Double Stout
Hook Norton Brewery Co. Ltd.

 

 

 

L: Dark, with lighter hints towards the bottom of the glass. Good lacing.
S: Chocolate, toffee, caramel, coffee, fudge, wheat, dark fruits
T: Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, coffee, raisins, treacle
F: Slightly overcarbonted, medium-to-well bodied

O: 4.5

 

500 ml bottle conditioned, will soon be available at Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 4.8%. Black colour, moderate beige head. Pleasant mildly roasty aroma, notes of mild coffee, dark chocolate and woodwork, a hint of liquorice. The medium dry flavour has the same elements as the aroma. I don’t know what makes this a "double" stout, but it is nice enough to drink anyway.

500ml bottle from Beers of Europe (£2.29):
Very deep & opaque chestnut to mahogany with with half cm, thin tan head that's wavy & thick, covering the surface well with a few bubbles through it. Roasted malts & chocolate come through initially with some faint smoked notes & a little sugar without anything dominating then light coffee & an earthy bitterness see things out. The roasted malts are stronger with the taste, I got some coffee & an earthy bitterness, dark chocolate around the middle then light smoked flavours to finish. It's smooth with a medium body & decent balance, it was a fairly standard stout that could've been a little fuller. 

 

L- It's after dark this evening and I've just a reading light on, held up right near the bulb it's pitch black except for at the junction of the side/bottom where I can see glimpses of deep chestnut/red. Pours with 5-10MM dark beige head that holds well.
S- Chocolate and coffee.
T- Roasty-toasty, chocolate, smoke galore. It doesn't seem to have that thin [watery] yet bitter edge common in the mega-brewery stouts, which is the reason I usually simply avoid stout. This is entirely different, so much better it's very surprsing, I hadn't realised stout could be like this.
M- slightly to the rich-side of the dry>

 

 

Reviewed on the "1001" list, it should be there.
This was an enjoyable and pleasant stout that many American brewers should try to emulate. In my book a stout can be both extreme and good if the brewer is talented. But to improve our chances of finding balance, stouts should be like Hook Norton's.

L:
-pours the darkest of brown with very faint ruby tinges and a big,foamy,beige head
S:
-spicy,grassy,coffee,zest,plums,dark chocolate
T:
-nutty,coffee,spicy,grassy,plums,licorice,brown sugar,raisins,black bread
F:
-medium carbonation
-medium body
Very full-bodied for a 5% Stout
O:
I don't think a regular Stout can be much better than this

500ml bottle.
L: Black with a sliver of ruby edging. Massive, four fingers of khaki foam leaves sheets of lacing.
S: Sweet coffee, chocolate & wood smoke. Not overdone.
T: Charred malts, coffee, spicy bitterness. Very subtle sweetness.
F: Light body, almost thin, with solid carbonation and a nicely dry finish.
O: An highly drinkable, low ABV, charred, smoky, dry stout.

 

 

 

 

Pours very dark with a thick tan head and much lacing. Nose is...mostly missing. Just a little coffee and roasted grains, but not much. Taste is...did they really label this double stout? Flavor is okay, but just lacking all round. Medium mouthfeel. Not something I'll get again.