33. Birra Moretti

Birra Moretti

 

Company info:
Heineken Italia
Milan, ITALY

[No website listed]

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 4.6%
Standard drinks: 1.2

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$2.90

Label info: N/A

What the label really means: N/A

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: This label really has me a little torn. On the one hand it could be seen as a traditional label depicting a real classy gent with an impressive moustache sitting down to a big mug of beer. You can almost smell the ambience of his surroundings, and the warmth of the room in which he sits. On the other hand the gent could be seen as the sleazy Uncle everyone tries to avoid at a 21st birthday, who looks as though he is about to fall asleep into his beer. And, like a dyslexic fireman, I am leaning towards the latter.

I give it a label rating of 5 out of 10.

AROMA: It smells delicious, bursting with hoppy, fruity goodness. 

Taste: GLASS – It pours out very light in colour, and being made by Heineken I really expected something similar. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised by a more hoppy tasting beer with a deliciously bitter after taste. It tastes as good as it smells! 

I give it a beer from glass rating of 8 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - The flavour is still there in all its glory and intensity but it tastes a little flatter, and this is a minor defect.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7.5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “I think it’s a beer that makes me want more…more beer…and it produced a hefty burp”

She gave it a taste rating of 7.5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: Something tomato based would really accentuate and compliment the flavours of this beer. I would love to sit down and drink one with a traditional spaghetti bolognese or lasagna.

Best season to appreciate: Because of the intense, full-flavoured hoppiness, I suggest this as more of a cold weather beer that is sure to warm the cockles of any sleazy Uncle’s heart.

All-nighter beer? Yes, I would be more than willing to drink this all night!

NEXT WEEK: St Arnou Pilsener

32. Estrella Damm

Estrella Damm

 

 

Company info:
S.A Damm
Barcelona, SPAIN

[www.estrelladamm.es]

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 4.6%
Standard drinks: 1.2

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.50

Label info: ’La Cerveza de Barcelona. Estrella Damm, the premium quality beer brewed in Barcelona since 1876. Today it remains at the heart of city life. Enjoy the taste of Barcelona.’

What the label really means: Great label description.

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: The label for Estrella Damm, with it’s bold gold star reeks of revolution. It reeks of liberation. It reeks of freedom. It also reeks of tradition, quality, and a beer not to be messed with. The label is tough, staunch, unblinking in the face of a pudgy, angry dictator with a penchant for tight trousers. It stares down authority and gives the finger to establishment. Let the Estrella Damm revolution begin.

I give it a label rating of 8 out of 10.

AROMA: There’s a soft, citrus and wheaty aroma. It’s giving me psychadelic flashbacks of the previously reviewed ‘Bluebottle beer’.

Taste: GLASS – Estrella Damm is a pilsener, and as such is really quite pale in colour. Based on this appearance, and the soft aroma I expected a mellow, light flavoured, watery beer. But, this is a lager that packs a strong bitter punch. I am really enjoying this.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 7 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - Although I would not have found it necessary, drinking from the bottle seems to mellow this beer out. It tastes less feisty with the bitterness smoothing out in intensity.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7.5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Not too heavy…not too light…it’s just right…but perhaps a bit watery”

She gave it a taste rating of 6 out of 10.

Accompanying food: Bring me a Spanish plated fiesta of baby octopus, squid, olives, eggplant, and chorizo all drizzling in olive oil.

Best season to appreciate: This would be an ideal Summer thirst quencher, best consumed prior to siesta.

All-nighter beer? Yes, I think so! 

NEXT WEEK: Birra Moretti

31. Red Emperor Amber Ale

Red Emperor Amber Ale

 

Company info:
Fish Rock Brewery
MITTAGONG, N.S.W

www.fishrockbrewery.com.au

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 4.5%
Standard drinks: 1.2

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$TBC

Label info: ‘Inspired by classic top fermented ales. Amarillo hops provide passionfruit aromas whilst warm fermentation creates complex fruity charactersitics. This is finished with a fine citrus note of cascade hops keeping the palate lifted throughout the lingering bitterness’ AND ‘This beer is created preservative free using the finest hops and malted barley’.

