“Breaker of Chains Chilli and Vanilla Imperial Stout is a big, rich but extremely drinkable stout. Chipotle chilli is the star of the show, with a slow burning heat coming through. We’ve balanced the heat with subtle hints of vanilla and a deep, dark chocolate finish. Best enjoyed on the Iron Throne!”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Solid black with two fingers of brown head on top. It gradually reduces and forms a halo with little lace as we go.

Aroma: Definitely getting that line of creamy vanilla cutting through the reasonably thick chocolate malts. The chilli is a bit more reserved though…don’t get us wrong there’s still enough there to give the nose hairs a tickle! We must admit the base stout is weak as piss. We can get sweet coffee, chocolate, dark fruits and a touch of molasses but it could easily pass as a hearty Dark Ale or Porter. Not big enough!

Flavour: Thankfully there’s a bit more fire (pun intended) here. Not really in the sense of heat from the chilli, just more overall vigour. Slightly bigger and more rounded chocolate, coffee and roasted malt…now there’s enough for the vanilla sweetness to counteract. The chilli turns it up a notch or two midway and rolls into a warming finish with mild char, coffee and dark chocolate on the back end.

Mouthfeel: A little too carbed for our liking but then again that could just be the lack of body showing through. Pretty smooth we’ll give it that. Hides the 7.7% ABV well too.

Overall: Not what we were hoping for lets put it that way. Too light on and nowhere the amount of oomph we come to expect from a near 8% Stout…even the chilli could have been dialled up a bit. A tad disappointing to be honest.