It’s astonishing that at 12.5%, this is not even the strongest beer from Swedish Stigbergets.
It’s a fantastic Imperial Stout throught and throught, though. Surprisingly sour, which means that it tastes like 90% chocolate, and very smooth. Makes you light, not heavy. Something I definitely would buy if I ever find it again.
I think I got this from the random crate, but I’m not sure. Been meaning to taste Mad Squirrel just for the sake of the name.
It’s a nice porter. Not much gas, which is good. Has some sweetness, some smokiness, doesn’t leave you with a headache. For 3GBP or so, not bad at all.
Got it from the same Beer52 random crate I’m still struggling to finish. It’s a nice surprise, pretty sweet and tasty for a cheap 5% stout. Not sold on their site directly at the moment, so I couldn’t get it even if I wanted to, but all their other beers are ridiculously cheap:
Finally tried it (it’s March, I bought it before Christmas). And it’s exactly what I’d wish from Christmas beer. Chocolate or coffee notes, some spiciness, sweet, but not too heavy.
If I could get it next year, I would.
I was looking forward to try this beer, but it turned out into a slight disappointment. It’s not particularly bad, and didn’t leave me with a headache or anything like that, but it just didn’t taste anything special. Not too sweet, not too spicy. Just… alright, I guess.
One of the cans I’ve got from Beer52 random beer box was this oyster stout from Ramsgate. Strangely enough, most of the places that do sell it, sell it in bottles, and not in cans.
It’s a fine stout at 6.2% ABV, not too sweet, not too smoky, no hard feelings. Almost no gas either.
As of the name, some claim that brewers were adding oysters or oyster shells to the beer as a clarifying agent. There are no oysters in this one, though, and they explain the name as “good with seafood beer”.
For the good of me, I can’t remember where I’ve got this beer from.
This trappist beer is interesting, because it’s has an almost umami taste. It’s what’s called a “quad”, so 10.5%, pretty strong by any standard. And comes from Austria, which is a rare place for trappist beers.
Only after visiting Ghent I discovered that one of my favorite beers, Gulden Draak, also comes as an Imperial Stout.
It’s fantastic, as can be expected from Gulden Draak. Makes you lightheaded and slightly sleepy, but that passes quickly.
The taste is smooth, but not as heavy as some of the Imperial Stouts made in the UK.
Tried Brew By Numbers Blood Orange Pale Ale and Brew by Numbers Pale Ale Citra Centennial. Nice almost no-alcohol IPAs, that still preserve some taste. Bought a pack of 8, since they stopped making them, it seems.
A very solid triple IPA, as expected from BBN. Sweet and fruty, gives a bit of lightheadyness, and no hard feelings whatsoever afterwards.
I like stouts. This one is oversweetened, and hits like a pillow. One can, and everything goes quiet for a while.
I think I grabbed it from Waitrose, or maybe M&S.
Tried a couple of beers we brought from Belgium.
Gruut Wit was a disappointment. To me, it had zero smell and zero taste. Just poured it into the sink.
Corsendonk Agnus Tripel was surprisingly gaseous and with a very stubborn “head”, which is uncommon for a tripel. It was nice, but nothing spectacular in terms of taste to compensate for the gases.
As can be expected from a lambic beer, it’s very sour. And also very foamy. Not too sweet though, which is great for a kriek.
Worth trying some other lambic from this brewery. But not this one.
A much welcome alternative to Barbar, another Belgian honey beer.
Stronger than it looks, 8% ABV.
Has a more “burn honey” taste than Barbar, in my opinion, more resembling a honey cake.
Should be available in the UK from BeersOfEurope.
As you’d expect from Brew By Numbers and Imperial Stout. Smooth, a bit like coffee or chocolate, and kicks like a mattress.
Comes in a 250ml can, that lessens the kick somewhat.
A very good Imperial Stout. And by “good” I mean it is smooth, and make you calm as a cucumber. A bit oversweetened, to my taste, but hey, it’s an Imperial Stoud available from supermarkets.
Available from Tesco, and maybe Waitrose as well.
Wanted to try something new and interesting from BrewDog.
Layer Cake Marshmallow & Chocolate Stout wasn’t the right choice, though.
The stout part was fine. But the marshmallow is too overpowering to enjoy.
This beer from Magic Rock Brewing hits way above its price.
Dark Arts
Similar in quality stout from Brew By Numbers would cost twice as much:
10 COFFEE PORTER MOCHA CBD 6.5% [440ML CAN]
Now I’m curious to try their IPA, which seems to be closer to DIPA:
Cannonball