Perhaps this is what I get for naming the Black Heart Stout after such a volatile organ. Have you ever seen an arterial spray of beer? I have. After a rather Withnail and I style afternoon, I find myself covered in the stout I brewed three weeks ago. I taste and smell awesome! If it survives my bottling antics, I have high hopes for the 43 bottles. (I blame a dodgy stick filler for the mess.)
Luckily this time I took an OG reading. (Every time I say OG I want to throw down my I M hand signs I’ve been working on.) This baby is 5.08% ABV, which is right on. I’m also happy to report that it tastes pretty darn good and has a nice full body, unlike the first beer I brewed solo which is tasty but kind of thin. It still has that mineral tang. I’m just guessing that’s from the hard London water as well as perhaps being from the DME (according to my friend Bob that’s a common issue). There is a faint hop character showing up here which makes me excited about perhaps brewing a hoppier stout. The lovely, generous dudes at Brew Dog have sent me some hops– (Warrior, Chinook and some out-of-sight Nelson Sauvin which I will probably save for a single hop lighter ale maybe?) so the choice will be which one to add to the next stout.
The end-all is a have a f*ckton of beer. Come on over.
(in about three weeks.)
Impy Malting 