Hockley Stout

Okay not sure if I have the right beer here. I had a 1 Liter Limited edition Hockley Stout, number 291107... which rates quite a bit higher then this. Here’s my rate for what I think was this beer: Very dark pour with not too much head. Stong coco and coffee scent. Nice rich flavour of malts caramel and spice. A very pleasing roasted finish. One of the best, if not the best Stout I have ever had. Told you it may not be this beer. If anyone knows where I have gone wrong please send me a message.

[313-20070512] 1L (w/ jerc). Malty caramel aroma, lightly roasted with a hint of plastic. Dark dark brown body with a big foamy long-lasting thick light-brown head. Sweet roasted chocolate flavour has hints of coffee malt and candied figs. Full body is fairly smooth. Lovely flavour, quite impressive without an alcohol kick.

Very dark brown-black. Massive creamy/billowy tan head. (4+) The beer has to negotiate with the head to gain passage out of the glass. Dusty malt aroma. Mild yet rich malty caramel is sweet with light notes of wispy espresso and dark chocolate. Vague bit of anise. Flavour is a sweet rich malt with a moderate balancing dryness that increases in the finish. Lingering mild roast in the aftertaste, mocha and dilute notes of chocolate and coffee. (7+) Smooth average palate is not as chewy as I’d like personally but that is just me. Very very good at what it does. Hope they keep this up.

One liter EZ-cap bottle - debut edition from LCBO! Pours very dark with a solid cap. Roastiness - almost a hint of char or smokiness that is actually very pleasant. Also has a toasty toffeeish sweetness. Mellow coffee and cocoa in aroma and flavor. Smooth full feel. Incredibly balanced ale, very full tasting yet clean with no organic ’off’ tones, no lactic sourness or excessively acerbic hop bitterness. I agree with those who say it could be worked up to a great Imperial. In fact the Great Lakes Blackout Stout I just tried was not half as interesting to me, because it was a malt bomb but it did not have the interesting ’layers’ the Hockley Stout has. This beer is ’comfort food’ for beer buffs!

Nice roasty chocolate/coffee aroma. Flavour is sweet, and creamy. Tastes of chocolate, coffee, and a touch of fruit. Very smooth, with a touch of bitterness in the finish. Great stuff.

Bouteille "swing-top" d’un litre brune foncée. Brune très foncée, moyen collet beige avec un peu de dentelle. Arome de malte roti, un peu de chocolat et noisette. Goût plaisant de malte roti et chcolaté, un peu d’herbe et de café, finission légé.

1L Bottle: So, am I the only one that almost had his face blown clean off by the exuberant swing-top? It didn’t want to come lose, and when it finally did it let out a whiff of air that blew me right in the face and caused the room to break out in laughter. Pours deep black, hints of red, great taupe head. The aroma is a blend of sweet malt and roasted coffee beans, trails of vanilla bean. The flavour is great with all those promised aromas alongside a very dry, tasty stout. How’s about a reasonably sized and priced option, Hockley? Can’t say I’m that keen on $9.95 for beer.

Bottle from the LCBO. Deep black with ruby tints and a massive off-white head that recedes fairly quickly. Aroma is mild and malty, with notes of woodsmoke, coffee and vanilla. Body is a bit thin, but has a slight creaminess which is nice. Flavour is full and very solid, with all of the characteristics I expect from a dry stout - good maltiness, a bit of coffee and smoke, and a dry, faintly soured finish. A damn fine stout - this is the beer Guinness wishes it could be. I hope their plans to make it a year-round beer work out.