Hop Nation might have all things sour on their mind this week thanks to Blobfish, but the Melbourne brewers have always been good at walking and brewing with barrels at once. This twin release sees them go big, sweet and spirited with two imperial pastry stouts that are quite distinct from one another but do share a thread: both aged in bourbon barrels before setting off on their own path.
First up is Mole Poblano, which takes inspiration from Mexico’s popular sauce made with chocolate, chillies and spices. Largely, it has all you might expect from a barrel-aged bourbon pastry stout with flavours akin to decadent chocolate fudge and golden syrup. But that sweetness is immediately reined in by the spice notes from cloves and cinnamon; the chilli brings the slightest touch that rather than burning the lips balances out the beer with some savoury heat.
Pecan Pie, meanwhile, takes that richness up a notch, with just as much flavoursome chocolate fudge as its sibling but a whole lot more to encourage the beer's sweeter side. Largely, that comes courtesy of vanilla, brown sugar and a swirling nuttiness, while there's a side of burnt butter which, honestly, has to be the perfect side to a slice of pecan pie.
Will Ziebell
Published July 21, 2023 2023-07-21 00:00:00
