What beer are you drinking now? #4477

Good morning.
Yesterday before going home from work, I stopped for what was supposed to be just a beer.
Then I saw her and the plans changed, dinner at the pub and three good glasses just because today we had to get up to go to work.

The Kernel Brewery (London, ENG) - Export Stout London 1890 - Foreign Extra Stout (7,3%).

A beer that I have been drinking for years (but more often in bottles) and that I consider one of those timeless classics, for which every conscious drinker should pass by... seeing it at the pump is always a pleasure.
Brief historical note (which never hurts): it is a flagship recipe of the renowned London brewery Kernel that for many years has made this Foreign Extra Stout famous, which is made with a recipe dating back to 1890 and found in the archives of the old TRUMAN'S BREWERY in Brick Lane, a historic English brewery founded in 1666 in London, with slight modifications and "modernizations": to "round off" the excessive acidity and burnt coffee of the basic roasted malt alone, Chocolate malt was added to reduce the acrid and excessively burnt taste and Crystal malt to dry and balance the excessive acidity that resulted from the original recipe.
40 cl glass at the pump (7€, well spent though).
Just by looking at it you can recognize it: black, with an effect given by the pouring at the pump (which enhances every good beer of this style) almost of carbon nitrogen with the foam that rises and the beer that descends.
Two and a half fingers of beige foam, soft and fragrant (toasted and dark chocolate notes) that remains to act as a hat to the impenetrable and almost shiny black beer.
In the mouth, the beer flows on a dense body, without being excessively oily, releasing on this important canvas flavors that, with a reference point of hints of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee beans, range from slightly smoky notes to leathery notes, up to softer notes of hazelnuts and almonds.
Before it fades away, there are also light notes of licorice.
The finish is bitterish and among the toasted notes you can also feel a hoppy herbaceous in the background.
On the palate, there remain predominantly notes of fresh roasted dark chocolate, while on the tongue this pleasant bitter note softens a light "drying" sensation very cereal-like.
Supreme example of how a product in perfect (historical) style manages to stand out and be recognizable and with its own distinct character from a product that, although artisanal, seeks compromises with mass consumption.
And, at least here in my area, we are full of those who flood the artisanal market with products that are deliberately anonymous (standard taste, standard price), rather than pleasant for some and, as a natural consequence, less appreciated by others.
As if now they only make beers for first-time drinkers who perhaps have to face artisanal realities of true excellence, with the sole aim of making an economically sustainable and saleable product, lowering the level and, perhaps, mortifying their initial dreams in the name of the market.
but I do another job and I don't allow myself to judge.
It's just the idea I got from seeing how national artisanal breweries of excellence are increasingly niche.





Sláinte .
Cheers .

 

Good day BAs! Thanks @Shanex for opening the bar and @Jack_14 for another excellent review.

Nothing special here today - just a lager prior to getting some lab work done.

 

Yesterday Replies:

• @mickyge - Thank you for the Driftwood & Carnivale recommendations. My preliminary look at the subjects is that I could really like both. Been to Deadwood as a kid and adult.
• @champ103 - I serendipitously decided to watch Breaking Bad after a series of events after Christmas. All seasons were free for both episodes (beyond watching four commercial blocks per episode) on philo.com. I completely finished BB, and was wrapping up Season 4 of BCS when Seasons 5 & 6 disappeared, at least from the free section. I purchased Seasons 5 & 6 of Better Call Saul for $19.98 total (on sale $9.99 each) via Fandango At Home (they are now $16.99 and $23.99, respectively). I highly recommend these last two seasons, the best IMO, when you get a chance.

Today, it is -6 F as I post, and no I don't mean wind chill. What Beer Am I Drinking Now after being up most of the overnight?

Hop Butcher Destination Moon




Cued up an 122 year old French film for @Shanex and other interested BAs to watch.


The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOG3eus4ZSo

 

That is one of the most poetic reviews I have read. Makes me want to find and try this beer!!!

 

Thank you very much!
I hope you find some bottles and that they arrive in excellent condition. Personally, it is a beer with a body that makes the difference... dense, but not excessively oily, enveloping without being too hot and above all which allows the development of the entire series of flavors that characterize it. And then also visually... it's so beautiful: classic but timeless.

 

14 degrees here this morning, pretty cold for southern New Mexico. A good day to stay indoors.

 

Stone Double Bastard
I like all the Arrogant Bastards!

 

G'day all!

Also from the Samuel Smith pack, best before June 4th 2026! I can safely say that this is the best SS Oatmeal Stout that I have ever had. (well,I'm still sipping)

Prost!

 

There's a reason that it is the number 1 ranked of the style.

 

I absolutely agree.
Then served at the pump it is truly rewarding with every sip. Amazing, reflecting every canon of the reference style.

 

Frost Beer Works Heavy impy stout

 

Greetings all, first time back in the chat in a while & the boss made an appearance! Cheers Todd!

Every American Porter should grab a pen and pad and take notes from this beer, deep roasted malt notes with a touch of milk chocolate. Slight hoppy finish with lingering notes of coffee and cocoa.

 

Lunch Beer, BAs - Allagash’s “Curieux”, a BBA Belgian-style Golden Ale, as per the brewer:



Bottled 12/7/22. Poured at 53°. Chunky floaties galore!, otherwise Crystal clear. I’ve had this beer before…and it smells and tastes fine…and the 10.2% is a welcome start to my beer drinking day

Cool and rainy all morning. I went to our gym and hit the treadmill then did some chores. Such a yucky day that I’ve decided to hang with my virtual bar buddies and drink today.

Cheers and have a terrific Tuesday y’all!

 

Happy frigid Tuesday, BAs

Too cold to walk my pup Emma again this morning - we both are going a little stir crazy with this very cold spell!

This is hitting the NA spot with lunch!

 

OMG! Such a great history lesson. I look for Kernel every time I go to the UK. Thanks @Jack_14 !

 

Cheers!