The beer, designed once again by IRON MAIDEN vocalist and ale aficionado Bruce Dickinson along with Robinsons’ Head Brewer Martyn Weeks, takes its inspiration from a very early Robinsons recipe which was first brewed in the 1850’s; a time when porter style beer was becoming increasingly popular in Britain.
Bruce Dickinson explains: “I like tasting outside the box. Stouts and porters were virgin territory for me so I just went by feel. Martyn and I hope we have created a new take on a classic beer and one which I hope will tickle the taste buds of ale fans in a pleasantly unexpected way.”
At 6.8% in bottle or 5.8% ABV in cask, TROOPER Red ‘N’ Black is the strongest beer in the range to date.
Bruce Dickinson explains: “I like tasting outside the box. Stouts and porters were virgin territory for me so I just went by feel. Martyn and I hope we have created a new take on a classic beer and one which I hope will tickle the taste buds of ale fans in a pleasantly unexpected way.”
At 6.8% in bottle or 5.8% ABV in cask, TROOPER Red ‘N’ Black is the strongest beer in the range to date.
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6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Cask-conditioned at the Commercial Rooms (JDW), Bristol March 2017. Dark brown in colour, with a small, off-white, head. Toasty malts, liquorice and a touch of leafy hop, before a dryish finish. Fine.
Tried
from Cask
on 17 Apr 2017
at 07:22
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6
Cask pint in my local Wetherspoons on 27th March 2017, ten days after rating the bottled version (which I prefered). Red hue to the body, smooth beige head on top. Malty and sweet, yet with a bitter red berry fruit finish to each sip.
Tried
from Cask
on 27 Mar 2017
at 17:01
6.4/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Cask at the Hope Tap (JDW), Reading. Dark brown with red hints, a light fizz and a thin beige head. Liquorice and blackcurrant whiff. Taste is blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaves, toffee and fortunately less liquorice than the smell suggested (I don’t particularly like liquorice). Some spiciness in the finish. Overall a pleasant enough fruity porter, and better than I expected given the moniker linking it to the dismal regular Trooper brew.
Tried
from Cask
on 26 Mar 2017
at 08:02
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 4
Overall 6
Bottle: Poured a clear light black color porter with a medium light brown foamy head with average retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of chocolate malt with residual sugar no9tes and light roasted malt notes. Taste is quite smooth with some light chocolate notes, residual sugar notes and light roasted malt notes. Body is quite thin for style with good carbonation. Too sweet and too thin for style but sweeter side to this porter makes it refreshing.
Tried
from Bottle
on 23 Mar 2017
at 14:40
6.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
330ml bottle: BBE June 17. Poured into a Westmalle Trappist chalice at home on 17th March 17. Smooth tanned blanket on top of a clear reddy, brown body: looked fine in the glass initially: head faded too fast though. Red berries in the malty nose and flavour: I have struggled with Robinsons beers (be it the water or yeast culture), but this was fine, good even. A bit too sweet for some maybe, but my sweet tooth picked up some really good points: liked it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Mar 2017
at 18:24
4.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4
Flavor 4
Texture 6
Overall 4
Brown bottle, 500 ml, bottled on 05.08.16, purchased at the LCBO - Rideau, savoured on March 13 2017; eye: mahogany with a burgundy hue, opaque, ring of beige head, light lacing; nose: malt, light burnt caramel, brown sugar, nutty; mouth: malt, slight caramel, acridness, nutty, light dusty, finale in caramel with presence of acridness, medium-light body, good carbonation, mildly sweet, lightly harsh texture; overall: once is enough FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 500 ml, embouteillée 05.08.16, achetée à la LCBO - Rideau, savourée le 13 mars 2017; œil : acajou avec une teinte bourgogne, opaque, anneau de mousse beige, légère dentelle; nez : malt, léger caramel brûlé, cassonade, noix; bouche : malt, très léger caramel, âcreté, noix, léger poussière, finale en caramel avec présence d’âcreté, corps moyen-léger, bonne carbonatation, moyennement sucrée, texture légèrement râpeuse; en résumé : une fois, c’est assez
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Mar 2017
at 17:38
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 5
The label on this makes me think of my favorite Iron Maiden song... run through the Hills, run for your lives...
Trooper Red n’ Black 6.8% Porter is a cola black with a thick beige head that has some staying power.
Served in a snifter. The aroma is sweet cocoa and oats, syrupy caramel and a bit of roastiness. Light bodied verging on watery which is surprising at that ABV. It has a roasty oats, tobacco leaf and and some dark chocolate but it feels abrasive. That does overlay what feels like a pretty classic British ale and I suspect having this smooth on cask I’d enjoy it more. Passable though the best thing about it is the label. It grew on me so let it warm up.
Trooper Red n’ Black 6.8% Porter is a cola black with a thick beige head that has some staying power.
Served in a snifter. The aroma is sweet cocoa and oats, syrupy caramel and a bit of roastiness. Light bodied verging on watery which is surprising at that ABV. It has a roasty oats, tobacco leaf and and some dark chocolate but it feels abrasive. That does overlay what feels like a pretty classic British ale and I suspect having this smooth on cask I’d enjoy it more. Passable though the best thing about it is the label. It grew on me so let it warm up.
Tried
from Cask
on 12 Mar 2017
at 09:26