Oh yeah...and I had a bit of a session last night...don't try this at home kids!
Beer: 2. Nifty Some sort of Black ale or stout or something
Date: 6th August 2010
Details: 750ml bottle w/ nice label, gold cap 2, 5.4%, bottled 03/04/2010
Sampling Notes:
Served chilled in pint glass.
One thing you can always depend on in a NSW case swap is not only a good beer from Nifty, but itll always be some sort of this or that; the tradition continues! Also good to see the dogs making their way onto the label, nice touch.
Now the beer? Yeah, certainly looks the part; pretty much pitch black in my pint, a solid light brown finger of brown head promises the goods.
Doesnt give away much on the nose, Id go almost as far as to call it a secretive aroma, whatever that means. What I do get however, is some bread dough, burnt crust and perhaps some British hop leafiness, but its all very hush hush.
Straight-up the texture is quite enjoyable, smooth, almost velvet-like. Low carbonation and initial sweetness seems to aid in buffing out any rough edges up until a bit of woody, somewhat smoky phenolic astringency makes a presence towards the finish.
The flavour itself is not nearly as secretive as the aroma suggests, quite the opposite really; simple and straight to the point. Brown sugar, medium roast coffee, dark chocolate, charred wood and a discernable marmalade-y hop twang. Bitterness seems to be enough to keep the malt sweetness in order, that aforementioned phenolic note persists on the aftertaste, just enough to make another sip seem like a good idea, and which is probably why I finished this beer quite quickly.
Kinda got a bit poetic there with this review, bit unusual for first thing in the evening. Anyhow, as always, an enjoyable beer Nifty. Yet again, another highly sessionable black ale from this case. A porter perhaps? Who knowscheers!