I’ll cut straight to the chase with this review. This beer is a long standing favourite of mine, it’s getting a touch cooler, the nights are drawing in and it’s time to delve back into the stouts! Where better to start than a beauty like this breakfast stout by Siren, winning the title of Supreme Champion Beer of Britain at this year’s Great British Beer Festival.
Pouring dark and with a delicious finely bubbled tan head, it looks rich and inviting. The nose carries roast coffee, dark chocolate and smoky malts, standing out a mile and giving more than a hint of the tastes to come. Oats and the addition of lactose make for an extremely smooth, silky body which coats the mouth balancing with the bitter notes from the Sumatran coffee and the smoked malts while allowing chocolate notes to come through, which bring a sweetness without being cloying. It has a good dry finish and drinks incredibly well. One is never enough.
There have been various adaptions of this beer, rum, bourbon and Ardbeg barrel aged, vanilla and salted caramel editions. As good as these are (and they are) the original is one I’ll go back to time and again. Pouring now at The Craftsman Company, get on it while you can!
Thanks to Lisa MacLeod for another review!
