“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.