Recent Tasting Notes

Emerald Hill Stout (10/20)
Dark brown with a reddish tinge. Thin creamy mocha coloured head on pouring but disappears almost instantly. Mild roast and chocolate on the nose; milky chocolate perhaps. Not bad. Smooth palate, chocolate and dry roast early, but flavours do fall away somewhat. Looks like a stout at first glance but doesn’t really have the stuffing.

Jamieson Mountain Ale (10/20)
Has been an ok beer in the past if well short of spectacular. Brown in colour with a faint ruby hue. Nose is not really inspiring; faint roast and minerals. Very amber ale-like to taste; milky chocolate (mild) and maybe the faintest hint of roast. Underpinned with a slightly cloying sweet note which is not attractive. I’ve had better bottles.

Red Hill Imperial Stout (16/20)
Amazing to watch this beer develop upon pouring; beautiful chocolate orange head very early then settles to a mocha colour. Weird but impressive. Body is very very dark brown. Aromas build the beer nicely with fruity brandy characters and funky marzipan notes. It’s all quite elegant but very impressive. Quite mild and settled to taste with more brandy and dark fruits but the palate is very broad, perhaps losing some intensity in the process. A very interesting dark chocolate note kicks in late. Another very good beer from Red Hill.