Rating:

“Speedway Stout’s ominous, pitch-black appearance has become a hallmark of this modern-day classic. Chocolate and roasted malts dominate the flavor, supported by notes of dark fruit, toffee, and caramel. A healthy dose of locally-roasted coffee added to each batch brings out the beer’s dark chocolate flavors and enhances its drinkability. Despite its intensity, Speedway Stout’s fine carbonation and creamy mouthfeel make it very smooth and surprisingly easy to drink. This beer ages very well and will continue to mature for many years to come.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black pour as to be expected. It forms a short dark brown head which holds together nicely. Laced well as it subsides.

Aroma: Holy moly. When we ask for imperial coffee stout this is exactly what we’re hoping to get. It almost has shades of KBS to it…but even better coz the bittersweet and nutty coffee is laid over and blasts it into outer space. Not to mention that this bad boy isn’t even barrel aged! We can only imagine what it would be like with a hint of bourbon oak, spice and fire. Absolutely amazing aroma.

Flavour: Insane progression…it just keeps evolving. So rich and menacing upfront – molasses, dark chocolate, smoked almonds and burnt toffee. The coffee is subtle amongst the myriad of other flavours but it provides a healthy dose of nutty and savoury roast that feeds into the rich stout base exceptionally well. A faint hint of burnt vanilla before a rich, roasty finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Just a touch of prickly-ness but at 12% ABV that can be excused. Dense, muscly texture. Some creaminess. Low Co2, full bodied.

Overall: We were stunned when we realised that we’d reviewed all these Speedway spin offs but never the OG. This is technically the OG…just with the coffee added. Which tbh, is a master stroke. Superb.

Rating:

“Wanted for smoothness. Oatlaw is a dark, easy-drinking oatmeal stout with a soft body and a comforting finish.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Black pour with near two fingers of tan head perched on top. Steady reduction and reasonable lace work on the glass.

Aroma: As we expected, it comes off a bit weak and insipid. Very basic stout qualities of coffee, licorice, chocolate, tobacco and mild smoke. We’re picking up delicate earthy and herbal hops…maybe a hint of spice from them as well. Not really offering much in the way of body (apparently this is brewed with oats), it just smells a bit watery, light and almost dark ale-esque.

Flavour: Unfortunately it inherits the same insipid and watered down characteristics we got on the nose. The one and only saving grace is that for a fleeting moment, the front palate shows a modest helping of chocolate, coffee and a hint of ash. Then after that we get a mild bitterness then a quick nose dive into nothing but a gentle roasted malt that continually fades into what is typically called a finish.

Mouthfeel: Watery, thin and slippery. Low-ish Co2 and medium body. Not even a measly 5.4% ABV can save that.

Overall: Thankfully this was given to us as a freebie by one of our most trusted bottlo’s. No wonder it was a freebie. Give this one a wide berth

Rating:

“The seasons turn. You find your way back. Endless Return is built for that moment – when things slow down and you settle in. A blend of six malt layers, dark chocolate, espresso and roasted barley, balanced by a subtle caramel warmth and a smooth, dry finish. Rich, composed and made to be returned to. Again and again.”

Glassware: American pint.

Appearance: Almost completely black except for a flicker of light punching through at the base of the glass. A thumb of light brown head slowly recedes to a fine overlay. Nice webbed lacing in its wake.

Aroma: We love a good American stout. For us they sit on the slightly heavier end of a black IPA which suits us just fine! And this iteration is doing exactly that – displaying a lightly charred malt base of coffee, dark chocolate, marzipan and ash whilst the hops counter with their oily and resinous wafts of pine, citrus and herbs. As it settles the roasty stout qualities intensify too.

Flavour: Absolutely on point. If anything, it’s pushed harder to the stout side with a good dose of dark chocolate, lightly burnt wood and molasses. The hops still punch through hard with their oily, resinous and herbaceous citrus and pine…balancing it all out perfectly. Just a hint of bitterness from the hops, drying it all out before it rounds off on a roasty and earthy finish with subtle resin and herbal spice on the rear.

Mouthfeel: Well rounded, smooth and bulbous. Medium-full body. Low-ish Co2 and a well behaved 6.4% ABV.

