figs are handled in a slightly different way.

This is  of 8% ABV,  the beer is 50 IBU things, and that makes 240 calories a serving size, the 750ml bottle contains 4.73 standard drink units.

This is then beer from Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial Stout and they are in Auckland, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10505" align="alignleft" width="300"] It's been a while coming.[/caption]

The Epicurean series is a celebration of the flavours and aromas that can be found within the diverse range of ingredients that brewers and chefs alike use in their creations.

This beer is a culmination of hours of cerebration, experimentation, cogitation and libation.

And a sprinkling of dehydrated finesse.

• 2014 - COFFEE: Columbian Excelso (roasted by L’affare),  whole Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut

Apart from an early night what cold possibly go wrong?

This has a really dry note, by which I mean powdery, on the aroma, which is not surprisingly coffee but also chocolate.

Pour is fantastic, black as coffee and with a generous head that settles slightly to something more manageable.

Aroma settles into something more 'ash' like in some ay that I'm poorly communicating, and the coffee note is present and subtle.

And it drinks like a bit of liquid velvet, so smooth and clean, it's almost cream like in it's mouthfeel. The bitterness is low and noticeable at the finish, which isn't dry, and there is a lovely linger.

The coffee is more pronounced at he back too, the front dominated by a lovely wall of soft sweetness. It's almost like I'm writing a love letter.

No hints of any 'fruits' nor is there a hint of the alcohol in this.

For all that though I don't get any popping of favours, no bright notes. The coffee is nice but it might not be coffee enough, it doesn't add a bitterness nor a burnt note in there.

I also though that the flavour profile was a bit flat in the middle, starts nice with the fullness of taste, and ends well with the coffee and the final bitter but there seems to be a gap in the middle somewhere. AS if it's not 'thick' enough.

I'm not overly upset or disappointed though, I had this on tap on release date a moon or two ago and have been dying to try it in the bottle, which has been sitting in the cool dark place for a moon or two.

Then of course I re-read what I've noted so far, which starts really well, gets a bit iffy and ends a bit meh. I'm not sure that's correct though. It really is a pleasing mouthfeel, the fullness, bit this has tailed off a bit as it warmed. I wanted more body and another note in there somewhere. All based on the fact that I've talked myself into thinking this was made with tears of a angel. Which it might be, but isn't.

It isn't though a coffee heavy beer, even though it has the aroma of it doesn't necessarily translate into coffee taste, particularly if you think cold drip/press  coffee and the way that that has mellow and full flavour.  Which you get when you let the glass sit for a few minutes, a feat of patience/

It is a pretty smelling beer. Does that count?

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this 8  arbitrary things  of its things from the thing. It is a smooth, easy drinking beer, with aroma of coffee and chocolate that delivers a lovely mouthfeel a bitter but not dry finish and a satisfying linger in the mouth that brings a smile. From the amount I've managed to drink I'd suggest it is easy drinking, but I'm cautioned by the higher ABV so I'm trying to be good.

In the end though I became a bit bored. And that is never a good thing. 

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I started off all enthusiastic and peaked early from whence it was downhill.


2. Would I have another? I Am going to head to head these for the years 13 and 14 , or the rate i'm going 13-14-15


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I'd be happy if this was a gateway to other beers I'd hat to finish with this though, bring one over I'd still give you a hug.

Well, in the scheme of things I was listening to Andrew Hozier-Byrne , known as Hozier, who is an Irish musician and singer-songwriter

Have a crack at "Take me to Church"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSVMgRr6pw

It's a full experience music style all at a similar volume, listen you'll get it.

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic "Irish" definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

Related articles

• The 20 Best Stouts in the World


• The Brew: 7 stouts to warm up winter


• 5 High ABV Beers to Warm You Up

Previously I've drunk the 2011 - a 9 on the pdubyah-o-meter,  and the 2013 - a 9  on the pdubyah-o-meter, and obviously I  missed a trick in 2012.

