Yumm

Пора домой

This 33cl bottle came home with me from a trip to Amsterdam. Drained into a tulip glass it is blacker than a banker’s heart. It leaves a super dark-tan head that refuses to disappear. The nose is swell, toffee, vanilla, something herbal. Then a taste, damn is it good. Complex. Dark chocolate of course, heavy malt, a touch of brown sugar, all with a strong hoppy bitterness. Speedway Stout is good, so is Abyss. This is right with them. Hope I get to see it again.

De Molen’s classic, English-inspired RIS, in existence since 2008 and though I had several barrel aged variants of this, apparently this basic version has somehow escaped my attention so far - so I jumped to the opportunity to taste it from a bottle at one of Amsterdam’s Gollems. Thick, very dense and frothy, brownish-tinged beige head over a jet black beer. Lovely, classic and intense RIS aroma of bitter chocolate, hazelnut oil, cappuccino, ’Maggi’ and beef stock, ’haemoglobin’ iron, coffee grounds, bayleaf, cinnamon, dried figs, old raisins, brandy, pipe tobacco and a hint of raw green kale. Candied sweetish onset, fig and raisin, fairly strong but inoffensive umami character of beef stock and cured meat, sourish roasted barley undercurrent, soft carbo, thick and very viscous, oily mouthfeel. Black bitter chocolate, toasted brown bread and toasted nuts fill the mouth, turning into strong coffee-like roasted bitterness towards the end with even a slightly ashy side note; the dried fruit sweetishness lingers on top of this roasted bitterness, but is eventually overshadowed by it, aided by a tail of peppery, spicy hop bitterness and very noticeable, but well-placed whisky-ish alcohol warmth. World class imperial stout, clearly, and as expected.

Aroma of smokey chocolate malts. Deep black body, high viscosity. Deep dark head, creamy. Moderately bitter, moderately sweet flavour. Impressing. Very well balanced.

Appearance: Very dark brown, clear. Almost no head.
Aroma: Dark fruits, dark chocolate, roasted. Slight prunes.
Taste: Dark malt, vinous, roasted, dark fruits, prunes, dark chocolate, slight alcohol. Very nice.
Bought: Drinks of the World (Online), 330 ml, CHF 7.30
Info: 20/5-2017, BB: 24/6-2040

Sampled at Le Trappiste, Bruges. Pours jet black with a small, diminishing beige head. The intense aroma contains toasted bread, roasted coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, some raisins, hops and yeast. It tastes medium sweet with the roasted malt aroma and light bitter, leading to a spicy, hoppy, toasty finish; all very subtle. Long finish, soft carbonation, full body, oily texture. Excellent in all aspects.

Svart med fingerhøyt lys brunt skum. Lukter mørk sjokolade., kakao, mørkt brød og tørket frukt. Middels pluss i fylde. Mørk sjokolade, salt lakris, kakaobønner, dadler, noe pepperig og noe mørkt brød. Middels lang.