Overall: Modus were off our radar for quite some time for reasons unclear. Even to us! Their American brown ale and now this have them firmly back on it. Solid American stout.

Rating:

“Maple syrup and chocolate dessert stout, sweet, decadent but still very friendly.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Black as midnight with a thumb of dark tan head resting atop. It holds its shape well and weaves a fine lace down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Maple and chocolate goodness. We love it when a beer states what its adjuncts are then they display themselves front and centre. Beautiful 50/50 split between the maple and chocolate too…a little bit of sugary and caramelised maple sweetness blending with a little bittersweet and nutty chocolate. The base stout also provides a robust coffee note, roasted malt, vanilla and cocoa powder.

Flavour: Good depth and complexity. It’s not as black and white as the aroma where the maple and chocolate stood out against the base stout as a backdrop. It’s all a lot more integrated. The maple and chocolate might be the first to hit the taste buds but the base stout rallies around it with its hearty mix of coffee, cocoa powder, roasted nuts, vanilla and subtle molasses. Good length on it too.

Mouthfeel: Nice and dense, muscly, smooth AF. Medium-full body with fine carbonation. The 6.6% ABV was really well buried.

Overall: Look, it’s not going to blow anyone’s socks off but it’s a well structured pastry stout. The adjunct flavours are nicely poised and the base stout supports it all. Decent.

Rating:

“It’s the perfect fit. Black Denim Imperial Stout, brewed with seven malts including oats, wheat, chocolate, crystal and a delicate touch of manuka smoke, infused with maple syrup and toasted pecans. Rich, dark and decadently delicious mix of caramel malt and maple sweetness, with delicate nut and balanced roast. Time to pop that top button.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: A tad lighter than we’d hoped – mostly black with some light punching through at the base of the glass. It forms a finger of dark tan head which gradually peels off. Laced well.

Aroma: We were bracing for a gorgeous hit of maple and pecan but instead we’re met with a wall of smoke. That certainly isn’t a bad thing! After a few more whiffs that heavenly maple sweetness starts to come through. Then the nutty and buttery pecans, caramalts, and soft oats. Infused through all of that is added notes of chocolate, burnt toast, charred wood and tobacco. Impressive considering the lighter colour.

Flavour: We can’t help but be reminded of one of GP’s best ever stouts here – Fix & Fogg’s Smoke & Fire. That was a habanero, peanut butter and manuka-smoked impy stout and this shows similar traits. The manuka smoke and the maple sweetness equals the peanut butter of Fix & Fogg. The only letdown is the comparison between the chilli and the toasted pecans. Wood smoke and gentle maple sweetness upfront. Almost undetectable pecans, dark chocolate, mild ash and oatmeal to finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky, a tad bulbous. Medium body and low-ish Co2. The 8% ABV is well buried.

Overall: Not quite on the level we’d hoped for and unfortunately, in the end, nowhere near on the level of Smoke & Fire. It’s decent but hardly memorable.

Rating:

“As dark as a Moonless Midnight. Back in the day on the new moon and before the lighthouse was constructed, sailors braved pitch black conditions rounding Cape Byron. For over 120 years now, the shining light has guided ships safely past the treacherous rocks of the Byron Bay coastline. Moonless Midnight is also the perfect way to describe the darkness of our Core Range stout. Exhibiting notes of coffee, cacao and a hint of tobacco, it leads to a full-bodied sweetness balanced with a roasted malt flavour, finishing with a smooth bitterness. It may take you back to the time when the cape was dark and dangerous, or it might just feel like a nice big hug in a can.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Mostly impenetrable black pour with only a skerrick of light punching through at the base of the glass. It forms a thick two finger head which takes an age to reduce. Excellent lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: It’s a little shy to begin with. We find this happens a lot with core range Aussie stouts (with the exception of a small few). Although it is starting to fill out as it warms. Lightly charred malt, mild smoky notes, coffee, tobacco, chocolate, earthy hops and a soft mettalic accent. Juuuust the slightest hint of vanilla and lactose creeping in. Nice set of aromas…we just wish they’d dial up the intensity.

Flavour: We’ll admit it, there’s a notable step up here. It’s in part flavour intensity but more the density of the beer as a whole. It’s really viscous and that allows the charred malt characters to flourish. The spiciness, the bittersweet coffee and chocolate, the earthy tobacco and hops…all of it is heightened due to this dense texture. Well drawn out finish of coffee, light smoke and burnt toast.

