“Our latest release is part of the Drifter series, a range of seasonal beers that drift in and out. Big Nut is a black IPA that’s been a long time coming for customers at the brewpub. Big Nut has been one of our most popular winter beers at the brewpub. Our Draughters’ members have been heckling us for years to put it in a can.More than just the beer, Big Nut began its story at the Braddon brewpub in the most literal sense, a big nut used in a tap handle.”
Glassware: IPA glass.
Appearance: Solid black with a sturdy thumb of tan foam perched on top. Retention is excellent and the lacing makes a mess of the glass.
Aroma: The nose is filled with big roasty malts, subtle smoke, charred wood, bitter espresso and licorice. Enter the hops! They come in with a piney, herbal, grassy and citrusy profile that balances everything out. Black IPA’s are one of our favoured styles for this reason…taking scents from both ends of the spectrum and blending them together. Brilliant!
Flavour: Even better than the aroma…and that is rare! We’re getting all of that dark roasty malt, coffee, chocolate, mild smoke etc, all the clean, piney, herbal and citrusy hops but the clincher is the overall silky smoothness that wraps it all up. Pithy grapefruit and orange peel forming late and finishing with a dry bitterness alongside a mild roast and charred malt character.
Mouthfeel: As we touched on previously the overall smoothness is next level. The bitterness (45 IBU) and the booze (7% AbV) are both incredibly well disguised. One of the most session-able black IPA’s we’ve ever had.
Overall: What else can we say? Other than this is an absolute ripper of a beer. Bentspoke do it again!