“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.