With their momentous 20th anniversary just been, Auckland’s Epic Brewing have found another reason to celebrate, with this 21st birthday imperial stout (10% ABV). Brewed to stand on its own as a classic stout, it contains no adjuncts or flavourings, just full-on malt goodness. Ultra-dark chocolate and similarly dark roasted coffee combine with a fresh cream note to invoke new-age expensive chocolate milk (we’re from two different worlds, Lewis Road Creamery, but we’ll always meet in the cheap bin). A full aroma to be sure, but it’s on the palate that the beer’s true force of character is revealed. The initial rush of decadent sweetness is quickly churned up by the angular flavours of heavily kilned malt, producing a blend of bitter and sweet, ice cream with dark chocolate drizzle or burned biscuits. As much as it might be big and distinctly viscous on the palate, the simplicity of the ingredients keeps the flavours focused and securely framed by the firm, burned malt bitterness. Classic stout turned all the way up, and just in time for the winter.
For anyone enjoying this one (or if you missed out) the other half of this batch has been casked in freshly emptied Jack Daniels American white oak casks, where it will again see the light in December. Seek it out then (or here again, most likely), for what will surely be an even more opulent experience.