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.

Rating:

“Full-flavoured with a rich, velvety mouthfeel thanks to oats and speciality malts. This stout is dominated by chocolate and coffee across the palate with some residual sweetness and earthy hop notes persisting.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a sturdy two finger brown head on top. It slowly reduces but doesn’t manage much lace work on the glass.

Aroma: We had a really decent crack at these guys’ range a month or so ago and we’ve come to find that their range extends further than we first thought. This core range stout provides a meaty bottom end full of charred malt, molasses, licorice, espresso coffee, subtle toasted marshmallow, oats, a touch of lactose and caramel.

Flavour: We’re not getting the same amount of intensity here unfortunately. Upfront it lacks the initial aggression we like to see from the style. There is a decent roasted malt profile, coffee, and chocolate also comes through but it’s all quite cagey. The palate gets a short crescendo late in the piece then it tapers off into a mildly roasted finish that offers some length in the tail.

Mouthfeel: A bit of chew to it but in all honesty it’s too slippery for our liking. Medium body, lightly sparkling Co2, and a 5.8% ABV that kinda falls in no man’s land.

Overall: Not sold on it. Except for a couple of average ones their range has been above par. This one may bring the average down a tad though. We just found it lacking in too many areas.

Rating:

“Each winter we get together with local chocolate makers Bahen and Co to create our Cacao Stout. Featuring the additional ingredient of Cacao husks, this stout is smooth with notes of bittersweet dark chocolate and coffee. Enjoy.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Solid black with a skerrick of light cutting through at the base of the glass. It forms a two finger tan head that slowly settles to a collar. Laced well.

Aroma: A good hearty base for a modest 5.5% stout. Heady wafts of powdered chocolate, coffee and blood/iron. The cocoa husks that feature in this stout come through with a certain fibrous woodiness, similar to a coconut husk. There’s a delicate roasted note, very subtle hints of ash and licorice to tie off a pretty neat aroma.

Flavour: Couldn’t ask much more of a 5.5% stout. It has a brawny bottom end… something more akin to 6.5% plus. Slightly metallic but enough intensity from the powdered chocolate and coffee to hide it. A flutter of fruity esters before the gentle roasted malt and woody ash set up for a dry and charred finish that draws out nicely on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Not overly dense but chewy enough to keep us interested. Medium-full body, carbed a tad higher for the style. The 5.5% ABV is tucked away nicely.

Overall: Decent little stout. It’s not going to beat your taste buds into submission but it does what it says it’ll do. This concludes our little foray into Eagle Bay, and we must say as a whole, it’s a pretty complete brewery. Everything from the lager through to the stout are approachable and highly enjoyable.

Rating:

“Discover a new level of indulgence with KBS Hazelnut Fudge. Crafted for the discerning palate, this KBS variant offers a robust and decadent drinking experience. The aromas of hazelnut coffee intertwine with the velvety smooth embrace of fudge coffee and chocolate. Immerse yourself in layers of flavor notes from the bourbon barrel aging process in every sip for your moments of relaxation or celebration.“

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as the ace of spades. Capped off by a thumb of light brown head. Good retention and nice wavy lace clinging to the glass.

Aroma: It was quite the surprise to see this KBS variant on the shelves of an Aussie bottlo. It’s hard enough to get the OG KBS nowadays, let alone one of the highest acclaimed variants. The aroma is out of this world. The hazelnut fudge fills the nostrils with its decadent nutty sweetness. It hints at Frangelico cream and a hint of Bailey’s at times. Then there’s the OG KBS base. That needs no explaining. Man we miss Founders.

Flavour: Everything we expected it to be – upfront it’s a warming hit of the 12% ABV along with the bourbon oak, burnt toast and espresso. Slowly but surely the hazelnut creeps in. Initially a true, raw nut quality then a more creamy and boozy version then a roasted yet sweet and fudgey side breaks out and holds all the way into the heavily roasted, oak and bourbon-fuelled finish which goes for days.

Mouthfeel: Dense but oily. Quite abrasive post-swallow. Medium-full body, low-ish Co2 and a fairly noticeable 12% ABV.