• Luke himself on the 2014 beer 


• DubDotDash on the launch night


• Beer for a year on the 2011

• Get crafty with beer this Christmas


• Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper Is What's On Tap


• 31 Beers of December - Day 25: Golden Road Back Home Gingerbread Stout

Beer- #xxx - Epic - Epicurean Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout - this year last year

#500, and it's a taste-off of two beers, one beer twice, and old beer and a new beer. I'm going to taste again the  2013 version of the Epic - Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout, and at the same time the 2014 version in a head to head.

Each year a different coffee variety from a different country is used and the figs are handled in a slightly different way.

These are both of 8% ABV,  the beer is 50 IBU things, and that makes 240 calories a serving size, each 750ml bottle contains 4.73 standard drink units.

This is then beer from Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial Stout and they are in Auckland, New Zealand

The Epicurean series is a celebration of the flavours and aromas that can be found within the diverse range of ingredients that brewers and chefs alike use in their creations.

This beer is a culmination of hours of cerebration, experimentation, ocgitation and libation.

And a sprinkling of dehydrated finesse.

• 2014 - COFFEE: Columbian Excelso (roasted by L’affare),  whole Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut


• 2013 - COFFEE: Wet Process Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee Bean (roasted by L’affare),  Caramelised Dried Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut

Apart from an early night what cold possibly go wrong?

Aroma

Pour

Initial taste

Similarities

Differences

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as ? a of its things from the thing.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it?


2. Would I have another?


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights?

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic "Irish" definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

Related articles

Previously I've drunk the 2011 - a 9 on the pdubyah-o-meter,  and the 2013 - a 9  on the pdubyah-o-meter, and obviously I  missed a trick in 2012.

• Luke himself on the 2014 beer 


• DubDotDash on the launch night


• Beer for a year on the 2011

• Get crafty with beer this Christmas


• Port Brewing's Santa's Little Helper Is What's On Tap


• 31 Beers of December - Day 25: Golden Road Back Home Gingerbread Stout

Beer - #528 - Karl Strauss - Wreck Alley Imperial Stout

Stout beer, being Stout about musics,  some stout numbers, and stout mates at parties

"... is as dark as the depths of its namesake "

Karl Strauss -  Wreck Alley Imperial Stout - a beer I should have brought a week ago. At least I went back...

20fl oz bottle (650ml) that contains a  9.5% ABV, 50 IBU things beer, that has 265 calories a serve size, so this then a  4.9  drinks units worth in NZ.

Brewed by Karl Strauss Brewing Company  in the style: Imperial Stout and they are in the home to sea-world, San Diego, California  USA

[caption id="attachment_10225" align="alignleft" width="300"] He squints he smiles,,,,,[/caption]

Beneath the tides off Mission Beach rests Wreck Alley – a dark and mysterious seascape of forgotten ships. Amidst the rusted wreckage is a marine ecosystem, an artificial reef teeming with life.

Our Wreck Alley is as dark as the depths of its namesake, an Imperial Stout of uncharted complexity. Brewed with darkly kilned malts, cocoa nibs, and Ethiopian coffee beans, Wreck Alley boasts rich layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and espresso-like roast.

Save a bottle. This one has a stout shelf-life.

What could possibly go wrong. It seems this time a whole lot.

Sometimes the Live-blog thing ends in a bit of a pigs-ear thing. You think I might have worked that out, or at least WP might have saved me with "Auto-save" or something, in my dreams.

- I wrote about the pour and how it was a bit disappointing. Not thick like some beers, how the head was a bit of a wastrel and half-hearted at best.

• I wrote about the aroma, and how it went missing but there might have been fruits coming through, but it needed to be make more effort. C'mon!


• I wrote a bit about how this was a pretender beer. what was special? what? How was this the beer that made grown men weep?


• Then I wrote about how I really got it, and how this really was a pretty accomplished beer, here wasn't a dip in the middle or a missing bit, it was pretty much a complete end to end beer. From the initial sup the wash and the finish. It has great chocolate or roasted malt, nothing peaky in the middle and a finish that has that fruit thing going on. incroyable!

I really did poetry that an angst teenager would weep at. Then I did something stupid and it went south, or right-swipe defending on your OS of choice.

Imagine some really good writing then, and then catch up with me at the bit here where I go..."

