7.5

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8

Imperial stout of mixed fermentation - and therefore in effect a 'sour stout', albeit an unusually strong one, by this trendy craft brewery in Leeds. Moussy, small-bubbled, yellowish pale beige, opening head, black robe with hazy burgundy edges. Strong aroma of balsamic vinegar, chocolate sauce, molasses, slight Bretty 'horseblanket' or goat stable, toffee, moldy acorn shells, Worcestershire sauce, gin, black tea, wet tree leaves, teriyaki. Sweetish onset (candied fig, date) with soy sauce-like umami edge and light balsamic tartness underneath; softish carbonation, very full and oily mouthfeel. Fondant-chocolatey, hard-caramelly and walnutty malts, thick and 'deep', dried by this balsamico-like tartness and made 'funky' by a leathery and sweaty Brettanomyces effect. The soy sauce factor creeps along too, into a herbal, sweet-and-tart, vinous, eventually rum-like boozy finish. Not lacking in complexity and indeed convincingly 'wild', vinous and potent, but still very much a thick, black imperial stout as well. Interesting one, enjoyed it.

7

Surt men not too shabby