It gets cold on the South Coast, and although Dangerous Ales have that wood-fired oven, stouts and porters are still the most gastronomically appropriate way to stay cosy in the winter. What's more, knowing good things come in threes, they've released a trio of dark beers to keep our hearts and taste buds warm by the sea.
Believe it or not, despite weighing in at 8.5 percent ABV, Oyster Party oyster Baltic porter, a collaboration with Bright Brewery, is the lightest of the bunch. Pouring cola dark with a thin toffee head, Oyster Party has aromas of the titular ingredient along with a pleasant hint of Vegemite which is soon delivered on the tongue. After a bold umami hit that sails on the winds of the potent ABV, the metalic, mineral and unmistakably maritime flavours of the oysters linger. Pairs well with tobacco pipes, fishing stories and wooden legs.
Speaking of wooden legs, Dead Man Tell No Tales imperial chocolate rum & raisin stout brings the pirate theme to the forefront. Entering as dark as the sea at night, this imperial stout holds pared-back aromas of the promised chocolate and rum. It's a vice on your palate, bearhugging your tongue with notes of dried fruit and cocoa. The carbonation is mild but does its job to enhance this dark and oozing beast that stops short of knocking you across the head and can easily be enjoyed over an evening of sea shanties with mates, or alone in a lighthouse.
Speaking of lighthouses, Danger Island pinot oak-aged stout has a lighthouse on the can. Another collaborative beer, this time with Small Island Wines, Danger Island pours charcoal black with smoky scents of barrels and red wine. The taste of this stout is intense, punching you with milk chocolate and rich red wine, lathering your cheeks and soaking into your tongue like a sponge. Again, this is a beer that balances flavours with a high ABV so you experience far more pleasure than pain. Perfect for stormy nights, ghost stories and sailing to the world’s end.
Speaking of the end, this is the end of the write up.
Benedict Kennedy-Cox
Published August 19, 2024 2024-08-19 00:00:00