Mouthfeel: As we pointed out already, the texture is impressively dense and low in Co2. Full bodied and the 5.8% ABV punches well above its weight.

Overall: Our first crack at this northern NSW brewery. We were a tad apprehensive initially but it got better and better as we went on. Very decent core range stout.

Rating:

“When the opportunity came to brew with Evil Twin Brewing NYC , there was only one answer — go BIG. Inspired by their legendary Even More Jesus lineage, Even More Daylight Jesus is our take on excess. A monstrous 12% Imperial Stout loaded with coconut and vanilla, delivering huge body, thick texture and layer after layer of rich dessert character. Toasted coconut. Silky vanilla. Dark chocolate. Roasted malt. Pure decadence. Collaborating with Evil Twin is a genuine bucket-list moment for us and one we don’t take lightly. This is the kind of brewery that helped shape modern beer culture worldwide. So we turned everything up. Bigger. Richer. Darker.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Looks ominous. Pitch black with a fizzy three finger dark brown head which gradually reduced to a collar. Not a whole lot of lace left behind though.

Aroma: This was one of those uncertain purchases coz on one hand we’ve got Evil Twin – a highly respected American brewery who birthed the popular ‘Even More Jesus’ variant. On the other is Allday Brewing, which seems to be an offshoot of Forward Hops (a distribution company). First thoughts are a tad underwhelming. The toasted coconut is the most prominent, followed by a fairly rich stout base of bittersweet espresso, dark chocolate, burnt cookies and vanilla.

Flavour: Slightly delayed onset but once it kicks into gear we get a mouthful of toasted coconut, burnt vanilla, burnt toast, warming alcohol, dark chocolate and treacle. There’s good carry through the mid where the creamy vanilla plays a crucial role in quelling the big roasted notes. The vanilla drops off and in turn it all finishes with seriously rich and bitter dark chocolate and espresso that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Thiccc. Almost oily but the bitterness gives it a bit of lift. Full bodied. The 12% ABV is a tad too noticeable at times.

Overall: Not crazy on it but it does offer some good characteristics here and there. The toasted coconut and the brawny base stout would be the most notable. Not bad.

Rating:

“Export stout with a high proportion of oats. Full bodied, dark roast, light smoked malt, dark chocolate (think 90% Lindt).”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black pour with a finger of brown head nestled in on top. Steady reduction but minimal lacing on the glass.

Aroma: We’re picking up a distinct smokiness right off the bat. It then morphs nicely into more of a charred wood/campfire quality then into rich molasses, cigar skins and dried tobacco. There are also significant amounts of dark chocolate and spice with more nuanced espresso, licorice, musk and earthiness. It’s damn impressive for a modest 5.8% stout.

Flavour: It packs some serious heat for its size. Everything we listed in the aroma transfers over – the smokiness/campfire, the cigars, dark chocolate and licorice. The bittersweet molasses and espresso develop later in the piece. The charred malt and bitterness continually ascend as it all hits a crescendo then gradually deconstructs into a long and drawn out roasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Fairly dense and muscly. Co2 is kept low but the slightly lifted IBU makes it feel higher. Medium-full body and a 5.8% ABV that punches well above its weight.

Overall: That concludes our little journey into Du Cane’s range. We must say we’ve been impressed by the quality of all 5 of them. This stout in particular is a brilliant drop for its size. An excellent way to finish it all off.

Rating:

“Maple & Pecan is a rich Imperial Stout with the addition of pecan, maple syrup and blueberry puree. The beer offers a complex flavor profile with sweet notes of maple, roasted pecan, subtle blueberry, and caramel. The deep flavors are balanced by a soft roasty finish for a refined experience.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Solid black pour with a fizzy dark tan head. It slowly retracts and forms a collar with decent lacing on the glass.

Aroma: We were kinda thrown off initially as we were expecting big, rich notes of maple and pecan so when we copped whiffs of tart and fruity blueberries we’re like wtf?! But in very small text on the label it does mention that there’s a “blow of blueberry puree”. We’re unsure what they mean by “a blow” but in their measurements it must mean a lot coz it makes up around 75% of the aroma. The maple and pecan unfortunately are mere bystanders.