What the label really means: The label description has definitely intrigued me.

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: The label has a shiny, metallic feel to it, and to good effect. It’s red and silver, and shows a small image of a mistress of the deep, a coquettish mermaid. The neck label, displaying the Fish Rock logo enhances the nautical feel of this beer and I really like it. My only problem with the label is the amount of text they have squished above the ‘Red Emperor’ text – it just looks a bit busy.

 

I give it a label rating of 7 out of 10.

AROMA: There’s a delicious cinnamon, wheaty smell wafting up from the glass. I am very keen to taste this.

Taste: GLASS – The amber ale pours out rather golden, with a tinge of red. It tastes spiced, sort of cinnamon, and it is really quite enjoyable, nay delicious. It reminds me of a beer that I can’t quite recall…I think it may be Samuel Adams but I’m not sure – I will have to review that one soon to be sure.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 8 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - This beer is definitely not as interesting from the bottle. It loses a lot of the interesting ’spiced’ flavour I tasted in the glass, and it also tastes a little flatter.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 6.5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Robustly fruity, and a bit too heavy for me”

She gave it a taste rating of 5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: Give me something meaty, and something with a big, rich gravy sauce. Perhaps an osso bucco, or an Irish stew.

Best season to appreciate: Ordinarily with amber ales, I can only really appreciate them in the Winter months, however the Red Emperor with its genuine smoothness would really work all year round. I think this is helped by the light colouring of the beer.

All-nighter beer? I think so! Bring it on!

NEXT WEEK: Estrella Damm

30. Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier

 

Company info:
Paulaner Brewery
Munich, GERMANY

www.paulaner.com

Can size sampled: 1L

Alcohol: 6.0%
Standard drinks: 4.7

Cap type: Ring-pull

Cost: Promotional deal with 1 Litre glass stein (AU$19.95)

Label info: N/A

What the label really means: N/A

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Intro: No beer blog would be complete without a special Happy Oktoberfest edition. This week I review a Paulaner special release, Oktoberfest Bier. Conjuring up images of all things German, particularly large beer halls, this is a beer to consider. Happy Oktoberfest!

Label: This label reeks of tradition. Starting with the Paulaner München logo, we see a stern faced monk, representing the original brewers from the Munich monastery. Not only does this monk look like he knows a good drop, he also looks like he means business!

The main image on this label is of big, buxom beer wenches carrying huge steins of beer. With a look of sheer determination in feeding the thirst of the waiting masses, one of the wench holds a stein above her head, screaming forth words of encouragement. This is a celebratory beer. This is a social beer. This is canned Oktoberfest.

I give it a label rating of 8 out of 10.

AROMA: The aroma is strong, hoppy infused goodness. It has an almost musk-like quality to it.

Taste: GLASS – Delicious! The Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier has a really distinct, full-flavoured hoppy taste bursting with freshness.

 It’s going back incredibly smoothly, helped in part by the fact that it is really lightly carbonated and hardly noticeable. Drinking this golden coloured pale lager from a big rimmed stein ensures the aroma continuously attacks my senses from all angles, intensifying the drinking experience. Great stuff!

I give it a beer from glass rating of 8 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Delicious! Despite the weight of the glass, this is surprisingly easy to drink”

She gave it a taste rating of 7 out of 10.

Accompanying food: Give me something salty, give me something fatty, give me something hearty. I’m talking a big ol bratwurst with a side of sauerkraut. It sounds cliched, but I think it would be criminal to suggest anything less for this beer beauty.

Best season to appreciate: This is a complete Summer thirst quencher. Give me a stein (or three) of this on a hot Summer’s day and I’ll be wearing the lederhosen with the best of them.

All-nighter beer? Not only is this an all-nighter, this is an all-monther! I love it.