Loving that nice seeped fruit thing that stouts (or indeed barley wine) has as this gets warmer, somehow it gets more treacle like, and a whole lot more interactive and enjoyable.

The really clever thing though, really strong beer, really no idea how that works, it really isn't apparent or obvious,  quaff away, get squiffy, go on-line shopping, wait for the results in a a few days. When I say clever  I mean something else.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. It really is a great thing, The finish does end a bit, just a bit dry, the worst thing perhaps you could say about this, other than perhaps that it lacks a character or a defining moment that would make this apart of the crowd.

10 was a reach as, for me,  there was an under taste of something wet-oats or something in this, just there and being there. I might have had a crank on, I might be right, I'd go again this this beer, it is worth while.

I like this because well it is what is says it is. There isn't an addition like "Chocolate" or "fruit of some kind" or "Coffee" that would guest in the middle.  This is an honest and goodness "Stout" that I can discern. The chocolate or Coffee fro the roasted malts (I might be making it up) but what you end with is a beer that is really level drinking, there are no peaks in the flavour, no side shoes and a finish that isn't dry and hints a some kind of dark fruits. It is perry good and worthwhile.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It really is a bit special and stands up on its own as a straight up beer, I stated off a bit dubious and ended up loving it.


2. Would I have another? I would really like another, this has so much potential.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Can you imagine the lies you could tell when drinking this, by lies I mean embellishments, and nuances. This is a cracking beer and drinks well and leaves you wondering how your head went a bit squiffy because you can't remember the 9.5% ABV thing.

The Stylistics were a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. I'm sure you'd know "You are Everything", I was listening to a best of compilation. That's some squeaky voices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZILgIoNIDT8

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

Beer - #499 - Rogue - Double Chocolate Stout

A beer I've been looking forward to so much, it's been in the  fridge ages, this is  the Rogue - Double Chocolate Stout. Beer #499. So Great beer, Great Music, Great scores and Great Nights out.

Double Chocolate Stout is an evolution of Rogue Chocolate Stout. 

"Double the legend."

This is Brewed by Rogue Ales in the style that is an  Imperial Stout and they are Newport, Oregon  USA

The big red painted bottle could have beer that is  50, 68 or 72 IBU, depending where you read, I can affirm the bottle I have is 50*, and at the 750ml in size, the bottle, containing beer that is 9% ABV,  is 271 calories a serve, and 5.33 standard drink units. A big night in! *50 IBU things is high for a Stout, and it's less than a low IPA.

[caption id="attachment_9941" align="alignleft" width="300"] Big and Red and #499 !!![/caption]

Double Chocolate Stout is an evolution of Rogue Chocolate Stout, which is flavored with imported Dutch bittersweet chocolate.

The winner of three World Beer Championships Gold Medals.

In 2010, Double Chocolate Stour received a Gold Medal at the World Beer Championships. 

That was then, this is now, what could possibly go wrong!

A beer that appears to be liked by a wide range of people, it rates 100/99 on Ratebeer and has 4 stars on Untappd where people are harsher because it's easier to mark from 5 than to mark 5 categories for an overall score I think.

Bitter bitter chocolate on opening, and it sounded well carbonated, The aroma is like a bar of dark dark chocolate, if you like that sort of thing this is the thing!

That is a thick pour, and it develops a fantastic foamy and thick head that is chocolate tan colour. Followed by a party going on in my mouth!

Delightfully but not overly sweet, which is nice balance to the underlying bitterness with each mouthful, the chocolate aroma moves to more of those raisin type sugar things, and in turn they begin to show through as this warms in the glass.

I would like though for this to have more body, more punch in the middle, and I do think that it finishes towards a slight sourness that I found distracting.

Second pour was just as much fun as the first, it has a thickness of pour and delivered up the same decent head. I'm now getting a bit of palate fatigue though, the finish is moving from sour to dry, the chocolate aroma has also tailed off.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8.5 of its unknowable things from the thing. I wanted something thick, punchy, but soft, and full in the mouth, and with a sweetish finish. I got most of them. I could be being picky, as I wanted this to be the home-run the out-of-the-park experience. Be careful for what you wish.