Overall: Phenomenal stuff from Founders. As usual. We’ve gotta admit though, this one doesn’t seem to have that well-polished nature that the OG KBS has. Still, a bloody delicious BA impy stout.

Rating:

“Expect hints of coffee, chocolate and roasted character in this jet black pint of goodness. Over the cooler months of the year we nitrogenate this beer for that silky smooth mouthfeel.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Mostly black pour except for a skerrick of light cutting through at the base of the glass. It manages a thumb of rocky tan head which decorates the glass nicely.

Aroma: Smells very pedestrian. We’ll concede that it’s only a modest 5.1% ABV so obviously we’re not expecting a monster of a stout but in saying that, we’d expect it to have a bit more oomph. We’ve smelt dark ales with more bottom end. Hardly any roasted character to it…some burnt toast, subtle metallic notes, caramelised apple/pear, oats, sweetened molasses and coffee. To be honest it was about what we expected.

Flavour: Pleasantly surprised right now. We may have to eat some humble pie. It really opens up with a good showing of roast upfront. Subtle smoky undertones, burnt toast, treacle, coffee, molasses and oats. A hint of that caramelised apple and pear through the mid but it’s eventually squeezed out by the return of those notable roasty qualities, a soft bitterness and coffee that drive right into the finish.

Mouthfeel: Silky, chewy, well rounded. Medium-full body, low-ish Co2. The 5.1% ABV punches well above its weight.

Overall: Our first crack at this WA brewery. We were a bit suss on it initially but it proved to be a pretty solid stout in the end. Solid for such a mild ABV!

Rating:

“An intensely black and dense stout in which coffee is infused during the brewing process. The result is a strong beer where prominent roasted flavours coalesce with a powerful taste of coffee. Once fermentation is complete, the beer is aged several months in bourbon oak barrels, which imparts vanilla, oak and bourbon flavours.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black complexion capped off by a short brown head. It gradually forms a halo with spotty lacing on the glass.

Aroma: We recently reviewed the standard Peche Mortel and the intensity on that bad boy was next level. With the addition of bourbon barrels on top it has just elevated that intensity even further. The base impy coffee stout comes through with espresso, dark chocolate, woody spice and that black pepper note we touched on in the original Peche Mortel review. The vanilla, oak, sweet spice and toffee from the barrels are the icing on the cake.

Flavour: The initial flavour emulates the original version. Then bam…the bourbon/oak hits and sets off a wild profession of flavour. We’re getting espresso, dark chocolate, woody spice, cigar box, spicy bourbon, oak, burnt toast and toffee. It all hits a crescendo – emphasised by a warming 9.5% ABV – then it slowly tapers off into a rich, coffee and chocolate-laden finish that goes for days.

Mouthfeel: Slick, oily, a tad abrasive. Full bodied, low-ish Co2. The 9.5% ABV is fairly well concealed for its size.

Overall: Certainly an enjoyable drop. The price tag of $20 a bottle was a little exorbitant but with ridiculous prices for shipping these days it’s unfortunately a sobering reality. Solid offering though.

Rating:

“Deep and dense, Péché Mortel is a stout infused with coffee during brewing. The result is an intense beer, whose pronounced roasted aromas blend with the powerful taste of coffee. The finish is bitter, slightly astringent, and persistent. Designed as a tasting beer, we encourage you to consume it in moderation.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a finger of light brown head perched neatly on top. Excellent retention and healthy lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells rich and complex with the coffee integrated beautifully. We detect a certain spiciness from it initially as it lands with a hint of black pepper and charred jalapeno. Gorgeous roasted malt character…dark chocolate, cigar box, woody spice and subtle hints of cocoa and nutty wattleseed. Holy moly, why did we not review this back in the day when their range first hit Aussie shelves?!

Flavour: Absolutely brilliant. It really imitates that harsh but loveable bitterness we get from a shot of espresso or a piccolo. That spicy quality we got on the nose transfers over, as does the heavily roasted malt notes of ash, cigar box, subtle smoke/peat, dark chocolate, raw cocoa and burnt toast. It all culminates into a dry, roasty and bitter finish with heady coffee lingering on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Dense and slightly abrasive. Full bodied, low Co2. The 9.5% ABV is noticeable but pretty well behaved for its size.