NEXT WEEK: Red Emperor Amber Ale

29. Bluebottle

Bluebottle

 

Company info:
Bluebottle Beer
Pyrmont, N.S.W

[No website listed on bottle]

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 4.3%
Standard drinks: 1.1

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.60

Label info: ’Bluebottle is made for seafood. We designed it this way. A seductive blend of lifted aromatics, light bitterness and a citrus sting to enhance the flavours of the sea. The perfect complement to a seafood dining occasion, in fact the perfect complement to any occasion. Australia’s premier food and brewing experts have made sure of it’

What the label really means: Drink this with seafood, drink this with seafood, go on, try some seafood with it, you really should eat the seafood, slurp it back with some seafood. Seafood, seafood, seafood. Give me a break, we get it! Round of applause for the seafood accompaniment.

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: Bluebottles are a particularly nasty animal that inhabit the sea and whip hapless swimmers with great ferocity. They can turn a trip to the beach into a trip to a bottle of carefully applied vinegar in next to no time, and I hate them. I can’t think of a single person that would ever lay claim to liking the most hated animal on earth. No good has ever come from bluebottles. Already I am offside with this beer. 
On this label is an outline of a bluebottle beast, with its poision filled tentacles. ‘Bluebottle’ is written in big letters across the label, followed by a rather non-descript ‘beer’. I don’t know what it is but the label seems hoity toity, high-falootin’, and one destined to make this beer served on silver platters on yachts, or behind a trendy city bar with a $12.00 price tag. 
Now for those regular readers that are asking what my problem is (ie, I ask for tough looking beer labels – surely this is one?), I would need to see the bluebottle in action for it to be considered a worthy label. I’d like to see a depiction of the tentacles stretched across the face of a screaming kid, or under the bikini top of a struggling to stay afloat pensioner, not just hanging there as a reminder of our hatred for its species.

I give it a label rating of 4 out of 10.

AROMA: A good wheaty, citrussy smell.

Taste: GLASS – Bluebottle beer is a lager and it’s a really light coloured beer, that pours a good head. Upon first sip I note that it is also light tasting, very fizzy, and very citrussy.

I am not particularly fond of this beer as it is so light in flavour that it’s almost like drinking lemon flavoured fizzy water – it’s a bit like Corona. I’m not that keen. NB: No I am not sampling this beer with seafood but I feel if this is a worthy beer it should stand well on its own. Unfortunately it doesn’t.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 5 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - Much the same as drinking this from the glass, and again there isn’t much to write home about.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Soft, lingering honey taste…rather pleasant.”

She gave it a taste rating of 6.5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: SEAFOOD! I guess I have to say that….but I’d like to also suggest a hot and spicy pizza also (for taste!). A seafood pizza would also be nice I imagine.

Best season to appreciate: A Summer brew… particularly for all you yachties.

All-nighter beer? It’s easy to go back, so yes it could easily be an all-nighter beer. But, I have a feeling I’d be wanting something with a bit more ‘bite’ ASAP.

Other notes: In tiny writing on the bottle, the following is mentioned ‘Your purchase helps support OceanWatch Australia’. If you know what OceanWatch is (I don’t) and supporting them is something you are keen to do, well…good for you…drink away.

NEXT WEEK: TBC – suggestions welcome

28. Sheaf Stout

Sheaf Stout

 

Company info:
Foster’s Australia LTD
SOUTHBANK, V.I.C

www.cub.com.au

Bottle size sampled: 375 mL

Alcohol: 5.7%
Standard drinks: 1.7

Cap type: Twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$2.80

Label info: No info listed

What the label really means: N/A

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: This is another of the labels that I classify in the ‘hasn’t changed in aaaaages’ category. Unfortunately for Sheaf Stout, aaaaages is classified as 1973. It’s not a bad label, it just lacks creativity. But, on the plus side it has a certain understated charm that leads me on a mystical journey to something resembling ‘Don’s Party’ (Dir: Bruce Beresford, 1976) and for that, I give this label a good dosing of street cred.

 

I give it a label rating of 6.5 out of 10.

AROMA: A rich aroma that has a strong smell of alcohol. Before reading the alcohol content of this beer I knew I’d be in for a hit of Grandpa’s ol cough medicine.

