The King River Brewing traditional train keeps a rollin’ with the High Country brewery’s latest two. First up is Ballyblack, a dry Irish stout that aims to suit the coldest moments of the year while remaining quite sessionable. It feels like it’s mission accomplished too, with dark chocolate, filter coffee and toasted bread all combining in a smooth but still quite lean mouthfeel.
That brings us to Belgian Dark Strong and I’d like to start by saying I’ve never understood Christmas in July. What could be better than a roast turkey and hot pudding on a 30 degree day? How could that be made better by cooler weather? But here’s a beer that made me rethink that dismissive thought process thanks to the combination of fruited yeast notes, Christmas cake spice, treacle, caramel and some touches of banana lolly. Add in a warming sweetness brought by the 10.5 percent ABV and it makes for a delight for the winter and a foolproof beer to crack if you’re celebrating Christmas in July or just seeking a locally-made Belgian classic.
If those aren't quite enough for winter, King River's Your Stoutness has returned and can be found here.
Will Ziebell
Published June 16, 2023 2023-06-16 00:00:00
