REVIEW #30: Bearded Lady Imperial Brown Stout (Magic Rock Brewing)

Pours matte black with a tawny head which has fair retention. Strong chocolate/cocoa and leathery notes sit comfortably with eucalyptus hop in the aroma. The beer has a very firm body without being gloopy in consistency. Initial pine hop and burnt barley flavours sit in exquisite poise. The acrid, tannic finish is as dry as the proverbial old boots without being cloying (although I'm sure it would be for some with a palate unattuned to imperial stouts... Tread carefully!). Alcohol is present in the taste but not overly so. Another deliciously satisfying imperial stout!

Magic Rock Brewing of Huddersfield is one of the newest brewers in the UK, starting up in 2011. Incredibly they already have a huge reputation and big UK fan base. Their self-confessed inspiration is the US craft brewing scene, hence it is no surprise that archetypically American pine-hop aromas are very evident in Bearded Lady. I'd wager that some classic American hops went into this beer. But being an Imperial Stout its all about the unfermentable, ungerminated roast barley; this adds weight, body and flavour in the spadeful.

• MALTS: ?

• HOPS: ?
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 10.5%`

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