Taste: GLASS – This is a bitter, rich, (remotely) chocolatey, stouty beer. I can taste the alcohol quite prominently and I am supping every sip with great interest. It’s not a thick beer, and it’s strangely smooth. I don’t know if it’s the fact I am doing this review while cooking a BBQ, or the fresh night air, but I am actually enjoying this.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 6 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - Drinking this sucker from the bottle diminishes the overpowering taste of alcohol and makes it even more enjoyable. Surprisingly, since I always assumed stouts were best consumed from the glass, this is going down well. I get more of a bitter coffee kind of flavour, and I like it.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Makes me shudder! And not in a good way…”

She gave it a taste rating of 3.5 out of 10.

A word from my Dad (visiting reviewer): “Perhaps when I was younger, I thought stouts were heavier….I haven’t had one in ages and would like to taste a Guinness….as a benchmark.”

He gave it a taste rating of 6.5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: Since I was cooking a BBQ at the time of review, I could imagine this really complimenting a great plate of sausages, steaks, mushrooms and onions.

Best season to appreciate: Another Winter Warmer for you, dear readers. Just when you thought we were entering Summer, BANG, I hit you with another cold weather beer.

All-nighter beer? Probably not for me thanks…

NEXT WEEK: TBC – suggestions welcome

27. Monteith’s Summer Ale

Barons Black Wattle Original Ale

 

Company info:
Monteith’s Brewing Co.
GREYMOUTH, NEW ZEALAND

www.monteiths.co.nz

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 5.0%
Standard drinks: 1.3

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.00

Label info: ‘Monteith’s Summer Ale takes its cue from late 19th century spiced beers. True to tradition this pristine bright gold beer is brimming with lively flavours, balanced by a touch of rata honey and four different malts, for  refreshing taste experience. Best enjoyed ice-cold with a wedge of orange or lime on a Summer’s day. Relax, savour and enjoy!’.

What the label really means: I don’t know how seriously I can take a beer that is advertising itself as being best with a ‘wedge of orange or lime’. As far as I’m concerned it’s one step up from ‘best consumed while wearing a skirt’. I’m here to drink beer, people, put the cocktails away.

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: I really appreciate the simplicity of this label. It gives an impression that the label has been used for many years (perhaps a nod to the ‘late 19th century spiced beers’ on which the beer is based). I like Monteith’s use of scattered adjectives thrown amidst the title reading ‘enlivening’ and ‘honey spiced’. This could easily have gone into the ‘too busy’ category of beer label design but they have handled it beautifully. 
I like the use of orange and yellow to emphasise this as the Summer brew, and I love the fun ‘Summer Ale’ font that just sings of a Summer garden sprinkler and ant-ridden picnics. 

 

I give it a label rating of 8 out of 10. 

AROMA: A really strong floral and honey aroma. There is something really familiar with this beer but I can’t put my finger on it…ahh yes! Ginger! (special thanks to the wife!). What a curious brew.

Taste: GLASS – A nice golden beer poured out into the glass and I eagerly took my first sip. When I did, I was a little confused over whether I like it or not….my first impression was that I was drinking a radler (being a beer mixed with lemonade, or soda – i.e, a shandy) and had to re-check the label. The ginger was really quite prominent and it was almost like a ginger beer, with a honey hit, as well as distinct traces of lime. I’m not sure I am convinced I like this as much as I hoped.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 6 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - Goes back a bit better from the bottle, and the ginger aroma isn’t as powerful. Despite the label suggestion, I do not recommend a wedge of orange or lime goes anywhere near this beer.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Most delicious beer I have ever tasted…too easy to drink…”

She gave it a taste rating of 9.5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: I think this could really compliment a nice seafood platter. Either that, or pizza. Or just a good ol seafood pizza!

Best season to appreciate: Yep, you guessed it, Monteith’s Summer Ale is destined for the Summer months. And perhaps this is what threw me in my tasting today – it’s a cold evening. Perhaps I will revisit this brew on a hot and steamy Summer afternoon.

All-nighter beer? I think it is too fruity for me to drink all night. I want something a bit meatier.

