Something decidedly different today, a ‘brown beer’ with bags of character. There’s something of an oxymoron in the description, it being both ‘all new’ and ‘original’ at the same time, but it’s all in the details…
This ale is brewed using muscovado sugar, before being fermented and conditioned on oak staves. Not just any old staves though, these came from a barrel used to age a batch of ‘Hello, Dimitri?’ which is their flagship bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout. Don’t you love clever recycling.
- Name : Throwback Oak Conditioned Vintage Stock Ale
- Brewery: Roosters Brewing Co, Harrogate
- Hops : Golding
- Grain : Malted barley and wheat
- Aroma : A touch of dried fruit and some sweetness like caramelised sugar
- Appearance : Reddish-tawny hued, merest touch of haze and cream coloured head
- Body : Full bodied medium carbonated but with disappointing head retention
- Taste : Initially fruity but then there is a pleasing maltiness that is not over sweet. A bitter finish tempered with a little sweetness. Just a hint of fortified spirits in the strong aftertaste
- Dietary restrictions : Allergens highlighted and vegan friendly
With the use of muscovado sugar, one would expect it to be rather sweet, but interestingly it’s not excessive.
This is a complex and multilayered flavour experience. In style it is edging towards winter warmer territory, but the ABV is more in the realms of a strong bitter. It’s the intense flavours that make it appear more potent than it really is, quite the opposite of Baby-Faced Assassin for who the brewery is best known. The addition of the barrel staves makes a significant difference.
An excellent brown beer that is perfectly balanced and well worth trying.
Peters overall rating: 3.9/ 5.0
The|Eternal|Hoptimitsts 