Robinsons – Fear of the Dark English Stout (4.5% ABV)

Hi there fellow beer lovers,

Welcome back to the Eternal Hoptimists Spooktakular Halloween lead-up special.

For a few years now traditional brewer Robinsons have been working in collaboration with the heavy rock band Iron Maiden to produce a beer called Trooper. This is the first stout they have brewed under this partnership and the name is of course an album title.

The label, naturally, pictures their mascot Eddie dressed as a demented coachman wearing a top hat, frockcoat, and ruffled shirt. 

1. Name : Trooper – Fear of the Dark
2. Brewery: Robinsons Brewery, Stockport, Greater Manchester
3. Hops : Not specified
4. Grain :  Malted barley and wheat
5. Aroma : Roasted malt and chocolate 
6. Appearance : Very dark black with virtually no light bleed and a brown head (with a lively pour)
7. Body :  Full bodied, medium carbonation with some head retention 
8. Taste : An initial hit of roasted malt is quickly followed by chocolate but more sweet than bitter. Chocolate flavour lingers along with a slight smokiness in the aftertaste 

After the first couple of sips, I thought I was going to be disappointed, but this is one that certainly grew on me. In the end it is a perfectly pleasant stout that manages to tick all the boxes without being too complex or strong. Perfect for the odd bottle or two in front of the television, so grab a couple and settle down with a horror film this Halloween. 

Our overall rating: 3.6/ 5.0