Overall: Without a doubt the best brewery to come out of Canada. We’ve believed this since the first beer we tried from them back in like 2012 (route des epices). This impy stout gets a little rough around the edges at times but the intensity of flavour is unbelievable. Solid offering.

Rating:

“Lekker is a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout dripping with vanilla from Australia, Papua New Guinea and Madagascar, it balances sweet vanillin creaminess with bold caramel like oak, bourbon warmth and a smooth, rich chocolate layered finish. Lekker smaakt!”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as the ace of spades with two fingers of brown head forming on top. Good retention but scarce lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells really good. We were umming and ahhing over this as Good Land can be very inconsistent (not to mention expensive!) but we may just get some return on this one. The feature vanilla and bourbon barrels play a crucial role. The base stout is only passable so it’s the alluring scents of bourbon oak, vanilla, caramel, cinnamon spices and mocha which propels this aroma forward.

Flavour: Pretty damn good on first impressions. Very much like the aroma in the sense of a base stout that holds enough depth and brawn to entertain the amount of bourbon oak, vanilla and overall richness that it does. It gives off some heat through the mid – can’t blame it considering its ABV – along with a hint of bitterness, then shaping up for a long and drawn out finish full of bourbon/oak, vanilla, molasses, toffee and burnt caramel.

Mouthfeel: Slick, kinda oily and viscous. Low Co2, full bodied, and a well behaved 12% ABV.

Overall: Well, GL has re-entered in a very positive way. We were ready to write this brewery off for good until this. Some guidance from the likes of Deeds and these guys could be the next best BA impy stout masters.

Rating:

“Barrel-aged twelve months in French and American oak casks. Same sledgehammer. More velvet. Time on oak has added depth, complexity and texture galore. This is technically an imperial stout, but the barrel makes it even more impressive. So its like, a galactic empire stout.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Dense black with a foamy two finger brown head perched on top. Excellent retention and tonnes of lacing on the glass.

Aroma: Dark and ominous. Like something that hasn’t seen the light of day for years. What we loved about the 2023 vintage (and what we also love about this 2024 vintage) is the robust bottom end. There’s a hearty charred malt base that lays the perfect foundation for the ensuing notes of ash, molasses, licorice, subtle umami and peat, espresso, salted dark chocolate and black pepper. Excellent aroma.

Flavour: Every time we drink a stout from this brewery we’re impressed. Simply put: they just get it. Stouts are best when they’re big, aggressive and in your face and that’s exactly what we have here. In spades! The only component missing is some barrel/wood character, but honestly with the levels of charred malt, ash, licorice, peated malt, espresso and salted dark chocolate, the barrel character would merely be a cherry on top of an already decadent cake.

Mouthfeel: Thick and viscous. A little sharp, mostly down to the 8% ABV. Full bodied, low Co2. Some good stout drinkin’.

Overall: Our one and only criticism is that the ABV isn’t a little higher. 8% isn’t even in imperial territory, let alone barrel aged. That aside it’s a cracking BA stout. Kudos, Moo Brew!

Rating:

“When someone looks at you and says “Pint?”, this is the pint they’re talking about. If you want something else, you’ll have to specify. It’s rich, it’s creamy, and it’s black (well actually, if you look closely, Guinness is ruby red in colour but don’t tell anyone!). It’s everything it promises to be. Every time. It’s what we’re famous for, and although we love all of our beers just the same, it will always hold a special place in our Guinness Draught loving hearts.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Mostly black with a skerrick of light cutting through at the base of the glass. Once the nitro does its beautiful thing, the head settles to a thick and creamy finger that does not budge. Excellent lace work as it ebbs.

Aroma: So this is it. The final boss when it comes to Irish stout. This is Guiness straight from the motherland (like we’d mess about with any other inferior product!). Only one of us can attest to drinking Guiness straight from the taps in a Dublin pub and he stands by the claim that the difference between the Dublin-brewed and the imported version are like chalk and cheese. Let’s crack on. We get roasted malt, burnt toast, coffee, cocoa, earthy chocolate and steamed/starchy veg. Ooft!

