The Foxes Rock Stout
Cumberland Breweries

Copenhagen 30/4 2018. 50 cl bottle from Brønshøj Vine, Brønshøj torv, Brønshøj. A fox sniffing the wind on the label. Quite busy telling me that the Station Rocks Brewery is fairly new (2015) and that this is handcrafted and Irish.

Pours very dark, opaque brown with a big light tan head. Settles as a 0,5 cm thick layer with lacing hanging on to the side of the glass. Substantial lacing.

Aroma is intense and bitter-sweet. With an emphasis on Bitter. Chocolate, tobacco, bitter coffee and a little but noticeable peaty, smoky odor.

Light carbonation and medium thick texture.

Flavor is lightly sweet followed by sharp bitterness and saltiness. Aftertaste is bitter. Lingering.

Smells like the seasoned seaman's Idea of Heaven but kind of one-dimensional flavor-vise.

500 ml bottle, as Foxes Rock Stout (no "the"), from Skjold Burne Hjørring. ABV is 4.5%. Very dark brown colour, huge beige head (overcarbonated). Aroma of roast malts, hints of chocolate and coffee, some sourish notes too. Thin and fizzy mouthfeel. Roasty flavour too, again with notes of chocolate and coffee, but not sweet (quite dry actually). Moderate hops in the finish.

This is a decent stout. Don't get me wrong. All the the classic stout notes are present. Nice subtle chocolate and maltiness. But that's the problem. It's too subtle. Too thin. Which is ok sometimes. But here it just doesn't work unfortunately.

If I'm in the mood for something this light. It won't be a stout. There's just no point.

 

Bottle at Gourmet Burger Bar Dublin
Pours a mostly opaque black color with a frothy long lasting tan head. Rich roasty light chocolate maltiness with bits of dark dried fruit and earthy hops to counter.

 

 

 

 

Pours opaque, jet black in color with one inch head. Taste is chocolate syrup, charred malt, and smoke. Medium light bodied with low carbonation and sweet. Makes for a slightly above average stout. Decent but there are better beers in the style.

500 ml bottle purchased and served fairly cold into a pint glass. Purchased while on vacation in the UK.

Appearance - Pours a very dark brown, near black color and is topped with a finger of frothy tan head. Good retention and a few nice sticky streaks of lacing.

Smell - Some subtle hints of coffee and chocolate, not super robust but aromatic. Some earthy hops mix nicely.

Taste - Middling bitterness, some coffee and dark chocolate with subtle bits of vanilla. A bit of peat to close. Well rounded and flavorful.

Mouthfeel - Smooth and medium bodied, good carbonation and just right for the style.

Overall - A good representation of a style that doesn't have the biggest following. Worth a try and would repeat the purchase.