This has been in my fridge for a while and I have been building towards my own exciting and self imposed 500 celebration that is just another number, and I'm glad this was the beer that gets me to the brink, as it were. Thanks the nice people at Liquorland Forrest Hill @LiquorlandFH and those clever people at @RogueAles.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? It's like I'm not but after I got over that let-down feeling I actually am enjoying it, although differently to what I wanted or expected to.


2. Would I have another? I might, I built up my hopes for this, and I might have made a rod for my own back.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes of course, this has some real experience and engagement going on, but it's also a beer that you can have and not be distracted by it that it becomes intrusive in your thinking.

I'm listening to what is a very good album of music that surprised me with the way that I engaged with with, the band Mono Town, this track "Peacemaker" from the Album "In the eye of the storm." Mono Town is an Icelandic musical band from Reykjavík  with alternative pop and ambient influences formed in 2012 by brothers Börkur and Daði Birgisson (earlier from the Icelandic funk band Jagúar) and singer/guitarist Bjarki Sigurdsson on lead vocals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxUjQRoE0aQ

They're on Spotify, Pandora, iTunes and all the usual places probably.

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

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• Here's the Best Beer from Every State. Hold onto Your Livers.


• 17 Excellent Local Beers That You Should Be Drinking


• How to Start a Beer Cellar At Home

Beer - #455 - Wigram - Czar Imperial Russian Stout

Stout time. This one the  Wigram Czar Imperial Russian Stout.

Brewed by Wigram Brewing Company in the style that of the  Imperial Stout and they are based in Christchurch, New Zealand

500ml bottle of an beer that is 8.5% ABV, that would be 255 calories a serve, and  3.35 standard drink units in NZ.

[caption id="attachment_9414" align="alignleft" width="300"] He was looking so was I[/caption]

Brewed in the authentic historical style of an Imperial Russian Stout, this big bold beer is crafted from rich roasted and toasted malts, fermented with a classic English ale yeast this Czarist favourite is an intense, living, bottle conditioned, full bodied Stout.

At 8.5% abv The Czar lives up to its name.

Plus I saw this in the pub the other day and though to myself I should really try it, seeing as how, well pub, and that looks like a beer I should drink. So Thanks to the nice people at Liquorland in Forrest Hill for having this available.

The pub in mention is the new 16 Tun bar on the viaduct in Auckland, which I might go back to and write a bit about later this week, weather depending.  Certainly worth a visit or two.

I digress though...

Beer - #437 - Epic - Imperium

I thought I'd have a darker beer, so an Epic Imperium it is then.

"In Luke’s own words, its black, its soft, its malty and with notes of toasty loveliness"

This is a  bottle that is 500ml and has and ABV of 9.0%, which makes it 3.55 standard Drinks and 270 calories a serve.

Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brew this at Steam Brewing Company and it could be described as an: Imperial Stout or Foreign Stout, and they are based in Auckland, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_9230" align="alignleft" width="300"] Don't be afraid of the dark[/caption]

The Epic Biennial Stout Series present Imperium. You are Tolerant. You are Subservient. Respect the Powerful. Worship the Elite. This is your future. You aren't strong enough to speak up. Obey unquestioningly. Open the Bottle. Taste this Beer. Enjoy.

Imperium has a rich aroma of melted dark chocolate drizzled on burnt Vogels toast. The flavour is cocoa, salted caramel plums, and burnt fruit cake, a silky voluptuous mouthfeel and a long tarry, and belly warming finish.

Should make a pleasing drink.

Beer - #429 - Thornbridge - Saint Petersburg

I've had a Thornbridge Saint Petersburg in the fridge for a while, and tonight seems a good night to get to drinking it.

Brewed by Thornbridge done in the style that is of Imperial Stout and they are in Bakewell, England

"Saint Petersburg is a fabulously full bodied – chocolatey, malt flavours with coffee finish combine to produce a great Imperial Stout."

[caption id="attachment_9143" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie - in which I look incredibly old and squinty[/caption]

500ml bottle, with a great label art, 7.4% ABV, 2.92 standard drinks that would be in NZ, and as it's bottle conditioned may have yeast, This pops in at 222 calories a serve.