Flavour: Thank goodness we’re tasting a lot more of the maple here. The pecans, in their somewhat buttery and nutty nature, creep in softly too. They’ve managed to correct the dominant blueberry here as the tart sweetness integrates nicely into the rich maple and nutty pecan. What seems to be MIA now is any sign of their base stout. It seems very pedestrian as it all finishes on a mild roast, subtle maple and nutty malt.

Mouthfeel: Fairly light for 10% ABV. It’s good and bad as it’s easily smashable but we were hoping for a bit more body and grip.

Overall: Not sure what’s going on with this one. We recall De Molen informing everyone that they were closing their doors last year so they’ve either been bought out and operating under new owners or they’re having one last (quite average) crack before they bow out.

Rating:

“Ramjet infused with black cherries, chocolate and vanilla to create a decadent take on Ramjet. Rich and lush, with all the dessert notes you’d expect from a Black Forest Gateau.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour capped off by a finger of finely beaded brown head. Steady reduction and spotty lace on the glass.

Aroma: We’ve kinda gone off the Ramjet series as the best variant in our opinion (Roger Ramjet, which is aged in American bourbon barrels) has, from what we understand, ceased production. Instead the brewery opts for variants like Dramjet, Nordjet and this…which does provide a very pleasant mix of cherry, vanilla, coconut, dark chocolate and sponge cake over its decadent imperial stout base.

Flavour: We must say, it’s pretty darn good. The black forest cake aspect is well represented with good lashings of macerated cherry, vanilla, chocolate, sponge cake and creamy coconut. Another subtle yet notable flavour profile is the “grape and grain” co-ferment barrels which add a little bit of whiskey and a little bit of wine. It’s a very complex BA stout and we dig it.

Mouthfeel: Thick and oily but still slick and easy-drinking. Full body, low-ish Co2 and a well behaved 10.7% ABV.

Overall: We mentioned before that there’s a fair bit happening. The co-ferment (grape and grain) is actually a world first and it was achieved by Starward – an Aussie distillery. All in all it’s an impressive drop. Not only the flavour but the background work too.

Rating:

“This heavy-hitting collaboration barrel-aged stout with our mates in Tasmania at LARK Distillery is a masterclass in balance. Aged in their famous Dark Lark whisky barrels for six months, the result was worth the wait.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black pour with a short brown head perched on top. Good retention and lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: We don’t typically review beers from MC due to their high frequency of limited releases but when in Tassie one must partake in an MC (Hobart) X Lark BA collab impy stout. Dark Lark is a unique expression. It’s matured in ex-muscat casks so a naturally fortified fruit sweetness does take centre stage. Usually we’d be against any type of sweet fruit in a BA impy stout but this works well. Lovely oak/barrel qualities coming through too.

Flavour: The muscat barrels are providing a good amount of fortified fruit sweetness again. We’re also getting a hint of flambeed orange and Christmas spice too. The base stout is solid (in the past this has been a weak point for MC), it’s nice and rich, full of molasses and bittersweet dark chocolate. Enough bottom end to carry the barrel characteristics into a sweet yet rich and roasty finish.

Mouthfeel: Rather light and oily for its size. Slightly lifted Co2 and a well behaved 10% ABV.

Overall: Decent offering from MC. As we’ve mentioned, their stouts as a whole are very hit and miss so we must give some accolades when they do pull one off.

Rating:

“See beyond conventional dimensions in the astral depths of our 2026 Imperial Stout. Rich, gravity-bending notes of espresso, dark chocolate, and deep roasted malt take you for a ride from which you may never return.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pours as black as midnight with a finger of brown foam resting on top. Good head retention and healthy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: We’ll admit it, we’ve been straight up ignoring these guys over the past 5 or so years as we’ve never properly felt the pinch of American (mainly) and a lot of Euro breweries ending importation to Australia. The void of high quality BA/imperial stouts available has never been larger so we thought it was high time we revisited Hawkers. Anywho, a hint of RIS to this with its kinda musky scent. Espresso, molasses, vanilla, dark chocolate, licorice. Noice.

