Peanut Butter Beauty!

Something a little different from me today. A side by side comparison of two 'Peanut Butter Milk Stouts' both from USA breweries.

One from Nashville's Tailgate Brewery, purchased in Favourites of Cheltenham and the other from San Diego's Belching Beaver Brewery purchased in Barnstaple's Crafty Beer Shop.

I've had the Tailgate Milk Stout before, once in New Orleans and a couple of times in Pursuit of Hoppiness but I've never had the Belching Beaver before, that said I've only heard good things.

I love Peanut Butter, I love Milk Stouts and I love the USA. This should be good. I poured them both and got stuck in. 

Firstly the Belching coming in at 5.3% ABV.

It poured jet black with a small tan head which disappeared very quickly. The aroma hit me immediately, peanut butter and lots of it. As I continued to smell notes of milk chocolate and vanilla came through too. 

The Tailgate at a slight lower 5% ABV poured almost jet back with a little more light bleeding through than the Belching Beaver. It was well carbonated, with a small tan head which stuck around a little longer. The aroma was predominantly milk chocolate with some peanut butter coming through eventually. This was the complete reverse of the Belching Beaver Side by side the Belching Beaver appeared thicker, darker and fuller bodied, although only one thing was going to confirm this.

The first sip of the Belching Beaver was great, full bodied with loads of peanut butter and milk chocolate on the palate.

The taste of the Tailgate was equally creamy but with a slightly thinner body. The Tailgate however had more of a milk chocolate taste with peanut butter coming only coming across after a sip or two.

Overall both beers were enjoyable and easy to drink, not overly rich or sweet. Neither was completely balanced, the Belching Beaver was very peanut butter dominated and the Tailgate had a more chocolate focused taste like a regular milk stout with the peanut butter in a supporting role! 

Final thoughts? Well......I would happily drink both again, although if given the choice I would reach for the Belching Beaver first. I felt the stronger peanut butter flavour and the thicker body, resulted in the better peanut butter milk stout! The Tailgate was good, it just lacked that punchy peanut butter hit that I wanted and expected when I cracked open the can. 

Against the Grain, Duration Brewing

Against the grain.....

Whilst many breweries are seeking to brew bigger and crazier Pastry Stouts, Milkshake IPAs and TIPAs its refreshing to see guys like Bates and Miranda at Duration still commanding an important place on the UK beer scene by keeping it pure, classic and flavourful.

I've had beer from Duration before although this was whilst they were still contact brewing at various locations across the UK. I remember being struck by the quality of the beer and bold flavours which resulted from the simplicity of just water, malts, hops and yeast. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now they have their own brewery out in rural Norfolk, UK, it's clear to see that they've stuck to their morals and are produced beer which uses the four base ingredients to great effect.

'Warm Hugs' is a 6% ABV stout with a classic malt bill, centennial and cashmere hops and uses Duration's own house blend yeast.

Warm hugs describes this beer to a tee, I just wanted to pour it, curl up on the sofa and sip away. The aroma was bold with fruity, roasted coffee and bitter chocolate notes. This along with a similarly balanced taste of red fruits, roasted coffee and chocolate resulted in stout which was well balanced yet provided a complex depth of flavours. It was well rounded with a medium to full body and smooth, silky mouthfeel.

It was so refreshing to drink a beer that wasn't trying to be bigger and bolder than the competition, Warm Hugs just delivered deliciousness and left it at that. I really hope @duration go from strength to strength in their new brewery and I look forward to sampling more of their brews over the coming months and years.