5+6.5+6+3+13=33.5 33.5/50=3.4⭐️ Hoptimaal joulukalenterin luukku #20

Uh-oh I didn't hard pour this, failed to realise it's a nitro! This the season for a stout or two and this one shouldn't be too mental with gimmicky adjunct only a couple of considered ones, namely cacao nibs and interestingly cypress wood spirals. On the nose is a mass of dark malts, which is nice, very roasty indeed. In the mouth it's syrupy and slick with a big body and expressive finish. Tang hits in the middle and the finish is mega malt! It's rich with raw cocoa type dryness and the malts, roasted barley and yeast push this into marmite territory, but for some reason I'm not taking exception to it. It's expected but not a prerequisite, but as it's my first big boi stout in a little while and of the season I guess I'm accepting. I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with cypress wood in beer but I'd guess it is adding to the dryness of this brew, like barrel aged but without wine, port, whiskey or bourbon influence. A sweet milk stout this is not! It's a tangy chocolate near-imperial stout. This was recommended to a friend of mine for use in a stew and I can definitely see it. The hardcore malt would go well with beef and the lack of sweetness makes this less sickly than other brews. The name could maybe put people off, Caribbean chocolate cake, guilty by association to other more weird and whacky stouts you see round Christmas. This is not one of those. The dryness is a distraction and quite extreme but the roasty maltyness is good.

CCC 23 Tasting Panel Hard pour – you gotta go hard! Pouring a clear as-dark-as my-soul black with a light tan, smooth mousse-like head, this one promises a lot. On the nose oodles of dark chocolate, dark roasted coffee grounds, finishing with orange peel and dried fruit, hinting at cranberry and perhaps fig? On the palate extremely smooth and indulgent mouthfeel, soft effervescence highlights a rich chocolatey note which eventually morphs into bitter coffee. The bitterness is dominating, but plays really well with a soft and heady vanilla character. Notes of baking spices, candied and fresh zesty orange peel pop in and out, leading the overall drinking experience into velvety mouthfeel with a lingering dry and bitter finish. Coming in at a moderate 7.4% ABV, this CCC beast is medium to high bodied, with a soft bitter-sweetness balanced by a gentle, yet structured drying astringency, rounded off by spritzy acidity. With this one you had me at Nitro, but there is so much more to it: chocolate, coffee and orange peel, this is certainly not your generic orange flavoured chocolate (I see you Britain!) – you have to try it to understand! And, damn, its smooth

Hetken tauon jälkeen päätin poiketa linjasta ja kokeilla stouttia kun kelit vielä sallii. Tumma ja kaunis vaahtokruunu vaatii agressiivisen kaadon lasiin. Kuten nimi kertoo on tuote suklainen, makeahko, vaniljainen, alun jälkeen esiin nousee pieni appelsiinin häivähdys. Loistava tuote kaikenkaikkiaan.