Beer - #635 - Coopers - Best Extra Stout

A second Australian beer, to recap it was my big brothers birthday, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some Aussie beer.  Cheap beer I'd add, I could have picked VB, Tooheys, Carlton or indeed I could have splashed out on one of the craft brewers, but instead I went for something full bodied, aged and rich, oh and stout. 4 out of 5 on the tributes there.

Now here’s a beer with punch.

This is a 750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV, 189 calories a serve size, and 3.7 standard drinks in the bottle.

It comes with best AFTER date!

Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is  Foreign Stout and they do that in Regency Park, South Australia, Australia

Now here’s a beer with punch. Coopers Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew.

[caption id="attachment_11492" align="alignleft" width="300"] 'strayan beer time[/caption]

With its robust flavour comprising a blend of fruit, chocolate and hop bitter notes it’s everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout’s unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt.

So what could possibly go wrong? I did some homework and this could be a bit of a winner.

An intriguing aroma, there is a whiff of chocolate malt goodness, like a stout should be, bit it's not overly strong. Early days. though.

The pour is magnificent with a deep dark richness, it pours 'thick' and has a brilliant firm persistent large head that is lighter brown. If it were a beauty pageant... the aroma though is peculiar, the chocolate/coffee aroma replaced with something that I might describe as the smell of wet wool, or ash.

The taste though, that is pretty nice, noticeably it's very dry at the finish, but I'm working backwards, so the initial sip is a lovely fanfare of richness, but it's very carbonated so a lot of that bubbles action that prickles.

There seems to be a nice amount of rich fruit type body in this that might be more prominent if it weren't from the carbonation.

I've got to say that for the price this is a cracker of a beer.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. This is the best of the brewers beers, by a long way, hands down. It's a fairly decent stout too, not perfect and could do with more body, and less carbonation, perhaps the latter would dix the former. A revelation and I'd thing about buying more if only MrsPdubyah would let me.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is rather nice and the best from this brewer.
Would I have another? I would at this price mad not to.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, there is nothing embarrassing about this that would put you in a spot. Party on!

Music for this,  ' Seeker Lover Keeper '  an Australian indie rock music supergroup formed by Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The album ' Seeker lover keeper ' and I'm of course listening on Spotify. This will give you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qeLI_6t6ds

FOREIGN STOUT

Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%

Beer - #624 - 8 Wired - Flat White Coffee Milk Stout

Stouts clearly a thing at the moment. Sweet Stout, Sweet music, Sweetspot and  a sweet spot.

If you are not a Kiwi, chances are you might not know what a Flat White is. It is pretty much the NZ version of a latte.

This is a 500ml bottle of a beer that is 5.5% ABV, making it 2.2 standard drinks in the bottle, and it's 165 calories a serve size.

Brewed by 8 Wired Brewing in that style that is a  Sweet Stout and that's not a million miles away from where I live in Warkworth, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11372" align="alignleft" width="300"] Evening Spcial Coffee[/caption]

Flat White Coffee Milk Stout. The brain child of our new guy, Brian Watts.

Based on a traditional milk stout, we take it up a notch by adding a good amount of freshly roasted Brazilian and Cuban coffee from our friends at C4 Coffee in Christchurch.

If you are not a Kiwi, chances are you might not know what a Flat White is. It is pretty much the NZ version of a latte. I’d say it is the national coffee style of NZ, a title that has finally been wrestled away from freeze dried instant coffee!

What could possibly go wrong with that then?

I've had this on tap on my travels and rated it very well, lots of coffee as I recall.

Memory serves me well as this almost exactly like a cup of milky coffee aroma, and in the glass it's even bigger, pouring a deep dark brown with a small but light brown head of fluffiness.

Twang of coffee grounds too.  I have to say that this is swooningly delicious, it's a wash of  cold coffee sweetness a lovely mouthfeel and a soft gentle finish.

Not as soft as cold brew coffee is, this has some greenness of coffee ground in it, but it carries it well and adds to the light bitterness that this has.

As it warms a bit it becomes deeper and richer too, brining you in again for more, each sip preceded by the coffee aroma.