NEXT WEEK: Sheaf Stout

26. Barons Black Wattle Original Ale

Barons Black Wattle Original Ale

 

 

Company info:
Barons Brewing
WOOLLAHRA, N.S.W

www.baronsbrewing.com

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 5.8%
Standard drinks: 1.5

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.60

Label info: ‘Barons Black Wattle Original Ale is the first in a new class of beer – flavoured by native Australian roasted wattle seed. This multi award-winning ale has a rich amber colour and a base malt flavour of toffee and caramel. The wattle seed rounds out the offering with a unique taste that hints of hazelnut, chocolate and mocha. It is a full bodied, full flavoured beer that is surprisingly smooth with an amazingly-silky finish. Best enjoyed with beef, lamb or game meats’.

What the label really means: With a label description that detailed, there’s not much else to learn. Please note, I didn’t read this description until after today’s review (you’ll note the overlooked flavours).

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: This is what I am talking about folks. This is the kind of label you design if you want a label that is tough, steeped in tradition, and simply looks awesome in your hand. Check out the sketch of a flying ace, a baron, with his flying helmet and scarf blowing in the wind. Look at the light being emitted from his heroic, fly into enemy territory, profile. This is a man prepared to take on a swarm of messerschmitts, bravely facing death in the eye. Look at the ring of wattle that surrounds the figure, as if presenting itself as an angelic halo, raising this baron to even greater heights. I love the use of the yellow, emphasising the wattle, and the strong contrast of the black and greys. If I was allowed one last beer before a kamikaze air attack, this label has me convinced that I should make it a Barons Black Wattle Original Ale.

I give it a label rating of 9 out of 10. 

AROMA: A rich and malty aroma that is extremely tantalising.

 

Taste: GLASS – Ok, I have a big confession to make with this beer. Before opening it up, I assumed that wattle would be in this beer in some way. All good thus far, however I assumed that this would mean it would be a light, honey tasting beer. I must have blanked out the word ‘black’ in the title and expected a light, pale ale. This was not the case as an amber ale emerged from the bottle. I take one sip of this and the first word that comes to mind is “smooth”. It is going back really well, and this is assured thanks to tiny bubbles of carbonation. It’s a gentle, malty ale similar in taste to James Squires Amber Ale but not as heavy. 

I give it a beer from glass rating of 7.5 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - While still ticking the ’smooth’ box, and remaining a great tasting beer, the lack of aroma wafting around the nostril region is distinctly lacking and it sort of diminishes the tasting experience.

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 6.5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Robust with a subtle, lingering, sweetness”

She gave it a taste rating of 7 out of 10.

Accompanying food: I’d would love to sample this with a good ol lamb roast with plenty of gravy, mint sauce, and baked vegies. This would make Black Wattle explode in the mouth.

Best season to appreciate: This be a Winter warmer (and possibly one that makes me speak in pirate talk by the looks of things). Slap me down a jug of this brew while sitting around a fire place (discussing my exploits on the high seas) and I’m an old sea dog yearning to bark.

All-nighter beer? As mentioned previously, I’m not really able to drink amber (or darker) beers all night without it hitting me hard so I am probably unqualified to answer this. But, I will say that the Black Wattle is such a smooth beer that I cannot imagine anything bad coming from it. Bring it on, and roll out the keg!

NEXT WEEK: Monteiths Summer Ale (by request)

25. Labatt Blue Imported

Labatt Blue Imported

 

 

Company info:
Labatt Brewing Company
TORONTO, CANADA

[No website listed on bottle]

Bottle size sampled: 355 mL

Alcohol: 5%
Standard drinks: 1.4

Cap type: Twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.70

Label info: N/A

What the label really means: N/A

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: Not nearly as boutique as some of the beers I have reviewed, this is one of the big players in the Canadian market and indeed North America. It’s a mass produced beer and as such not a great deal of effort has gone into the design of this label. I do like the fact it has the Canadian maple leaf on the label, but the blue and the gold really don’t do it for me. Where is the tough image of a Mounted Police officer charging at a bear? Where is the image of snow capped peaks being attacked by a wrecking ball? Where is the image of Wayne Gretzky destroying an opponents face with his fist? Come on Labatt, surely you can do better!

I give it a label rating of 3 out of 10.

