At the beginning of March the latest round of Brewdog beers launched into Tesco Personally the most exciting 'Roaster Coaster' a 9% ABV Nitro Infused Vietnamese Coffee Stout brewed in collaboration with the brilliant Eviltwin and canned in the USA.
I had seen various reviews online, so with excitement I cracked open the can with that satisfying crunch you get as the nitrogen is released into the beer to works it's magic.
The pour was a thing of beauty. As it settled I was left with a jet black beer and wonderful thick tan coloured head. The aroma was as I hope that great coffee, caramel, chocolate combination. In my opinion the backbone of any sweet coffee stout. If anything it did lack a little roasted malt quality that I normally expect.
On the palate the sweet creamy milk chocolate hit me first, this was followed by a bitter strong coffee flavour and was rounded off by an almost chocolate/caramel sweetness on the backend.
The mouthfeel was superb thanks to nitro can, creamy, smooth, like the lovechild of Guinness and Starbucks!
Personally I look at this beer two ways, you can compare it to other Imperial Coffee Stouts. In which case I felt it lacked depth and balance of flavour and was a little too sweet. Also I would say drink local, support independent bottle shops, breweries and craft beer venues. However you can choose to compare it with other beers available on the shelves of Tesco and in that case I'm putting one in my basket every trip.
I know Brew Dog have the ability to divide opinion in the beer world. For complete disclosure I wouldn't describe myself as a superfan, although I am an Equity Punk with my single lonely share in that massive and expanding Brew Dog world! That said this review, like all my reviews has been as impartial as possible and if this was a truly bad beer I would tell you!!