You might say that I'm really enjoying it.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It's not perfect but it really ticks most of all the boxes in aroma, taste, body and finish. A rare thing to find a beer that from memory on tap and in the bottle are very similar and both totally enjoyable.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes it really is a taste explosion, no hold barred but also quite restrained in the alcohol levels, making a beer you could have a couple of and it will keep giving you enjoyment.
Would I have another? I would, I couldn't wait to try the bottle version and I would easily go again.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Of course, this is a remarkable take on the coffee stout that delivers both at the coffee and a decent beer. Superb.

Music for this, and odd choice but you need to listen to everything. ' Marcus "Boo" Hewerdine' is an English singer-songwriter and record producer, the album ' Open' which you listen to here on the Spotify This will give you an idea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSGAaPO4eTo

SWEET STOUT

Dark brown to black in colour. Sweet stouts come in three main varieties – milk stout, oatmeal stout, and foreign stout. Milk stouts are made with the addition of lactose, and are sweet, low-alcohol brews. Oatmeal lends a smooth fullness of body to stouts, while foreign stouts are stronger (6.5-8% abv) and have a sweet malt profile and high esters. All of the sweet stouts are noted for their restrained roastiness in comparison with other stouts, and low hop levels.

Related articles

• Beer #615 - Townshend - Key Stone Milk Stout

Beer - #623 - Sparks Brewing - Frontier Extra Stout *keg*

Still to come: A confused beer ' Outlander' or 'Frontier', music to confuse, confusion in numbers, and a confusion of numbers.

Chocolate on the nose, dry and roasted taste with a bitter finish.

For  Sparks Brewing this is brrewed at Scotts Brewing Co in the style that is of: Foreign Stout and that's all done in Auckland, New Zealand

as it's FYO this is 1 litre bottle that contains beer that is 6.2% ABV, so 4.89 standard drink units, coming in at around 186 calories a serve size

[caption id="attachment_11362" align="alignright" width="300"] Winter beer, summer haircut, what's going on[/caption]

A dark and intensely roasty ale, with strong aromas of chocolate and coffee. The rich body is balanced with all New Zealand hops added late in the boil and a good layering of crystal malt leaves a hint of liquorice and an almost rum like quality to the finish.

2012 National Homebrew Competition Gold medal recipe, considered by the judges as “a world class example of the style”.

So what could possibly go wrong? I've had this in the bottle form, and I quite liked it.  As with many beers the bottle and the keg sometimes are different in small ways, it'd be interesting to see how this one goes.

Roasted malt chocolate aroma on opening, as it did with a gentle hiss, not overly carbonated it seems, even though it was lively going into the bottle..

Pour is that strange silky luxurious flow, and it ends with a head of substance, mocha chocolate adjacent the pitch black beer. The chocolate aroma that was is now there but slightly more a sour note, briefly and then it settle into a sugar sweetness.

I also seem to get some berry=thing going on.

I can only describe my first sip as smoooooooth and light, fluffy and luxurious. Delightful.

It does not have any of that big hop harshness but does have a finish that veers towards dry rather than neutral or sweet .

I recall this having a more raw greenness but this keg version doesn't seem to have that.  I also recall it having more coffee about it than I sense or taste now. I get a milk chocolate smoothness though, some things are always good.

Like the last time I do still feel that this needed something more in the body to lift it, how or what I have no idea, it's just something that it might have had.

That said that it does fit totally the description of being less robust but still as flavoursome, and slightly sweeter than a full Stout.

With that in mind you change your stance a little, as you must, to adjust to the beer that you're drinking, opposed to the beer you want to be drinking and are confused about.

So a lesser bodied Stout sums this up exactly and almost perfectly, all that previous wittering superfluous.

When you've reset your expectations and appreciate what you're drinking this becomes all the much better and brighter beer, delivering some lovely subtle tastes with fine balance and a lovely finish and linger that isn't intrusive, difficult or challenging.

