Murray's Heart Of Darkness
Murray's Craft Brewing Co.

After sucking down countless Shitty lagers in Western Australia, I’ve found beer nirvana in the east. Dark seems to be the strength. Another great RIS, mellow but with a kick in the aftertaste. These RIS come on normal (think Guinness) but pack a wallop. Nice to see as t hides the burn. Murrays has the style down pat.

Being named after one of my all-time favourite novellas means that Murray’s had better bring something special to my table. Though I do expect they will deliver, as per usual (except for that one time Moon Boy). In any case I may have been drawn by the name of the beer but the purchase was instantaneous based on the style described as “Belgio Imperial Stout”, that is: a) Pretty insane, which I love, and b) A combination of two of my favourite styles, which will likely in all honesty fail miserably but hey let’s give it a shot anyway! [that’s why I’m here reviewing these beers - so you don’t have to waste your hard-earned dosh on a dud-beer… oh yeah and I like writing too].

Poured from a 330ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Très dark, impervious cola body with a mocha head that soon dies down to a thin lace ring - that’s pretty standard behaviour for a 9.6% ABV brew there. Look we all know I love a dark beer and generally give out 9’s like I’m giving away candy so why change now? 9/10.

S: Ripe coffee cherry upfront and in your face with an intriguing dark fruit and pear esters coming through along with a slight sour bread yeast note… this is probably one of the more interesting beers I’ve put my nose to in a long while - it’s got a really wondrous balance between Imperial Stout and Belgian Strong Dark characters, if this tastes half as good as the aroma suggests we are in for a ride! 9/10.

T: Hmmmm, it’s not quite as deep and complex as the aroma leads you to believe. There are a few of the above characters (coffee cherry, dark fruits and pear esters) however there is also a phenomenal amount of sugar going on as well… too much IMO. It’s up there with a Leffe for the sheer-sugar-dumping-on-your-tongue factor, and this heavy amount of sweetness really covers up what feels like a bunch of other (interesting) flavours in the background. There’s a herbal hop note towards the back as well, but it struggles to balance out all that sugar. Slight disappointment sets in along with the sugar rush. 5/10.

M: Medium bodied with a nice dense carbonation. 8/10.

D: Too bad Murray’s, I was really looking forward to this one and then you drop a sugar-bomb in my mouth - like some sort of saccharine-grenade, a saccarinade [ooo I like that!]. I think I’ll skip the next Murray’s release. 5/10.

Food match: A bowl of brown sugar, and some Insulin.

Another cool beer from BobbyHeenan. Cheers!

From a bottle into a snifter
Belgio Imperial Stout

APPEARANCE: A clear black pour yields a half finger, medium looking, tan head with good retention. Black body with medium levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a decent wisp, but only a slight wisp remains until the end leaving dots of lacing down the glass. Could be a bit darker for the style, but solid head.

SMELL: Chocolate malts, light notes of leather, some light caramel, and some spicy notes from the yeast. Okay. Medium strength.

TASTE: Some spicy yeast notes, chocolate and leather up front. Moves to a spicy and yeasty finish with a bold and lingering aftertaste of chocolate, toffee, spicy yeast, with leather and tobacco flavors as well. Flavorful and definitely Belgian in style.

PALATE: Slightly thinner body with higher levels of carbonation. A bit airy on the palate, goes down okay and finishes slightly sticky. Some spicy yeast lingers on the palate.

OVERALL: Definitely Belgian, but not really a stout. This can be more accurately described was a Belgian strong dark ale with some chocolate malt thrown in for good measure. Still, as it is, it's a good beer and well worth checking out if you get the chance. Cheers BobbyHeenan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On-tap at Murrays at Manly

Pours a black body, tan small head that dies to a film. Lacing good.

Aromas are subdued due to serving temp - a little roast, a little choc.

Taste is very complex with roast, chocolate, coffee. Integrated fruits balance out the roast flavours.

Mouthfeel is medium to hevyweight but not oily. Carbonation reasonably high.

Overall, the best of the three RISs on tap.

A - Pours black in colour looking almost like oil with a tan head that dissipates immediately to leave a thin film.

S - Roasted coffee with some chocolate, sweet malts and get a slight hint of vanilla.

T - Get alot of that roasted coffee and chocolate malts, some stewed dark fruits with a hint of liquorice that balances out beautifully.

M - Full bodied with medium carbonation

O - A fantastic stout and of the better ones from Murrays. Really like the chocolate/coffee malt character that is not too overpowering is balanced nicely. A must try.

Pours pitch black with a large, tan head.
Nose shows chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, liquorice and oats, alongside spicy phenols and higher alcohols.
Very similar flavours; quite sweet at first before the roasted malt bitterness and soft alcohol make their presence felt. Lots more liquorice, roast and spicy Belgian notes. Seems a little brash though.
Could use higher, creamier carbonation.

A - Pours black with a one finger mocha head that fades fast. Specs of lace and no retention.

S - Aromas of Belgian yeast, dark fruits, and chocolate. Interesting.

T - Lot's of sweet malt, chocolate, dark fruits, and Belgian yeast esters. Pretty interesting stuff.

M - Really smooth with nice carbonation, a full body, and a sweet finish.

O/D - While not being overly complex, Murray's has done a good job of constructing a beer that is flavourful and smooth. The incorporation of the Belgian yeast definitely sets it apart from other Australian examples of the style. A good one.

 

Appearance - Low head retention, light brown hue to head, dark brown colour, moderate carbonation

Smell - Chocolate, blackcurrant, cherry, malty, floral, alcohol presence

Taste - Fruit and dark berries, under-ripe cherries, over ripe plums, sweet, dried fruit, raisins, cognac like alcohol presence, slightly tart fruitiness. Bitterness in finish.

Mouthfeel - Lacks body, moderate carbonation, heavy fruit and alcohol

Drinkability - Heavy beer, doesn't sit well, lacks body

Overall - Unbalanced, too tart. Drinkable beer, good in ways, but has it's flaws

Drank from my Stella tulip. Drank at room temperature.

A - Pours deep MAhogany almost Ebony colour, with a one fingered head that reduces to a film and laces the glass

S - Aromas are of spicey sugars and soem dark stewed fruit.

T - Taste up front is somewhat spicey and gives way to some nice cocoa and malt flavours the finish is a little bitter. There are some interesting toffee flavours to compliment the brew. The booze is very well hidden.

M - Full body and medium to low carbonation, and kind of oily.

O - I really enjoyed this beer, it does have some Belgian Royal stout carachteristics but is a long way short of Black Albert.

Very dark black with a moderate sized, tan head. Fair head retention.

Rounded, fruity esters with mild, sweet chocolate and a touch of roast. Mild citrus. All in all an interesting aroma.

Smooth, mild roast with some slightly bitter chocolate and mild fruity esters. There is a bit of a citrussy hop note here too. On the whole this is a complex and smooth Imperial Stout. Like a fruity version of Wild Thing.

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. Good.

A solid effort from Murray's with a nice fruitiness adding depth and complexity to the stout.

A - Pours a very dark brown/borderline black with 3cm of dark tan head that slowly falls away leaving a bit of lacing.
S - The aroma is a mixture of stewed fruits, bitter cocoa, some light Belgian phenols with a waft of alcohol.
T - The alcohol comes through more in the taste along with more bittersweet cocoa nothes and Belgian yeast character.
M - Medium to full bodied with a medium level of carbonation.
D - Not something to session but well worth trying. Hoping I'll get to try it again.