Impromptu Imperial Porter and Stout sharing night with four fantastic examples from the Brew Cavern range.

We decided to drink in order of percentage straight from the shop with no further refrigeration.

First up a vertical between Ramsgate Brewery’s Gadds Imperial Stout 2014 and the 2012, aged with Brett. 

The 2014 was rich and thick but not overly viscous, moderate carbonation gave a slight fizz but it poured with a thin head that dispersed quickly. Dry Chocolate and coffee on the nose and a dark black colour.

Robust but understated with chocolate, light coffee, some dark fruit, bitter chocolate from the Kent grown Hops (although I am struggling to find out what variety), good mouth feel with a gentle warming alcohol finish despite the 10% abv. A solid Stout without any flaws.

But how has the extra two years in the bottle with Brettanomyces affected the beer?

Increased carbonation gives a richer, silky body leaving a thin white head, the fizziness, however, has diminished.  The base Stout has matured, more chocolate and a little sweeter, but the Brett!

Masses of rich dark fruit, raisins and dates. Still understated these new flavours are set back and deep with in the beer, slight metallic dryness but no sourness. Again the abv, now 12%, is hardly noticeable. Wonderful.

Next Buxton Brewery‘s Rain Shadow, Bourbon Barrel Aged, 12.2%

I like the original beer, luxurious and rich malt sweetness and bitterness to make it incredibly moreish. 

You never quite know how Barrel ageing will affect a beer, this is a masterclass. 

The bitterness has gone but has turned to a roasted flavour. Rich chocolate and sweet bourbon base a perfect level of alcohol, and top notes of vanilla coffee, molasses and oak. It’s exactly what you want from this beer, and so few barrel aged beers deliver as well as this.

I shan’t go into anymore detail as I had the last one in the shop, sorry!

Finally 

To Øl, Smoke On The Porter, 13.4%

An Imperial Porter brewed with peat smoked grain and oats, this has a pour as thick as the stouts with a subtle carbonation and a viscous body. A complex aroma of dark fruit, peat, licorice, chocolate and coffee. 

One of the smoothest beers I have ever drunk, beautiful spicy peat, chocolate, licorice and the smoke, wow. I felt like I could have breathed it out after sipping, but it was a delicate, bonfire-like smokiness ingrained with the peat, lingering just enough. Along side this a warming whisky finish. World Class.

Smoke on the Porter, Ramsgate’s Imperial Stout 2014 and Bretted 2012 are still available at Brew Cavern. 

They’re not hanging around tho!

Note from Matt H: hoping to grab another case of the Bourbon Rainshadow soon, so keep an eye out for that one!