6

Silt ütleb, et 12 kuud buffalo trace vaadis (s.t. mitte viski, vaid burboon tehniliselt, aga eeldame, et on sama sisestus). Vaadine, hapukas, suhkrune, tanniinine, röstine, linnaseline. Ok, liiga vaat.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

@ Kwatrechts Bierfestival. Almost black colour, dark brown foam. Very roasty, dry and bitter with sweet whisky notes.

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Whisky barrel aged stout by HopSaSam, who has so far very rarely disappointed; sampled at Gents Bierfestival. Yellowish pale beige, creamy and stable, firm, papery-lacing head, jet black robe. Aroma of dry old liquorice candy, dark chocolate, toffee, roasted walnuts, cinnamon rolls, toasted coconut, old wood, indeed whisky but not too overpowering - instead well-integrated, which is how I like it the most. Sweet onset in a dense, measured, non-cloying way, light umami accent (black olive, even a brief whiff of reduced gravy but never too much) with soft carb and full, oily body; roasted-nutty, toasty, bitter-chocolatey core with notes of coffee, liquorice and clove, some vague gingerbread even, but also vanillin from the oak wood - and even if the roasted bitterness holds out the longest, the whisky warms the finish without pushing itself to the foreground. Tilted to the sweet side and 'modern' in that sense, but still with a good dose of roasted bitterness and, more importantly, keeping its whisky levels perfectly in check, as an extra embellishment in a position where it truly shines - a very different story from the many liquor-soaked, boasty and boozy stouts one gets all too often these days. HopSaSam is clearly still capable of producing powerful beers with elegance and finesse - I love it.

6.9

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

Gents Bier Festival 2023 - Black with thin head. Aroma and flavour have bitter, burnt malts. Something of forest fruit in there too.

7.6

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5

Small yellow rim over nearly black beer. Bit smoked, smoldering woodfire, cypress, dry green leaves and needles, undergrowth, lavender. Flavours of green holly, cypress, pine & dark conifer needles, alcohol, some fusels. Again lavender, if really restrained. Quite well-bodied, slick, alcoholheat. Quite good!