REVIEW #72: Barista Espresso Stout (Summer Wine Brewery)

Pours black as night with a dark beige head. The nose is full of peaty, dank earth and grassy notes; unexpected! Surprisingly similar in taste too with black coffee and spent grounds being prominent initially. The latter runs through to the finish. Bitter earthy hops combine with a chewy liquorice and hedgerow fruit malt sweetness prior to a very dry and prolonged roast coffee finish. The coffee comes across in a very similar manner to that of De Molen's Bed & Breakfast (review 37). One feature of Espresso Stout is its low carbonation, making it come across a little flat. To some this may be a negative but I feel it allows the flavours to come out of hiding more than normal. It could also be thought of as a bit heavy going due to its thick, full bodied nature. But if you like a good stout I think this will please. And for those stout drinkers who also like a good expresso, then this is sure to do the trick.

Summer Wine Brewery have impressed me. First with their fruity (Tele)porter and now with this very modern feeling stout. It comes across as very much a creative craft beer, akin to something a De Molen or Mikkeller would produce. I'm looking forward to trying their Double Black Rye-PA, which is sitting on my kitchen floor. In fact that may become part of a black IPA head-to-head review. Watch this space.

• MALTS: ?

• HOPS: ?
• IBU: ?
• ABV: 4.8%`
• COFFEE ADDED 

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