ABV : 7.4%
Looks : The colour is dark brown with a ruby tinge to it, with a one finger, milky coffee head. Head did not last long.
Aroma : There is a strong aroma with roast malt and a sweet wood smell. There is definitely a coffee smell present.
Flavour : There is a great bittersweet chocolate flavour with a nice hoppy burnt wood taste with a fruity undertone.
Finish : Long finish with bittersweet chocolate and alcohol tinge.
Rating : 9 out of 10
This is a truely exceptional ale, which has been carefully created by Fullers Brewery. To me it seems to be a stronger version of their Black Cab Stout, which was launched late in 2011. Well done Fullers.
I hope this is a start of a "putting your money where your mouth is" process.
ReplyDeleteSurely you should have begun doing this before even claiming to be writting a book?
Ok I'm not expert or great writer but I think I've picked up a few things over the last 3 and a half years.
Your notes on aromas:
Aroma : There is a strong aroma with roast malt and a sweet wood smell. There is definitely a coffee smell present.
What kind of coffee? fresh beans, freshly ground, black coffee, espresso, milk coffee, cheap coffee from a plastic cup?
What type of wood? What type of tree, oak, pine, is that from the barrel? Is it like smell of newly cut wood at a wood merchants or like wet bark or burning embers froma bonfire?
Your notes on aromas:
Flavour : There is a great bittersweet chocolate flavour with a nice hoppy burnt wood taste with a fruity undertone.
Sorry but bitter sweet doesn't cut it. What type of chocolate? 80% cocoa? milk chocolate, drinking chocolate...even pick a brand for a point of refrence?
"Nice hoppy burnt wood taste" are the hops burnt or the wood burnt? Are you talking about the bitterness from the hops or the flavour? Bitterness can be created by the malts too.
"Fruity undertone"? Mangos, pineapple, dates, figs, dried fruits?
Finish : Long finish with bittersweet chocolate and alcohol tinge.
I wouldn't use "tinge" twice in such a short review. You didn't mention the body of the beer?
Your photo is out of focus, and is burnt out by the flash.
Is this really an example of what is going to be in your "book".
My advice would be drink all those free bottles of beer you've been sent, write a review for each, post links and give these generous breweries a bit of publicity. Read about beer and brewing and work on your reviews.