Flavour: Comes on really strong with a boozy bite, bittersweet dark chocolate, rich molasses and a stewy dark fruit sweetness. Enveloping it all is a charred wood roasty-ness that settles into a roasty yet dry and ashy mid palate. Again, the booze ascends, bringing with it another wave of rich dark chocolate, licorice and molasses. Finishing with burnt wood, espresso, licorice and cigar skins. Excellent length on it too.

Mouthfeel: Thick with a good viscosity. Carbonation is kept low and the body is full. The 10.5% ABV is noticeable yet well behaved.

Overall: Our longing wish for more American BA/imperial stouts to return to our shores has brought us back to Hawkers. Look, their stouts are good but they are not worth their price tags. It’s unfortunate.

Rating:

“Infinite Wishes is an inspired reimagination of a classic Imperial Stout. Decadently aged for 12 months in Bourbon barrels, Infinite Wishes draws from the depths of nothingness and pours obsidian black with intense aromas of vanilla, cinnamon and cooked sugar finishing with the layered richness of a Bourbon chocolate pie.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour capped off by a finger of dark brown head. Minimal lacing as we go. We always get excited when we see a big impy stout pour with such a dark head!

Aroma: Immediately the senses are alive to the gorgeous bourbon oak. The waves of opulent vanilla, sweet spice and banana-tinged caramel gets us every damn time. The way the base imperial stout integrates with the barrel characteristics is phenomenal too. Like the teeth in a zipper…the rich dark chocolate, coffee, licorice and cigar box merge perfectly with the bourbon oak qualities. Resulting in a damn fine aroma.

Flavour: Just as impressive here too. Exquisite balance on show with the front palate treated to an amalgamation of bourbon oak, vanilla, licorice, dark chocolate and burnt caramel. It’s too hard to say yet whether the bourbon oak or the base stout is dominating. It’s like as soon as the base stout throws something at us, the bourbon oak meets it. This tussle lasts all the way through to the drawn out finish as well.

Mouthfeel: Dense and chewy, a little oily. Full bodied with an ever so slightly higher carb. The 13.7% ABV was very well buried.

Overall: Not as good as the French toast variation but it’s still a sensational BA imperial stout. Never knew Smog City had this in em!

Rating:

“Dark, brooding, and barrel-aged to perfection, The Asphalt Jungle is a Russian Imperial Stout with a noir-like edge. Brewed by Working Title Brew Co, this silky beast spent 12 months maturing in Maker’s Mark bourbon barrels, soaking up all that rich, oaky warmth. Expect layers of bittersweet chocolate, molasses, and dark fruit, with a smooth, warming bourbon finish that lingers like a twist ending. It’s intense, refined, and dangerously drinkable—like a perfectly planned heist that almost got away with it.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Jet black with a foamy two finger head perched on top. Steady reduction and spotty lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Questionable features initially. As we do drive-by’s we keep getting a slightly funky scent which, for us, is not ideal for a RIS. Thankfully it subsides and now we’re getting those rich and aggressive charred malts, molasses, licorice, earthy and cigar-like notes that we come to expect from the style. We must admit the Makers Mark barrels were a large part of why we bagged this but unfortunately we’re not seeing it.

Flavour: We’re confused as to why this tastes more like a whiskey than a bourbon. The base stout provides a fairly light dose of chocolate, licorice and cigar box so it plays no part in why the hallmark flavours of a Kentucky straight bourbon barrel (vanillin oak, spice, caramel) tastes more like a whiskey barrel (earthy, damp, tannic). Can’t speak too highly of the earthy, roasty and damp finish either.

Mouthfeel: Dense, oily and well rounded. Carbonation is low and the 10.5% ABV is a bit too noticeable for our liking.

Overall: Not fans of this to be honest. The Makers Mark aspect was 75% of why we wanted to review this so to have next to no Makers Mark attributes was a massive letdown.

Rating:

“Grey Wax. Aged for 1 year in freshly emptied bourbon barrels. Infinite Wishes, our bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, is an absolute force of nature, inspiring folks from across the Southland to line up by the hundreds. The French Toast variant mimics a breakfast classic with cinnamon, maple and vanilla up front supported by the rich chocolate and bourbon candy flavors of Wishes.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black as expected. A wispy brown head tries to form but instantly retreats to a thin halo. Hardly a spot of lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells magnificent. The French toast aspect provides a trio of sweet and spicy vanilla, maple and cinnamon followed by an exquisite bourbon oak complexity. Then we’re treated to the rich and hearty stout base which imparts dark chocolate, toffee fudge, rum & raisin (could be more of a bourbon oak attribute actually), cherry ripe and coffee. Nothing short of superb.

