London Brewers Alliance Collaboration London Stout
The Kernel Brewery

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Aug 2014 (bottled Aug 2012), so it's a bit out of date. I'm hoping it has held up. Picked up a while back from Trembling Madness in York. A collaborative effort by the London Brewers' Alliance though the label doesn't say exactly which breweries took part.

A: Poured into a snifter. Bottle conditioned. A very dark brown hue that appears ultra-black in the glass; no light pierces it. Produces a huge head of creamy mocha foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a patchy surface layer. Slight lacing.

S: Aroma of rich roasted malt with hints of coffee, burnt grain, chocolate, molasses, mild toasted hazelnuts, faint liquorice, earthy yeast and subtle stewed leaves. A twinge of sourness in the background. Booze is well hidden. Superbly intense.

T: Tastes of intense roasted malt with a prolonged bitter finish. Notes of coffee, burnt grain, cocoa, molasses, toasted nuts, faint liquorice, earthy yeast, stewed leaves and a touch of lactic sourness. Slightly sweet, followed by a powerful, malt-driven bitterness upon swallowing.

M: Mouthfeel is smooth and dry, with soft carbonation and good body. Pretty astringent, accompanied by an aftertaste of bitter roasted malt, coffee, earthy yeast and mild stewed leaves.

O: Good stuff - a cracking stout from the London brewers. Looks great, while the aroma and flavour are replete with dark roasted malt, coffee and lingering bitterness. Nice smooth body. A treat for lovers of all things dark - well worth sampling if there's any left lurking around.

 

 

 

 

 

Pours very dark brown to black showing no light - nice and thick with a good head at pour. Aroma is dark malts, chocolate and coffee. Taste repeats more of the same bit it is luscious and great to savor. Chocolate through the middle with coffee and strong chocolate note on the end.