Rich and dark with smoke, subtle peatiness and the power of the dark malts. Molasses and liquorice and chocolate goodness all wrapped up in a smooth, warming liquid.

Finishes with a distinct humming bitterness carried well by the hop and malt combo.

So something dark, a bit sweet and enjoyable by the way it reads.

Beer - #405 - Mikkeller - Beer Geek Brunch Weasel

Another beer with a long torturous name Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel.

So this is a Mikkeller beer, brewed at Lervig Aktiebryggeri as an Imperial Stout and they are in Copenhagen, Denmark, even if the bottle says it's brewed and bottled in Norway, confused much?

10.9% ABV this one!,  327 calories, and only a 335 ml bottle (11.2 fl oz), making it 2.84 standard drink units in this.

Imperial oatmeal stout brewed with coffee. Ingredients: Water, malts, hops, yeast and Vietnamese ca phe chon coffee

Brewed by Mikkeller at Nøgne Ø, Norway. 

This imperial Oatmeal stout is brewed with one of the world’s most expensive coffees, made from droppings of weasel-like civetcats. The fussy Southeast Asian animals only eat the best and ripest coffee berries.Enzymes in their digestive system help to break down the bean. Workers collect the bean-containing droppings for Civet or Weasel Coffee. The exceedingly rare Civet Coffee has a strong taste and an even stronger aroma.
Ingredients : Water, malts, hops, yeast and Vietnamese ca phe chon coffee

After a Sunday that whizzed by, and having had a 5km run that according to the app earned me 468 calories  I'm looking forward to this, and also it's been in the fridge a while and needed to see the daylight. 

Beer - #348 - Amager/Mikkeller - Hr. Frederiksens Væsel Brunch Barrel Aged

Same but different this is the Amager/Mikkeller Hr. Frederiksens Væsel Brunch - the  Barrel Aged version.

Brewed by Amager Bryghus in the style of an Imperial Stout and not new to me, being the second beer -  from Kastrup, Denmark

Again - 10.7% ABV beer in a 500mml bottle, making it about 321 calories and this would be 4.2 standard drink units.

[caption id="attachment_7831" align="alignright" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

This is a unique blend of two of the best imperial stouts. We have brewed Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel and Amager Brewery Mr. Frederiksen separately and then blended the two brews. This has given a very balanced, harmonious and full-bodied beer.  An imperial stout brewed with: water, barley malt, wheat malt, oat malt, sugar, hops, yeast and gourmet væselkaffe.

This then to labour the point is the Bourbon barrel-aged edition.

You can tell, the label is white not yellow. You can tell I also discovered the underline, bold and colour buttons :-)

Different more sour aroma on opening for this one.

Pours the same pitch black pour but the head is creamier and thicker, go on I could be telling you truth!, I thought it was darker too.

In the glass there is more a vanilla aroma, the head settles to more a coffee film.

Totally different profile from the standard one. This is a bit sour and confronting.  having one then the other you notice that this finishes with more cigar smokiness for instance, and that the up front taste is totally different.

Gone is the sweetness, still there is the alcohol. So then,  deep breath.

The Bourbon, its the bourbon, it really is there, and you know how I know, I don't drink bourbon, and I know the taste, so for me it's really making a presence. Really.

None of the polite coffee and fruits things going on, although the aroma does still have some coffee/chocolate notes going on. Alcohol astringent is still up front and not in the back like sometimes you get with Belgium beers as part of the finish.

This then is the same but different, I can pick that this has bourbon or hard liquor in in as a thing, I can still pick the coffee/chocolate notes, and the sweetness is there but less present.

It is still dangerously drinkable and will get you in a world of pain. 

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 9.25 on the scale of it’s own making.  Why though, why is this not a 10?  I can't tell you why. Actually I can. There is still the sourness in this. and although this has more body and is a better beer it still isn't a total delivery.

That wager that you should enjoy it or I'd pay you back might apply to this. I know that 'infused' or 'Barrel Aged' beers are a thing, for me this works because the 'thing' isn't my usual thing.

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes, yes I am


2. Would I have another? I thank you for asking, I will


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yup. Invite me over, I'm brining.

