Since their recent ownership shakeup, Brewtown’s (aka Upper Hutt’s) Boneface Brewery have been rolling out new releases with a relentless energy, such that I’ve had some samples piling up shamefully in the auxiliary fridge.  This week I’m finally making some headway into the backlog with this curiously named Blood & Bone Oaked Stout.  

While (presumably) containing neither blood nor bone, this stout most certainly does incorporate oak, with a deeply tannic oaky twang to the otherwise strongly roasty and smoky aroma.  On the palate there’s more roast malt, black coffee and a distinctly drying char that mingles with the firmly bitter finish.  Grunty and satisfying, while also possessing one of the driest finishes of any strong stout around, Blood & Bone is one for those who like their dark beer on the serious side.

blood & bone oaked stout