Wychwood Black Wych 4.5%

Formerly brewed at Wychwood (Refresh UK - Marstons plc)
Style: Stout
Witney, England

The label and bottle look very cool which scares me that there is crap beer inside. However I was surprised this was an easy drinking stout. It gets bonus points for being drank on Halloween night.

Barely mediocre in every sense of the word. Very dry flavor which mainly consists of roasted malts and hops. I’m not really getting anything out of the palate other than a roasted flavor - nothing creative here. Bland, bland, bland... I’m a stout guy and I enjoyed their English Ale much more. I’ll give it a higher rating than it would have received for label creativity.

Dark clear brownb ale with a thick light oka head. Light sweet chocolate aroma with vanilla notes. Watery stout with diluted chocolate and some light bittering hops. Rather boring. LCBO.

Interestingly, the word "stout" is buried on the back label, with the front label simply indicating "black beer". And, as advertised, it’s as black as an overcast night on Allhallow’s Eve. The aroma is fairly relaxed, with some mild chocolate and sugar notes showing through but not much else. Very innocent palate and mild flavour, with a little chocolate continuing through in the flavour and some espresso bitterness in the finish. Way less flavour-forward than expected, with an emphasis on drinkability vs. savourability.

50 cl bottle, served in Hobgoblin glass. Nearly black w/ moderate, tan head. Nicely hoppy, slightly roasted/burnt taste that's sadly let down by a thin, watery mouthfeel. Gets better as it warms. Not a very memorable stout. I've still to taste a Wychwood beer that I really like.

A stout? Not in my mouth - pours like a dark ale, very dark with ruby edging and a thin frothy tan head. Not much aroma, although it had something resembling some coffee and malt. Same with the flavour - too thin by far and not a lot of richness. Mild coffee and chocolate and perhaps some licorice. Quick slightly bitter finish. Bland.

Reddish-black coloured stout under a large tan-coloured head. Head fades to lace. Aroma of dark malt, some faint toastiness and even fainter hops. Lacks many of the complexities of other stouts I've had. Very creamy in the mouth, good body. Tastes similar to the smell. Medium length finish with some lasting bitterness. Slightly metallic but not unpleasantly so. Not a bad beer, but not a great one either.

18 Dec 05 - Sweetish roasted malt and some hop aroma. Clear dark brown colour, reasonable head and lacing. Roasted malt flavours but lacks a broader complexity. Up front bitterness that is a bit thin.