Musically we moved on, it was MrsPhil's turn to pick - and so -  Snow Patrol, Songs for Polar Bears. And I sang along as I know most of the words, or I'm good at improv. Judge me.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWsln8EtS0w&w=420&h=315]

 

IMPERIAL STOUT
Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

Beer - #347 - Amager/Mikkeller - Hr. Frederiksens Væsel Brunch

Tonight I'm kicking off with the extended named Amager/Mikkeller Hr. Frederiksens Væsel Brunch - which is an Imperial Stout beer.

Brewed by Amager Bryghus in the style of an Imperial Stout and new to me, this is from Kastrup, Denmar. The label points out that this is brewed with coffee.

This is a 10.7% ABV beer in a 500ml bottle, making it about 321 calories and that makes this 4.2 standard drink units. Not to be taken lightly. Buy hey I pushed myself for a 5km run today so I did enough, right? That and I made bread to go with the dinner tonight.

[caption id="attachment_7820" align="alignleft" width="300"] Selfie[/caption]

This is a unique blend of two of the best imperial stouts. We have brewed Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel and Amager Brewery Mr. Frederiksen separately and then blended the two brews. This has given a very balanced, harmonious and full-bodied beer.  An imperial stout brewed with: water, barley malt, wheat malt, oat malt, sugar, hops, yeast and gourmet væselkaffe.

This is a very highly rated beer, but you know that I will tell it as I see it and I'm not going to ooh and agh because the everyone else did.

Aroma on opening does not give a lot away, perhaps a hint of coffee, although I would be wishing that.

Deep dark pour with a mocha coffee head of some thickness and creaminess. Smokey coffee aroma in the glass. Head settles back.

Then there is the initial surprise in the taste, this is very sweet, much more sweet than you'd be expecting, and it kind of brings you up a bit short. In a good way.

Alcohol astringent is apparent in this from the get-go, but it's the noise at the front before the crash of the coffee, chocolates, sweets and the sour bitterness that carries this along to a lovely feel in the mouth. Almost poetry!  Me that is not the beer.

Lots of fruit notes in this as I drink it, and thinking about it makes it all the more complex.

Alarmingly this is avery easy drinking beer, which you can attribute to the smoothness of the delivery added to the sweetness of taste, the nice carbonation and for me the coffee and fruit tastes. The only down note I could pick on would be the slightly sour finish, and that there isn't a lot of depth, the flavours are all bright and clamouring for the front.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as a 9 on the scale of it's own making. It's not a 10 though, it does not have a knock out punch or a real depth of taste that would make this a complete delivery, it is however spectacularly good.

This could be one of those beers that I'd wager you'd enjoy and that if you didn't I would refund your costs, but I'm not sure.

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes very much so


2. Would I have another? I would buy this with my own money


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, this would be a great conversation carrier.

[caption id="attachment_7824" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Amp, the iPod and the jar of caps[/caption]

I was re-loading my iPod after a user-error saw all the songs deleted, and I stopped at Kings of Leon which I then dialled up to 11 ---  Need Somebody.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnhXHvRoUd0&w=560&h=315]

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

 

Related articles

• Hr. Frederiksens Væsel BRUNCH


• Beer Style Spotlight: Stouts


• I'm a 'Legend', Imperial Stout & Untappd

Beer - #301 - The Twisted Hop - Nokabollokov

bwahaha and so it's back to reality with this  The Twisted Hop Nokabollokov.

Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the style of an Imperial Stout in the lovely Christchurch, New Zealand. I know it's lovely I've been there.

Which means I'm still in the stout vein that I got into recently. But that's ok.

This is a 330ml bottle of an 8% ABV beer, with  75 IBU's which makes it  2 standard drinks and 240 calories.

An Imperial Russian Stout strong enough to warm your cockles during long Baltic winters. Mind how you go. (Not recommended for those undergoing fertility treatment)

I like the idea that this is beer that makes me sit back and not take myself seriously either.

Nokabollokov 8.0% Russian Imperial Stout.  This is a very strong dark beer, first brewed in the 18th century in London for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia.  The extra alcoholic strenght was required to prevent the beer from freezing on its journey over the Russian plains.  Well, that was their story anyway!  Limited stocks available in 330ml bottles.