Flavour: A delayed onset of flavours but when they kick off, boy don’t they go. Dry, roasted malt, cocoa powder, chocolate, burnt toast and earthy hops into a certain Maris Otter/ESB-like sweetness. From there it significantly dries out and sets up for a bone-dry, roasty and toasty finish which lingers for days.

Mouthfeel: Typical nitro thin creaminess with a dry finish. Mild-moderate body and a 4.2% ABV that screams drink me all night long.

Overall: Impressive, just as expected. Although the Sullivan’s expression is just as good in our opinion. The hype does live up to its name!

Perfect listening song: The Whiskey Rebellions – A Pint’s A Pint.

Rating:

“An imperial stout fermented on copious amounts of cherries and then blended with several bourbon barrels aging some of our many imperial stouts ultimately creating an intense, singular experience.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a dark brown head that swells to about a half inch before receding. Exactly what we want a 12% stout to pour like.

Aroma: We’re not sure what the story is with Deeds. We all heard many years ago that they were shutting down. But here we are… cracking a new glorious stout from them. We won’t complain! Definitely getting the mildly tart cherries immediately. The base stout is so good that the tartness blends back into it all. Rich notes of molasses, leather, dark chocolate, espresso, chocolate bullets and a faint touch of cherry ripe. Oooft!

Flavour: Superb. The base stout does all the talking…and you know, when it comes to Deeds, the base stout is world class – bittersweet dark chocolate, molasses, espresso, leather. Some licorice too. A delicate cherry flavour (and tartness) pops its head up for a moment then steps back, allowing the rich stout flavours to carry into the long and drawn out finish.

Mouthfeel: Thiccc. Wouldn’t say engine oil but one step back from it. Full bodied, low Co2. The 12% ABV is very well behaved for its size.

Overall: If Deeds’ strat is to say they’re closing so we keep hype-buying all their beers then it’s working! What are we saying, we’d buy them all anyway. Outstanding impy stout. As usual.

Rating:

“Belgian Imperial Stout. A delectable bombshell of dark bitter chocolate and molasses. Notes of coffee, toasted nuts, raisin and plum across the silky mouthfeel. Rich, smooth, and long on the palate.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Black as midnight with two fingers of foamy light brown head which takes an age to reduce. Thick blotchy lace work clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: There aren’t many Aussie breweries we can think of that have had a crack at a Belgian impy stout. Bacchus is the first that comes to mind. Slow Lane is another. We’re struggling to come up with any more so credit where it’s due. The nose is big, warming, chocolatey, nutty. Some coffee here and there. Same with this subtle tart fruitiness – figs, raisin and cherry. A hint of spicy esters as well. Rich and complex, we’re diggin it.

Flavour: Unreal progression on it. At first we were somewhat taken aback by the tartness. Fruits like blood plum, raisin and cherry make way for a wave of chocolate. The Belgian yeast esters consistently hang there in the background. Subtle coffee accents, nutty malt, light roast and molasses developing late in the piece and setting up for a long-winded finish of coffee, chocolate, roasted malt and dark fruits.

Mouthfeel: Dense, chewy and slick. Full bodied, low-ish Co2 even though it retained a lot of head through to the finish. The 9% ABV was extremely well buried.

Overall: Another new brewery for us. This time out of Denmark, WA. A solid offering. Complex, well structured and well executed all round.

Rating:

“Brewed with well water (the original well, sunk in 1758, is still in use with the hard water is drawn from 85 feet underground), the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavours and a delightful finish – this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Mostly black with a skerrick of light cutting through at the base of the glass. Two fingers of light brown head on top. Holds its shape well and drapes a sheet of lace down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Dead set it smells like there’s a glass of melted chocolate in front of us. In said glass are also notable hints of vanilla bean, lactose (uncertain whether this beer contains dairy), raw sugar, mocha, raw cocoa, earthy hops and the mildest hint of cherry. Grain husks and carob also open up as it comes up to room temperature. Respectable aroma.

