Our drinks expert reveals three South West stouts for your seasonal sip-list
Oozing with deep and decadent flavours, stout is the ultimate autumn drink. Often labelled a one-trick-pony, nothing could be further from the truth. Dark, creamy and smooth may be the generic style, but its flavours ebb and flow from chocolate to coffee, smoke to biscuits, nuts to caramel and more besides.
The best-known style is the dry or Irish stout, which is super-dark with tonnes of roasted flavours. It’s the bold stout choice (together with imperial stout) and often has a higher alcohol content.
Milk stout is usually brewed with lactose and these extra sugars can give a touch more sweetness. Oat stouts have a proportion of oats in the barrel, giving them a creamy taste which works wonders with dessert or cake. And, for a smooth and velvety character, chocolate stouts are brewed using roasted dark malts. The richness that categorises all stouts can be traced back to the malt and smoked barley used in the brewing process.
Whichever style you choose, pour it at an angle and with care – a tulip-shaped glass is the best way to preserve the liquid ebony’s smaller bubbles.
Read on to discover three must-try South West stouts.
Mena Dhu, St Austell Brewery, Cornwall (4.5%)
The flagship stout of this historic Cornish brewery is named after founder Walter Hicks’ family farm Mena Dhu, which translates as ‘black hill’. Brewed with a careful combination of malts, its creaminess sweeps over the palate effortlessly. Flavours begin with an autumnal wood-smoke aroma and hint of liquorice, while the palate reveals a dark-chocolate richness. Serve cool rather than chilled and match with black forest trifle.
This Time Next Year Rodney, Arbor, Bristol (6%)
Crafting great ales in Bristol since 2007, Arbor produces a number of stouts including, for ultra decadence, a Mississippi Mud Pie stout. This Time Next Year Rodney is a caramel and chocolate shortbread stout that, true to its name, tastes like liquid millionaire’s shortbread. It shows off a lovely creamy depth and has a nice freshness to finish, thanks to the salted caramel coming through. Serve cool rather than chilled and devour with a super-tangy cheddar.
Milkshake, Wiper and True, Bristol (5.6%)
Wiper and True uses cutting-edge technology to capture the carbon dioxide produced during its beers’ fermentation. This is then channelled into other useful processes to prevent its release into the atmosphere. Even if it didn’t boast eco creds, Milkshake delivers. It’s a deliciously velvety and indulgent milk stout that, for all its richness, induces a fantastically bright and fresh sensation on the palate. As a result, it’s a great choice for stout beginners. Pair with smoky barbecue ribs and serve cool instead of chilled.
Enjoyed reading our curation of must-try stouts? Discover more curated round-ups.
We choose the companies included in our features based on editorial integrity. Occasionally, some inclusions will be handpicked from clients with whom we have a commercial relationship.