In other words 'it's a bit good' and 'lovely drinking' One which I'm really enjoying thanks.  At this point you might be able to tell this is a couple of paragraphs longer than usual and this happens when I'm really enjoying something and expressing it in different ways.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 10 a of its things from the thing. Honest to goodness this is true to the style and you get totally what you should be getting. The flavours and aromas might be subtle and muted but the whole is fairly tight and compact. Add that there is no harsh hoppy thing or dry finish then you get a beer that is just early drinking.  It is a beer that you need to understand to drink, I thought I was getting a ruler more robust beer, which is a different style, I was wrong.  This will appeal to a to of drinkers of beer and should be a great gateway to the darker beer styles and the imperial Stout types, or you could stop here and be totally satisfied.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I was confused and confounded, then I understood and now I've see the light and yes I really am enjoying it.


2. Would I have another? I would indeed, it's really good.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would encourage everyone to have some, it's just good beer done well and that's all you need.

I have on the music machine  ' Jamie XX ' and his new album ' In Colour' which you can get on the spotify  Jamie Smith is an English music producer and remix artist who is known both as a solo act and as a member of the London-based band The xx. And they're really good.  This is ' loud places '

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP9luRtEqjc

FOREIGN STOUT

Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%

Related articles

• Your Glassware Did What? A Sensory Experiment of Time and Temperature


• Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout


• Guinness unveils two new beers, inspired by diary entries from 1796 and 1801 (IrishCentral)


• 3 common beer myths busted


• Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout Is Dessert in a Bottle


• Craft Beer 101: An Ode to Stouts


• 8 Delicious Beers To Drink On St. Patrick's Day


• Beer Mythbusting: The Truth About Porter and Stout

Beer - #621 - Hop Federation - Barrel Aged Stout

Winter beer for the shortest day or Matariki or Winter solstice a time for long beers, short songs, short a number, and a short party.

A deep dark black colour with a coffee like head

I have a 1 litre bottle from the FYO taps, of a beer that is 7% ABV, 210 calories a serve size,  and this would be 5.52 standard drink units.

This is of course Brewed by Hop Federation Brewery in the style that is Stout and they are in Riwaka, New Zealand.

[caption id="attachment_11306" align="alignright" width="300"] Dark beer, unlike my hair with looks like it needs some dark added.[/caption]

The nose is full of chocolate mousse and Tiramisu.

On the palette are rich dark chocolate, roasted coffee notes with a tart Pinot Oak finish.

At 7% this is a beer to sit back relax and enjoy.

So what could possibly go wrong?

Pop the top and .... that's quite a deep aroma, lots of roasted malts of chocolate hints and possibly steeped raisins.

Black as ink, it pours with a lovely fluffy and full head of brown stuff that sits there like foam on a milkshake, proper impressive. The chocolate is like a a fine milk chocolate, and there is an addition of something that might be described as spicy.

The first first thing you notice is the sweetness. The second first thing is the sharp bitterness, which translate to the finish and the linger. So I sip again.

It's much the same that strange but enjoyable sweet\sharp front and a lovely harsh but not strange or dry finish.

Man could get used to that.

The lovely fulsome head is nothing but a memory after a couple of sips, it's become the lacing on the glass.

The persistence of the bitterness levels in this might be a problem to some, but that might be the worst that this throws at you. The sweetness seems to have gathered some vanilla about it and this begins to balance out some of that bitter. Just makes you want to have another sip really.

So a beer that is finely balanced between the sweet and bitter.

To the barrel aged bit though, I'm sure this is where my non-expert knowledge kicks in, but I might have though a woodier roughness to be present, perhaps it was a decent pinot nor and all you get is the hint of the alcohol astringent and none of the tannin. I'm no expert.

I'm pretty sure that I'm enjoying it though. This, though, is where I slip into being confused between Stout and Porters.  Well it's easily done.

Porters are well hopped and heavily malted... Stouts were traditionally the generic term for the strongest or stoutest porters,

Perhaps the difference being the alcohol level. I've had thinner porters, I've had thicker stouts.  I don't think it off putting, what I have is a dark roasted beer with some lovely flavours and highlights. I think I did ok.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. It's quite lovely, and surprises you from the first bit of the bitter and sweetness, catches you with the initial dryness of finish, and draws you in with the developing bitterness.

The double dip review

• Am I enjoying it? It is rather splendid and I am so pleased I chose this over others.


• Would I have another? I most certainly wood cheers!


• Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Indeed, this is a beer where a great discourse could be had over so many inconsequential things of great import.

Music for this, well after I listened to 'The National' and their album 'High Violet' I was then taken with 'The New Pornographers' a Canadian indie rock band formed in 1999 in Vancouver. They have an album 'Brill Bruisers'  as usual you can, if you want, find it on The Spotify and probably the everywhere you listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhhtSXk1c70

I'm half and half on the music, I really do like 'The National' and the pathos of the lyrics and timbre, I'm not sure I really engage with the popiness of TNP. Buy hey it's not a music clique blog right?

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

• Winter Beers: Our Top 5 Picks


• Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer Is What's On Tap!

Beer - #617 - Tuatara - Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout

A beer with a long name,  Black Wellington Chocolate Factory Chocolate Stout, a long song, a long division and long time at a gathering.

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."

I got this at the FYO station so I have 1 litre of a beer that is 6.5% ABV and 60 IBU, so this is 5.3 standard drink units. Despite the chocolate this is 195 calories a serve size.

Brewed by Tuatara Brewing Company  in the style: Stout and they are in Paraparaumu, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11277" align="alignleft" width="300"] Chocolate and beer. Does it get any better[/caption]

"If you're going to do a collaboration with a chocolate company, it needs to taste like real chocolate and have chocolate in it."  That was the fighting talk from Rochelle and Gabe at the Wellington Chocolate Factory when we asked them to collaborate with us on a stout that would deliver the kind of sensory cocoa walloping you get from one of their own fabulous hot chocolates.

After a lot of tasting we've settled on 100% organic Fair Trade cacao nibs and chocolate from the Dominican Republic, resulting in an beguilingly smooth stout lovingly wrapped in rich, dark chocolate. The Hops for this : Pacific Jade, Chinook, Amarillo

So what could possibly go wrong?

The aroma for this can only be described as like Milk Chocolate. It's that simple. It smells like good rich milk chocolate. It's really nice, if you like milk chlorate. There is some other hop grass sharpness there too, it's not all one thing.

Dark black pour with a fantastic but well oversized dark mocha head, the aroma remains as chocolate.

The taste, starts as a gasp of bitterness, then you get  a fullness, then you get a pillow of sugary sweet chocolates, than you get a little sharpness at the end.

The aroma settles into a more grassy bitter note, the head settles into a film,  The initial surge and hit of chocolate subsides. Leaving you with a really nicely rounded and enjoyable beer.

Now here's a thing though. I had this a few days ago when a friend came over, and it may have been fresher, which is doubtful, or warmer, again doubtful, but this had a lot more chocolate aroma and taste for a longer period of time. I was really enamoured of it then, I'm a bit less so tonight. Funny thing the beer buds.

Tonight, at this time, I think this might just be a shade, a tick, a smidgeon, over bitter in the body. A whisker, a tad, a shade. Just a little. But the other things in the profile, the roasted malts the cocoa do enough to give this a really interesting background carry.

Somewhat the problem with one-off and collaborations is that generally you don't get to practice and what you get is what you get. So there is no way to improve this, or change it, should yo want to, if that was your idea. I know that Tuatara will have no plans, as these are seasonal one offs, following on from last years, this being one of 3 variants of the stout, being Winter and all in the far south.

2nd round then, the pour still very keen and the head very lively, the empty bottle slick with alcohol wash and lacing.

You could get used to drinking stouts, this time I'm enjoying the lingering burnt malts at the back, and the bitterness on the finish, licking my lips.  Possibly time I stopped and just enjoyed the beer rather than trying to pick it apart,

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. It is, on the random scale, 'very good', very enjoyable very entertaining, and has a lot of aroma, layers, tastes and challenges in a good way that make you sip and sup a way without a care.  I don't think it has the lags to be Great or jaw dropping. Not tonight. But I would encourage you to drink it, if that was an option.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? 'tis a wondrous aromatic experience to star with, and grows into a nice drinking dark beer.
Would I have another? I did, this is my second outing.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would because it has surprises and layers that makes it worthy to share.