Flavour: Pretty damn good for a 5% sweet stout. Like the aroma, the chocolate component is really well represented. It’s thick, bittersweet and luxurious and marries up with vanilla, milk sugars, sweet coffee and earthy hops beautifully. It dries out a touch through the mid…some hop bitterness also supporting as it rolls into a kinda dry, chocolatey and sugary-sweet finish that goes for days on the back palate.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky and drying in the swallow. Medium body, mild-moderate Co2. The 5% ABV punches above its weight.

Overall: Not as much a “can’t believe we haven’t reviewed this” as the last couple of beers but it’s definitely one that has gone under the radar for a long time. We’re not blown away by it but it’s a fairly decent choccy stout.

Rating:

“Stout aged in bourbon barrels with cocoa nibs and natural flavours. Flavors of marshmallow and graham cracker pair perfectly with the deep, roasty chocolate in this flavored Narwhal imperial stout. Brewed with cocoa nibs and aged in bourbon barrels, each sip offers a smooth, decadent experience reminiscent of s’mores.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as midnight with a finger of fine but fizzy brown head which forms a halo and a bubbling island in the middle. Scarce lacing as we go.

Aroma: We’ve been eyeing this bad boy off for weeks and finally we get to tantalise our senses with it. The OG BA Narwhal already sets the bar extremely high but already the toasted s’mores component is elevating this above it. Captivating scents of marshmallow and granita biscuit, strong notes of vanilla, bourbon oak, cocoa, chocolate and cinnamon. All that on top of the OG BA Narwhal!

Flavour: As we keep saying, the OG version is already a 10/10 beer so this adjunct-fuelled iteration could only make it worse or somehow better. Thankfully (and somewhat expected) it’s the latter. Picture if you can the OG version in all its bourbony, oaky and chocolatey glory, then add the mouth-watering additions of marshmallow, granita biscuits, toasted vanilla and cocoa and bam. You have this. Greatness.

Mouthfeel: Dense, chewy, warming. Slightly higher Co2 than anticipated. Medium-full body and a well maintained 11.9% ABV.

Overall: What can we say that we already haven’t? This is an absolute pearler and if they brew it again we hope Carwyn can get another allocation. Incredible.

Rating:

“Ho, ho, ho – the merriness is back!  Fat Santa 2025 has landed and he’s as indulgent as ever.  Expect rich aromas of marzipan, coffee, vanilla, dark chocolate and roasted malts all wrapped up with a luscious bourbon warmth from time spent in our very own 4 Grain bourbon style whisky barrels.  Big, bold and beautifully festive – the perfect companion for the Christmas season!”

Glassware: Sniffer.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a short brown head that peels off pretty quick. It forms a halo with scarce lacing as we go.

Aroma: Already this year’s vintage smells a hundred times better than last year’s Starward barrel expression. Boatrocker has been playing around with their own spirits for years now and the barrels used for this vintage are from their very own “4 grain bourbon” which displays a moreish fusion of toffee fudge, star anise, cinnamon and a hearty oak finish. Haven’t even touched on the base stout yet!

Flavour: Doesn’t punch as hard as the aroma which is a shame. It still drinks far better than the ’24 vintage with the bourbon oak, spice and caramel dominating the front palate. The base stout is excellent – full of roasted malt, coffee, dark chocolate, molasses, marzipan. Raw vanilla getting amongst it too. The bourbon oak makes a return later on and sets up for a fairly pungent and warming finish. Good length on it.

Mouthfeel: Kinda oily, slick, warming. Medium-full body, low-ish Co2. The 10.7% ABV is fairly well behaved for its size.

Overall: Look, it’s not OG Fat Santa but it’s better than the ’24 vintage and about on par with the ’22 vintage or in other words – really good but not as impressive as the ’23, ’21 and previous ones. If that makes sense 

Rating:

“Rich with bold roasted notes of coffee, dark chocolate and lightly burnt grain, without harshness, balanced by medium bitters and subtle esters. It finishes dry, earthy, herbal, or floral hop flavours subtly compliment the profile.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a two finger brown head that quickly deconstructs. Not a great deal of lacing left in its wake.

Aroma: Foreign/export stout is a style we’re not too familiar with (nor that big a fan of) but alas, a cool backstory accompanies it. It’s basically the stout version of an IPA in the sense that they were originally brewed for long sea voyages in the 17 and 1800’s. Typically with higher ABV and hops to preserve the beer. They’re also quite peeled back as this particular release shows – roasted malts, coffee, dark chocolate, burnt toast, molasses.