[caption id="attachment_6446" align="alignleft" width="224"] in special fuzzy-o-vision[/caption]

More fruit than anything on opening this, Dark dark poor with a great chocolate coloured head that is persistent and fluffy.  Aroma still more fruits than anything else I can pick.

Musty mixed bitter and chocolate note.

But this needs to be dialled up to 11 to make improvement, the malingering bitterness detracts from the other things, and this is really a bit dry on the finish.

Not a raving success that makes it only to 6 on the pduybyah-o-meter.  Average is as average is.  I feel mean to mark it down but it's not making me smile, it;s not easy to drink and it's sitting there looking all mardy and sulky.

Far to fruity, a bit dry, lacking clarity, and needs more work is what I think, and remember this is only what I think.  I've had a few stouts recently and there are a few good ones in there, and this can't shine a light on those.

To quote a lyric from the music that I'm listening to "I wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then"  which is Bon Seger from - Against the Wind and not that other jonny come lately.

Don't ask how this happened but I'm listening to Bob Seger, and I'm enjoying it.

But then I would :)

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.

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Beer - #300 - Epic - Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout (2013)

So, number 300, and a beer I have been so looking forward to. The last time I had this was at Beer #34. I liked it then. This is the latest year release I have an Epic Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout - 2013.

This is Brewed for Epic Brewing Company (NZ) at the Steam Brewing Company in the Style of an  Imperial Stout Auckland, New Zealand.



Made with caramelized Turkish Figs, Wet Process Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee Beans, and 

Toasted Philippine Coconut. Aroma of fresh coffee with a hint of citrus, followed up by roasted malt character,toasted coconut and a rich dark fruit finish.

• Malts : Maris Otter / Oat Malt / Abbey Malt CaraAmber / CaraAroma / Chocolate Malt / Black Malt / Roasted Barley


• Hops : US Cascade


• Flavours : Caramelised Dried Turkish Lerida Figs / Caffe L’affare Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee whole beans / Philippine Toasted Coconut

The super-sized bottle of 750ml, which holds an 8% ABV  beer, that's 4.72 standard drink units worth,  and this is at 240 calories a serve.

Lots of coffee and chocolate notes on opening, as it did with a meer "pfft"..  Pours a dark black, as you'd expect but the head disappears.  Really strong coffee aroma, like cold drip coffee,  and you pick the alcohol note, and some chocolates.

My mouth is watering just smelling this. But it is beer #300 and so forgive me.

Lots of things going all, all mostly good. Nice carbonation, lovely wash of the coffee taste, nicely and subtly bitter, and gently sweet.

This isn't a "thick" beer and there is no "full" mouthfeel. This is just a nice taste, not dramatic or challenging, and there isn't any stand out thing to take your attention in a direction that it shouldn't go. You can easily drink this without worrying if you're going to enjoy it is what i actually mean, without having to pause to dissect this or that taste.

Of course I may be drinking this too cold which is muting a few of the flavours, and so I hope this develops as it sits.

Which is going to be hard, as this is quaffable and easily drunk, I'm sure they mean for it to be a celebration beer, after all it's in a wine bottle, but there is me, the music, and one glass. I'm not unhappy with that.

More of the coffee is present, or perhaps more present, and I'm not unhappy with that.

Summarising this then:  Lovely coffee, just like the result from cold-drip, full of flavour, a bit earthy and pungent, sweetness from the other things, neither of which I can pick individually, who's surprised, and nicely carbonated. Great aroma, easy drinking. A treat.

The pdubyah-o-meter, which is just a random bit of thing, says that like the 2012 version this a 9, a great beer. There are still bottles available, which makes me think they went short last time and doubled up. Not always a good thing, in this case though it might work out for me, I wonder if I could put one in a cool dark place for next year?

Dinner tonight I believe I'm in charge of the barbecue again, this time with lamb, whist MrsPbudyah does all the real cooking.

Music for this was the improbably named Bombay Bicycle Club

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwlgC-jSPTk&w=560&h=315]

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic "Irish" definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

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