I'm back! After a nigh-on 3 month hiatus... Had to take a break from writing about beer for a while as I was becoming stale. I still might be stale, but I fancy writing about the lovely beers I come across again...
This specimen is a double stout from Hook Norton. It pours a deep walnut brown with a slight ruby hue when held up to the light. It's capped off with a tan coloured wispy head that goes to a thin layer after a minute or 2 and offers a touch of lacing on the glass
Nose throws out plenty of roasted malt goodness; really nutty with an underlying hint of chocolate and coffee. Floral hops do come out (just) and there is a pleasant fruity sweetness
Good mix of complex flavours. Definite smokey woodiness to this, with a complex mix of coffee, cocoa and fruit cake with raisins & plums. The hops give a good spicy bitterness to help give a clean, dry finish.
Full bodied, smooth and well balanced. There is a good level of dryness to keep you wanting more. A pleasant stout with lots of flavour