Flavour: Not as much of the French toast character but it’s certainly still there with its distinctive cinnamon and maple. The bourbon oak is the centre piece here, accentuating the French toast flavours and adding a hint of retronasal vanilla, caramelised sugars and dark fruit. The stout base, insanely good as it is, is barely noticeable as the feature flavours dominate. We still get a good dose of molasses, coffee, dark chocolate and cherry from it though.

Mouthfeel: Dense and oily yet it still feels kinda light and creamy. Full bodied, low carbonation. The 13.4% ABV does manifest but it’s very well behaved for its size.

Overall: We haven’t had the luxury of wrapping our laughing gear around a BA stout of this quality for ages. Easily on par with pre-2023 Eclipse stouts. Basically faultless.

Rating:

“Contrary to its name, there is nothing standard, nor crude about this Stout. Nay, here we pay homage to the founders of our town and the river of wildly flowing Texas Tea they discovered beneath us… the Standard Oil Co. True to form, our Crude is aged in Bourbon barrels for roughly 12 months, providing a delicate touch of sweetness to this full bodied and robust Stout that’s dark as black gold. But don’t be fooled by its smoothness, our Standard Crude is high octane.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pours as black as midnight with a finger of brown head perched on top. It holds together pretty well and leaves a cascading lace down the glass.

Aroma: The nostrils are filled with the aromatic scent of bourbon barrels integrated with what seems to be a rich and brawny imperial stout base. Uncertain of the type of bourbon barrels used but she’s quite spicy…imparting cinnamon and clove-like spices. Big and unctuous roasted malt base – coffee, cigar box, Belgian chocolate, licorice. Vanilla and subtle dark fruits like raisin and prunes too. Supoib.

Flavour: Comes on strong then it builds and builds. It kicks off with big notes of charred malt then the sweet and spicy bourbon/barrels are laid over. A gentle booze burns just as another substantial wave of heavily roasted malt rolls over and delivers an exquisite finish of bourbon oak, charred malts and cigar box earthiness. Excellent length on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Not thick and oily enough to be crude but it’s still dense AF! Full body, low Co2. The 12% ABV was pretty well behaved for its size.

Overall: Impressive BA stout. We’re not going to put it on the same level as BCBS or KBS but it’s certainly a step or two away. $35 a can is a bit of a stretch so lucky it’s bloody delicious.

Rating:

“Buzzworthy is a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial honey stout brewed with over 500 pounds of honey. This collaboration began with a phone call to a man in a duck blind leading to the discovery of “zombees” and barreling down on an idea; proving what a brewer and a meadmaker can create when putting their minds together. A collaboration with Moonlight Meadery.” 

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a fizzy two finger brown head which gradually peels off. Minimal lacing as it subsides.

Aroma: We ummed and ahhed about buying this for a while but eventually succumbed to the lure of a highly respected American brewery collaborating with arguably one of the best meadery’s in the USA. What could possibly go wrong? Smells damn fine. The bourbon/barrels and honey integrate beautifully as expected. Accentuating the existing caramel sweetness and spice then layering over the rich stout base to complete a very fine aroma.

Flavour: Upfront there’s a surge of almost every aspect of the beer – bourbon oak, honey, rich chocolate, molasses and a hint of raw vanilla bean. Our lack of mead knowledge comes through now as this almost woody and fortified honey flavour is hard to articulate. The middle is straight up honey-sweetened bourbon oak and rich stout. So is the finish, which does provide a smoother transition on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Thick and unctuous. Full bodied with low carbonation. The 12.9% ABV was really well buried.

Overall: Quite the experience. At $35 a can it was through gritted teeth and pure curiosity that we bought it. Glad we did though. Really well balanced, excellent depth and complexity, smooth and supremely rich. Solid offering.

