Carlton Black

Brewed by Carlton & United Breweries (CUB)
Style: Stout
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Serve in English pint

Another dismal product from CUB. Like a watered down version of a VB. No head at all. Just water with some chemicals and char.

On a day when Makybe Diva made history by becoming the first horse in the 144-year history of Australia’s Melbourne Cup to win three times, the presence of a pair of nags on the label seemed reason enough to crack this one. Unfortunately, in racing terms Carlton Black performs more like the shire horses on the label than the Cup winner. Pours black, with a short vanishing head. The aroma is distinctively CUB, slightly sour, mixing plastic and wet dog with pissed pants and only a hint of the Mocha promised on the bottle. Better in the mouth, if only marginally. Some juicy fruit chewing gum, lemonade and cocoa powder before a puckering, astringent finish. Same old excessive CUB carbonation. I guess this is intended as a rival to Tooheys Old, but it’s not in the same (mediocre) class. Pretty awful really.

Doesnt seem to have as much body or head to it when first offered on tap a few years back. At first, like others have noted its a bit watery then the roasted malt flavours come out. Got Better as the chill went out of it.

On tap at the Phoenix. Urgh! Phlat, plah, yeuck! Unidimensional but strong charcoal flavour, no head, all wrapped up in typical CUB cigarette butts. Possible aftertaste of bong water?

Thin head, quite a malty aroma there are some nice roasty malt flavours in there however this on is far too watery for my liking. Definitely needs more body.

Without giving it extra time and effort that it doesn’t deserve, I will summerize by saying it is about as lifeless as a dark beer can be. Toohey’s Old, but one step behind. If you are really after a nice dark beer, spend the money on something that actually has some character and flavour. Is it an inside joke that this is called a porter by RateBeer?

Not entirely like Draught with food colouring, to my surprise. This seems to have disappeared in Victoria but is evidently quite popular in SA. It has a pretty solid roast character though it’s quite hollow, if that makes any sense (I doubt it.) A bit of that plasticy, phenol character you sometimes get with the thinner dark beers. Quite dry, though the roast character may just make it seem less sweet than CUB’s pale stuff. Same old artificial hop character. Definitely has enough character to stand out but not enough to really warrant going back for another.

dont know what they were thinking with this one not a great taste unless you like pencil shavings left a half of a half pint