Music for this, a change of pace really, almost showtime songs Will Currie & The Country French  a Canadian indie rock music group. This is track "No Nothing" of course on the Spotify and probably where you listen to music too as well

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIUSRSf1FTM

Lets be honest I'm not into show-tunes or that style of music fan and this was a bit meh, and hard work, and I may not have finished the album, which is unusual as I challenge myself to listen to everything without prejudice.

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.

Beer - #601 - Yeastie Boys - His Majesty 2014

An annual beer, the Yeastie Boys His Majesty, of course 2014 year. So, Repeating beers, repeating numbers, repeating bands, and repeating yourself

A decadent dark strong ale

This year His Majesty is a Triple stout porter, in a the big 750ml bottle that has beer of 9%, which is 270 calories a serve size, and 5.3 standard drink units in total.

For Yeastie Boys this is brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style that is Imperial/Strong Porter and they are in Wellington, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_11078" align="alignleft" width="300"] I've been leaning forward in pictures, it has to stop[/caption]

This year’s His Majesty is a straight-edge homage to nevaRRaven and The Last Dictator –two very popular strong dark ales we’ve brewed in the past few years.

Without the judicious hopping of the former, or the Botrytised twist of the latter, it’s the beer that showcases the rich Weyermann malts we love so much.

Drink now or cellar for up to five years.

What could possibly go wrong? Well I'm no where near keeping this for 5 years. That would take real willpower. I overcame my willpower.

Dark rich chocolate pungent aroma on opening, which it did with a decent hiss.

And I can't pour a decent beer, this has a head like an milkshake. Aroma settles into a more sour cherry fruit thing, with a chocolate thing that lurks around as well. It's a very dark beer and the head is like foamed ice-cream sundae, it's almost too good to drink.

It's not too good to drink.

That has a lot of chocolate malt in it, and it's bitter and very dry, very dry.

The dark aromas engage your nose before your tongue, one of those forewarning beers, which is nice, but the aroma settles to a more sour note than a steeped or infused fruit one. The chocolate note gone altogether.

The taste though, even though this is barely warmed since opening is already settled into a more mellow and balanced profile with  the fruits presence at the front and a slight bitterness and the dryness abated. It's become very quaffable.

Which raises a red flag, as this is beer to get squiffy to at that ABV, of which there is not a lot of indication. The chocolate and sweetness in the front of this beer just draw you in so quickly.

That and of course I've been looking forward to this for a while now, I waited months for it to be available only to wait months to drink it,  it's not a treasure it has to be drunk of course.

I really do like how this calms down around the edges and just becomes a bit more rounded and whole as it warms. I might have mentioned that already.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I think is very good, but just doesn't get to great or marry me. It's a very nice beer, and yet again the Yeastie Boys have come up trumps.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? It's a beer to drink into and enjoy more as it becomes less.
Would I have another? I think I would, it's nice and worth seeking out.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? It's a very good Porter and I think that it would open an avenue about the merits of the style and what you could expect. Might take a couple of bottles.

Music for this, well Paloma Faith (born Paloma Faith Blomfield, 21 July 1981) is a British singer, songwriter and actress, known for her retro and eccentric style, Seems fitting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaKr9gWqwl4

Listen on the Spotify, or where you listen otherwise. Some of it is real pop and some is real retro 80's style dance floor dance music. Some of it is nice.

IMPERIAL/STRONG PORTER

Imperial or extra-strong porters fall in between the traditional porter, a Baltic porter, and an imperial stout. They range from around 7.5% upwards, with hefty dark malt character, but lack the overt roastiness of an imperial stout.

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 - #522 - Eruption - Dark Lava Stout

Another Stout, another new brewer to me, Eruption Brewing and their Dark Lava Stout.

A boldly brewed New World Stout

Stout Beer, Stout music, big numbers and stout mates.

Simple 500ml bottle that is 5.3% ABV, and at 57 IBU, making it 150 calories a serve, and this bottle is 2.09 standard drink units.

Brewed by Eruption Brewing Ltd. in the style that is a  Stout  and they are in the exotic sounding Wainoni, Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10163" align="alignright" width="300"] Snazzy haircut, sun tan and a Stout[/caption]

A boldly brewed New World Stout with unmistakable Kiwi hop undertones…

We have used four premium NZ pure malts: Ale, Chocolate, Toffee & Crystal mashed with NZ Roasted Barley & Oats to give the deep, dark, rich flavour and a jet-black lava hue in the glass.