AROMA: A good, strong, wheaty smell. 

Taste: GLASS -Being a mass-produced beer I really should have expected this, but I was a little taken aback when I found the beer to be quite bland. The aroma lead me to believe that this would be a good wheaty beer, and yes it’s definitely a wheaty pilsener but it’s also quite citrussy, and neither flavour is particularly dominant. It’s a mild, easy to drink beer but I really expected more, and just like my 2nd grade report card ‘there is so much potential, but very little talent’.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 6 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE – Yeesh! This is not a beer to be consumed from the bottle. It loses all its taste and becomes like mildly flavoured water. Even this revelation surprises me as I totally expected it to be a head back, throw down. 

 

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 4.5 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Quite delish and mellow tasting”

She gave it a taste rating of 7 out of 10.

Accompanying food: I’d love to have a few of these with something really spicy. Some hot and spicy buffalo wings and I suspect this beer would take flight.

Best season to appreciate: Definitely a Summer thirst quencher.

All-nighter beer? If you’re looking for a beer to drink all night, and don’t mind not getting much ‘oomph’ then this is it.

Other information: Being an ‘imported’ variety of Labatt Blue, this review holds no reflection on the beer sampled in Canada, from the source. Having spent much time in the US and Canada, this was once a staple draught beer of choice for me and I am sure to enjoy it once more when I return.

NEXT WEEK: Barons Black Wattle Original Ale

24. Hatlifter Stout

Hatlifter Stout

 

Company info:
The Grand Ridge Brewing Co.
MIRBOO NORTH, V.I.C

www.grand-ridge.com.au

Bottle size sampled: 330 mL

Alcohol: 4.9%
Standard drinks: 1.3

Cap type: Non-twist

Cost: I picked this up for AU$3.60

Label info: ‘Hatlifter Stout is a full flavoured, creamy, Australian style stout vintaged over an extended period of time with delicate chocolate, coffee and deep roasted barley flavours. Easy on the palate and an exceptional cold weather beer, served at cellar temperature’.

What the label really means: No euphemisms or hoity toity marketing talk here, this is a well composed beer description.

The Hell-Cat review starts here

Label: On first glance, the label looks very busy. There is barely any spare space, and it isn’t entirely necessary to include everything that they have. For the front/main label I would think that the idea would be to keep it simple, keep it clean, make it eye-catching. I would move the following text to the back label “100% Premium”, “100% Pure Beer”, “Mirboo North” (it already lists the region as Gippsland below, which for the majority of consumers is sufficient), and one of the “4.9%” listings (two is overkill).

The over-crowdedness aside, I love the Grand Ridge Brewery logo – an Australian Lyre Bird. It’s a proud, unique bird and it makes for a strong logo. I love the big lettering, and name, ‘Hatlifter Stout’, and I like the fact the label has a real metallic sheen to it. Not so convinced of the use of gold, but I’ll let that slide.

I give it a label rating of 6 out of 10.

AROMA: A rich, malty smell with a distinguishably herbal bouquet.

 

Taste: GLASS – Strong and bitter, yet real smooth. It’s not as thick and creamy as some stouts such as Guinness and this is a good thing here. There is a really strong roasted coffee barley taste throughout this brew. It’s not a beer I would drink regularly but I am enjoying this.

I give it a beer from glass rating of 6 out of 10.

Taste: BOTTLE - I think this beer goes better from the bottle. It seems to present itself even more smoothly and is quite enjoyable. 

I give it a taste from bottle rating of 7 out of 10.

A word from the wife: “Robust, honey taste. More pleasant than those that taste like burnt tyres”

She gave it a taste rating of 7.5 out of 10.

Accompanying food: I suggest this would be a good Winter brew, accompanying rich sauced meals such as stews, lamb shanks, or osso bucco.

Best season to appreciate: It’s definitely a sit by the fire, toe warmer. Winter all the way!

All-nighter beer? Probably not for me as I tend to feel pretty bad the next day after drinking too many dark beers but I am sure the stout lover will drink this quite freely.

NEXT WEEK: Labatt Blue Imported (our first Canadian beer!)