Flavour: Has that late 90’s Tooheys Old vibe – super roasty, bittersweet dark chocolate, molasses, coffee. It dries out through the mid but it doesn’t come with a notable bitterness (which we find in other not-so-well brewed iterations). Hints of pear, very mild acetone and ink forming late as it finishes rather smooth and roasty with good duration.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth and well rounded. Medium-full body, finely carbed. The 6.2% ABV is kept in check well.

Overall: Our first crack at this Victorian brewery. Another “paddock to pint” style brewery who focuses on the cultivation and use of their own grains and hops. We dig it and we don’t actually mind this interpretation of the style. Not bad at all.

Rating:

“Ol’ Smokey is back for lucky vintage number 13! Our beloved peated stout is as smokey as ever, this year having spent a whole ‘lotta time ageing in Brix Distillers Aussie Spiced Rum barrels. This vintage is a unique celebration of Australian Spiced Rum, look out for cacao, dark choc, vanilla, macadamia, grapefruit, currants and mango flavours shining through the smoke malt decadence.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with almost zero head formation. Whatever it musters up immediately retreats to the rim and further disappears from there.

Aroma: Moon Dog has fallen off but we’re still clinging on to some hope that they’ll return to their golden days of black wild ales, coffee & chicory porters and all their jumping the shark releases. This BA smoky stout series (unfortunately) seems to be a remnant of a bygone era. Anywho, this particular release is aged in Brix spiced rum barrels (big fans of this distillery). Noteworthy smoky qualities; ash tray, charred wood, campfire etc. Dark chocolate, salty/umami, sweet and spicy rum, oak, pickled ginger and molasses.

Flavour: The intensity and depth is pretty good it’s just a bit erratic and untidy to be brutally honest. It throws out sweet and spicy rum, oak, dark chocolate and salty umami then shots of molasses, warming booze, Vegemite, tawny port, red wine, rye and macerated raspberries. It is truly all over the shop. Then again, we have to give credit where it’s due as it’s very unique. Just like their beers of old.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, dense and oily. Medium-full body with low Co2. The 11.3% ABV was pretty well behaved for its size.

Overall: As we said at the beginning of the review, MD has dropped off since the good old days. Good thing we’ve still got half a dozen or so jumping the shark bottles in the cellar to savour.

Rating:

“Each hurried breath crystallizes upon contact with the brisk evening air. A chill creeps down the spine quickening your pulse – hastening your fear. Maniacal laughter echoes through the halls as you descend into the belly of the fun house. Backed against a mirror, unable to scream, a shadowy figure makes itself visible. Surrounded by your greatest fear… Eyes snap shut as you beg to wake up from this dream. Suddenly, his fangs sink deep into your skin and your fear becomes reality.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pours like engine oil! We haven’t seen a stout pour like this for a while and it has us excited. Nice two finger head with good retention. Minimal lacing on the glass though.

Aroma: Extremely rich and aggressive. The 12% ABV gives off some heat too. The good thing is that even though it does there’s enough depth and complexity from the roasted malt base to support it. Once this beast settles it really starts to open up…we get almost acetone-like alcohols, bitter espresso coffee, 100% dark chocolate, raw cocoa, molasses, licorice, treacle, ash, campfire and chocolate fudge. Ooooft!

Flavour: Absolutely massive. Hedonistic even. Upfront it’s like an all-out assault on the palate. Big and warming alcohols, touches of acetone and ink, then the rich and roasty malts get to work providing everything from bitter espresso and dark chocolate to chocolate sauce and caramel fudge. Hints of charred wood and a bit of vanilla swirling around too. Holy moly.

Mouthfeel: Thicc and viscous. Full bodied with low carbonation. The 12% ABV is evident but it blends back in nicely.

Overall: We’ve had our eyes on these guys for some time. Their price point is OK compared to the likes of Parish, The Bruery etc but it was pure curiosity that got us in the end. It’s a very respectable drop. We don’t see many peeled back, non-pastry imperial stouts anymore so big ups!