Wagtail Black Shuck

Brewed by Wagtail
Style: Stout
Attleborough, England

Serve in English pint, Shaker, Snifter

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Bottle, Stirchley Wines, Birmingham. Black with a dissipating tan head. Aroma was smoky with some malt. Flavour had some chocolate and coffee going on, but I actually felt this was a wee bit on the thin side with not enough of a finish. Will try and re visit this again when less baked perhaps.

Sampled at the RBESG08 grand tasting. Black with a red edge. Roasted aroma with coffee notes. Dry finish, a bit thin.

RBESG2008: 50 cL bottle. Pours dark brown to black with a lacing tan head. Chocolate malt and roasted aroma, coffee too. Flavour is roasted and chocolate malt. Smooth and roasted into a nice roasted acidic finish.

500 ml bottle thanks to Casey. Pours a pure black body with a medium tan head that goes down to nothing after a few minutes. The aroma is full of an earthy roasted malt and smoke. The taste is very smooth and nice; a touch of dark fruits, some milk chocolate, a good roasted malt aspect, and a slightly bitter finish. Very nice.

Bottle bought at Williams Deli, Nailsworth. Jet black with a thin, but tight, tan head. Big aroma of roasted malt, caramelised brown sugar and bitter chocolate. Full yet smooth mouth feel, with heaps more chocolate, brambles and charcoal. The slight sweetness at the start slowly gives way to an earthy, bitter finish with a touch of spritzy carbonation. Excellent all round.

UPDATED: JUN 28, 2008 A Mes rate: Bottle from Kris Wines.
Bloody hell. Now this, is a good stout. Pitch black with an impressive tan head. Perfectly carbed. Stunning complex aroma of barley sugar, thick chocolate malt, some port and an excellent earthy note in the background. Rich dark chocolate flavour with a ton of coffee and tar and rubber and all things stouty. Superb bitterness in the finish. Everything is done to perfection here. The palate is perfect. Thick and creamy yet instantly washed away by the carbonation, leaving a tangy dryness that leaves me wanting more. Bloody good bottled English stout. Hats off to Wagtail.

Bottle conditioned, 500ml, many thanks to Fin for letting me have this one. Jet black with brown, short lived, head. Initially a rich roasted coffee note, maybe a touch charred. Thin mouthfeel, bu with a charge of fruitiness getting through the chocolate malt, smokey tobacco too. There is a lot going on but without too much confusion. Works well for the ABV, where the bigger stouts have the alcohol edge. Pretty decent.

500ml bottle, big thanks to Fin and Loz for this one as I’ve been after it for some time. Black colour with very dark brown edges and a thin beige head. Attractive charcoal choc, grainy aroma. Little bit of liquorice. Fine, bit watery in mouth. Decent stout. No bad or poor flavours. Decent choccy stout. I suppose I was expecting a bit more from it from the previous reviews. I have 2 more bottles at home to take to RBESG in Plzen, so will try it again then.

Bottle, from the Dodgy Deli on the Cowley Road in Oxford. Deep black, with brown highlights, small layer of light tan foam that lingers in a sticky ring. A musky deep earth aroma: smokey chocolate, barn wood, and most interesting, that fine pungent smell of rolling tobacco. Fin and Loz mentioned the rolling tobacco, and that really is it. Gently tart roast flavor, chocolate, woody bitterness, and more tobacco. (Maybe more Latakia in the flavor.) Fairly light mouthfeel, but works just fine here. A bit of lingering menthol. All parts working together, a mature and balanced beer. Excellent.

Bottle at home ... Thanks to FIn for pointing me at this one ... Deep solid black with short lived head ... roast coffee with hint of tobacco ... Ohh bitter roast coffee malts ... bit too bitter for me ... Very solid stout ... behind the bitterness is lots of smooth roast malts ... good body ... and a simple but rounded stout.