Aotearoa Cascade Hops add a final dark twist…… volcanitastic

What could go wrong?

I thought that was a very bitter aroma, akin to a Belgium style or Saison. Unless it's really bitter chocolate.

Pour is great and a mocha head of cloud like fluffiness but much firmer, of course it's really dark. Aroma still has a happiness around and about it. Quite hard to actually pin down.

Quite bitter, and has a thin mouthfeel that ends in a sour bitterness and slightly to dry more than not.

Decent and without a lot of pomp and circumstance going on.

Very unassuming and without a lot of depth and chewiness, I still think this is hop bitter heavy, but the drinking is really pleasant and pleasing, bitter enough without being tart, and sweet enough without it being over-burdened. Essentially this drinks really well for a beer that appears to have been made to an old-school recipe.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. It's a decent beer, and it harks back to simpler drinking without a lot of drama. The bitterness is nice, it drinks very light, and the finish is nearly great, but a little to sour for me. Overall though enjoying it and enjoyed it.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes because it's unchallenging and easy.


2. Would I have another? It's hard to say yes because similar priced beers might give better flavour bang for buck, and it is premium beer priced.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I might if we were having a "Throwback Thursday" or something, I don't know that the level of hops that I thought this has would convince anyone that it's a stout though.

Listening on loud to  "London Grammar"  a British electropop trio. Lovely melody and singing. This is from the album "If you wait" and it's called "Hey Now"

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

Really easy listening and enjoyable against the backdrop of the summer evening and the early evening sun. Find them all the good places.

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.

Beer - #521- Hop Baron - 8 Ball Stout

Back to a bottle. Back to a Stout. Another new brewer to me - this one Hop Baron, and this their 8 Ball Stout.

Packing eight grams of Switch Espresso's Brighton Up beans per litre

This is a simple 500ml bottle, 6% ABV of beer,  180 calories a serve, and 2.4 standard drink units.

For  Hop Baron this is brewed at Three Boys Brewery clearly this one in the style that is a Stout and they're in Christchurch, New Zealand

[caption id="attachment_10152" align="alignleft" width="300"] Fancy haircut and everything, wait till you see the glass[/caption]

Packing eight grams of Switch Espresso's Brighton Up beans per litre.

Generously hopped with both Fuggle and Motueka - all at a very restrained 6.0%.

The perfect beer for the ski lodge following on from that last line of the day.

8 grams! who know how little or much that was or is. And Skiing, its still, or has become, summer, what are these boys like! Still what could go wrong.

Coffee-Tastic on opening, as it does with a lovely hiss. Rich roasted coffee with a chocolate back.

As you can see my pouring skills have abandoned me, this has a head like a milkshake. Dark brown coffee head. Black as coal beer. Cold Coffee aroma, soft not bitter, and then a twitch of chocolate catches you.

That is much more bitterer in the mouth than you might be expecting though. The head is like a thick pillow of clouds and very persistent.

The aroma of coffee is strong in this one, but in taste it is shoved aside by the burnt bitterness, before it gives back to the coffee-ness.

I can't help but think this is overly bitter though.

I left it for a bit and came back minutes later, not something I'd normally do, and It's warmed in the glass and the bitterness and the coffee have got a lot 'flatter' and wider, to the point of dominating this.

The second pour confirmed that this is a well carbonated beer that loved a a head.

Do I get any immediate or apparent chocolate? I'm not sure but something is balancing the bitterness and the coffee. But as it gets warmer you can begin to feel the softness of the chocolates. Overall though it's a bit in your face for coffee and somewhat over bitter, which makes it a bit lop-sided and uneven.

So, 4 grams of coffee per litre of beer (That's about a teaspoon isn't it?) seems to be a lot, who knew?  1 level teaspoon of sugar = 4g

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. It's nice to have a Stout, but this has reached a bit far and there isn't a comeback that would work from that amount of coffee, which might be a tad overkill.

Still I suppose it saves on me having a coffee with the pudding that MrsPdubyah is concocting, I believe a Plum and Apple crumble. Get in!