Rating:

“Winter Seasonal. This double chocolate imperial stout aged on raw cocoa nibs is about as decadent as they come. This fan favorite is brewed once a year and its anticipated return is wide spread. Named in honor of The Neverending Story’s character, The Nothing, who was the embodiment of lost hope and dreams and is set upon destroying Fantasia.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Jet black pour with three fingers of brown head resting neatly on top. Excellent retention but scarce lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Rich and menacing. Overtones of ash, campfire, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, toffee fudge, biltong, molasses and suggestions of dates/prunes. Once it warms it all intensifies. All the previously listed scents become magnified alongside additions of licorice, macerated cherries and even a hint of iodine and marshmallow. It’s really building.

Flavour: Sort of tipping into Russian imperial stout territory with its muscovado-esque sugary sweetness and contrasting charred malts. It comes on so heavy too…gigantic waves of dark chocolate, ash, burnt coffee, campfire, molasses and biltong bed down on the palate while more nuanced tones of vanilla marshmallow and charred toffee fudge are wrapped up in a fiery and heavily roasted finish.

Mouthfeel: Thiccc. Near engine oil texture. Low Co2, full bodied. The 9.2% ABV is nicely integrated.

Overall: It’s truly exciting to see these guys back on Aussie shelves. You’ll have to fork out a bit (roughly $25 a can) for the pleasure but in comparison to the likes of Hawkers or Boatrocker, you’re getting both better quality and value for money. Impressive stuff.

Rating:

"Smooth, rich, and unapologetically bold. Moonmilk pours deep and dark with a tan head, offering aromas of milk chocolate and roasted malt.The palate is silky and full-bodied, blending dark chocolate, subtle coffee, and porridge-like warmth. Brewed with oats and lactose for a creamy sweetness, it finishes with gentle bitterness and a robust, comforting depth.Best savoured around 12°C to unlock its full flavour."

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a thumb of tan foam perched neatly on top. The head steadily deconstructs and leaves a good wavy lace trail in its wake.

Aroma: It’s not packing a whole lot of heat. If we were blindfolded we’d be putting this on a light porter or even a well-brewed dark ale. Enough judgement…we have been humbled before so we’re hoping that’ll be the case again here. Slightly metallic, light roasty notes, light molasses and ash. There’s a hint of vanilla but it’s pretty distant in an aroma where nothing’s really in the way. Very pedestrian stuff.

Flavour: We’ve been in this position on countless occasions with Aussie stouts, where they’re simply too weak and insipid to even be called a stout. Like we touched on in the aroma, it’s barely even on porter level it’s that light. The other thing that’s giving us the shits is the lack of lactose/milk sugars. It’s called a milk stout…where’s the milky sweetness?

Mouthfeel: Slick, chewy and well rounded. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 6.2% ABV was well buried. The texture is the best part of the beer 

Overall: Not a great start to this Victorian brewery’s proceedings. As we’ve been pretty clear about already, it’s just not hitting those standards we’ve come to expect from the style. Here’s hoping the chestnut brown ale we’ve still got to review is far better!

Rating:

“Inspired by the classic Italian Affogato, this decadent brew balances roasted coffee notes with a little vanilla sweetness, all within a smooth dessert-like stout perfect for sipping by the fire as the weather cools down.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pours as black as midnight with a big and bubbly two and a half finger head. Steady reduction and blotchy lacing on the glass.

Aroma: If you’ve been following us for some time you’d be across our mission to find an affogato stout that actually smells and tastes like affogato. Shouldn’t be hard right? That’s what we thought. Yet here we are years later and still we’re unsatisfied. Well, here we are again. SR is our local so what better way to break the hoodoo?! Smells magnificent too. It actually smells like affogato! We may be on to a winner.

Flavour: Pretty damn close. That’s a better start than any other one we’ve tried to date. We get coffee…tick. We get creamy vanilla…tick. We even get a hint of nutty liqueur! It does seem a touch dry for our liking though. Somewhat foreign stout-esque but the main components are here and they land pretty damn well to be honest. It dries out even further which isn’t ideal but it finishes with distinct coffee, vanilla and nuttiness which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Light on and silky. Would’ve loved a creamier texture. Medium body, low-ish Co2. The 7% ABV is really well buried.

Overall: We’ll call it. This is the best interpretation of an affogato stout that we’ve tried to date. It’s not perfect but it’s tasty AF and pretty close to the mark.