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? Yes because I like the coffee forward taste. No because it might be over-bitter.


2. Would I have another? I think that it might mellow with  age, the bottle suggests it's good for another 8 months.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I don't think that I would ashamed to pull this one out at the end of the night and make up a good story about this, or indeed anything, or even how nice that crumble was.

Along for the ride are "British Sea Power" who are an indie rock band based in Brighton, East Sussex, England.

Im listening to "from the sea to the land beyond" a soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9fDQxt9A70

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.

Beer - #491 - Guinness - Special Export (Belgian version)

It's Good for you, good for your ears, good maths and good mates.

Special version of bottled Guinness for Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Brewed in Ireland for Anthony Martin.

I can't believe that I haven't written my thoughts on Guinness, so when the Guinness Special Export (Belgian version) became available I had to get one.

Brewed by St. James’s Gate (Diageo) in the classical style of a  Foreign Stout , Guinness of course are in  Dublin, Ireland.

330ml bottle, and 8% ABV this is 240 calories worth and 2.08 standard drinks

In 1944, John Martin, having boldly crossed the Channel, requested that a unique vintage of Guinness be brewed specially for Belgium : Guinness Special Export. This elixir, 8%

[caption id="attachment_9814" align="alignleft" width="300"] It's good for you ![/caption]

alcohol by volume is greeted by the drinker with the smile of an explorer who has discovered black gold. Just as dark but just as creamy too, this stout reveals a fierceness that lives up to the well-known saying, ‘Of all the peoples of Gaul, the Belgians are the bravest’. Unique !

Guinness is inseparably connected to Ireland by 250 years of history. The one exception is this version, also called GXS, which was originally brewed exclusively for John Martin while he developed his business on the European continent. Of course, the taste characteristics are similar to those of the traditional Irish one, but raised to a higher level : that goes especially for the alcohol content by volume of 8%, giving this beer an explosive taste of roasted malt and smoked wood and liquorice, ending in a very long aftertaste. 

It's been a while between 'new' beers for for me, and it's nice to sit down and jot some thoughts.

An interesting aroma on opening, as it did with a hiss, dark chocolate, malt.

Fantastic dark pour with a lovely thick and luxurious head that I underestimated but got away with. Aroma moves to a more damp biscuit thing.

Taste is really intense. There is lovely mouthfeel and there is a lovely lingering of the taste too.

Despite the heavy flavour profile this is a surprisingly light beer on the tongue, by which I mean that there doesn't appear to be anything on the palate that immediately is picked out, and the finish although decent isn't to dry, or sweet, it just seems to wash over.

But yes there is a lovely lingering coating that makes it very nice indeed to drink.

It is then pretty much as described on the label, a somewhat luxurious stout that keeps you entertained and engaged.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 a of its things from the thing. I like the mouthfeel and I like the layers and intensity of the flavours, but this isn't quaffing beer, it's not like it lights up the taste buds and just draws you back in. It is like a good book with great characters that you can engage with.  Oh and the 8% ABV will catch you out if you don't keep an eye on it.

I remember from my youthful days the great pub finisher of Guinness and Barley Wine, I wonder if I research what that Barley wine was that I could recreate this. Doubtful, but this could finish you off on its own given a chance.

The double dip review

1. Am I enjoying it? I am, it is an easy drinking beer that has a lot of things right about it.


2. Would I have another? I would easily go another.


3. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I think so, in some weird way this seems like a decent session beer, but fails at that because I don't think there is enough of the "sippability' about this, it's 'supping' beer.

Completely non-irish the music that I have on is from "Dexy's Midnight runners" - this track is "This is what she's like" from the under-rated and under-played - "Don't Stand Me Down" which is the third studio album by Dexys Midnight Runners.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXh19wfJT3Q&w=420&h=315]

I was also listening to a new musics, from the group  "Afternoons" and the  album 'Say Yes' They're an indie band from LA in the USofA. It's light pop but has a striking album art cover.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXxjYcd0M0

 

FOREIGN STOUT

Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%

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• Guinness blends new vintage with modern labels


• 10 Facts about Guinness that may shock you


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