Winter Brew and Swap - Tropical Stout

[Begbie]

@SMP Brewery @Stu's Brews - Word of warning... as @samale has pointed out to me, my brew is highly carbonated and possibly not travelled well. When you're pouring, make sure your glass is cold, not nucleated, and pour very slowly. I opened one of mines tonight and managed to get most of the bottle into the glass, but the opening 'pop' told me to be careful!

 

[samale]

Sorry @Begbie as mentioned the beer was a bit lively. I let it settle out, some nice flavours. Dark stone fruit and light chocolate, roast is minimal, sweetness.
Unfortunately it also kicked all the sediment up at the bottom. Nice mouth feel.

 

[Begbie]

Sorry @Begbie as mentioned the beer was a bit lively. I let it settle out, some nice flavours. Dark stone fruit and light chocolate, roast is minimal, sweetness.
Unfortunately it also kicked all the sediment up at the bottom. Nice mouth feel.
View attachment 78894

I'll take that! Pity the sediment kicked up - probably needed a bit longer to compact further. The sediment in my bottles have stick to the bottom. Next time I brew this style, I'll definitely lower the carbonation.

Thanks @samale

 

[Begbie]

@SMP Brewery Tropical Stout 6%

Poured nicely with an off white/ very light tan coloured head which dissapated about half way through the glass. Drinking the beer though, the carbonation is good.

Aroma was immediately chocolatey for me, then a hint of fruitiness.

Flavour was chocolatey too, with some light plum and a lingering aftertaste of both. I'm not getting much roasty flavours from this one.

The mouthfeel is quite light but the lingering aftertaste compensates for that.

It's a very well made beer that I'd quite happily drink more of. Well done @SMP Brewery

 

[SMP Brewery]

I'm not getting much roasty flavours from this one.

The mouthfeel is quite light but the lingering aftertaste compensates for that.

I think if making this again then these are the 2 areas that need looking at.

Thanks for the positive feedback

 

[SMP Brewery]

And they won’t be doing anything with it now to Monday. And I’m also away to Belgium on sat night. Oh dear.

It’s out for delivery, let’s hope it arrives before you leave.

 

[SMP Brewery]

First up is @Begbie Tropical Stout. Glad you warned us of it being a gusher, managed to get most of it out.

Nice dark couloir with a large tan head that lasted most of the way down.

I got a toasty dried fruit aroma with a hint of something else, can’t put my finger on.

Nice mouthfeel and gives you a warm glow when drinking it, feels stronger than 5.6% but not alcoholic. And a lovely lingering chocolatey after taste.

I thoroughly enjoyed this , much more closer to the guidelines I would say than mine. Didn’t get much sweetness from it though.

 

[Begbie]

First up is @Begbie Tropical Stout. Glad you warned us of it being a gusher, managed to get most of it out.

View attachment 79070


Nice dark couloir with a large tan head that lasted most of the way down.

I got a toasty dried fruit aroma with a hint of something else, can’t put my finger on.

Nice mouthfeel and gives you a warm glow when drinking it, feels stronger than 5.6% but not alcoholic. And a lovely lingering chocolatey after taste.

I thoroughly enjoyed this , much more closer to the guidelines I would say than mine. Didn’t get much sweetness from it though.

Thanks for the kind words @SMP Brewery - I'm definitely going to reduce the amount of sugar in my batch prime next time I brew this. Guidelines did say moderate to moderately high, so I upped the sugar from what I'd normally do for a stout.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

This was the recipe for my Tropical Stout, i've taken a few decent recipes from this website.

Marathon Foreign Extra (Tropical) Stout Recipe

 

[Begbie]

This was the recipe for my Tropical Stout, i've taken a few decent recipes from this website.

Marathon Foreign Extra (Tropical) Stout Recipe

Did you follow the recipe exactly? Temperature increases, yeast etc?

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Did you follow the recipe exactly? Temperature increases, yeast etc?

I used k97 German ale yeast, I don't use wet yeast, i fermented at the middle of its temp range, i cant remember what that was exactly now. Everything else was the same.

 

[SMP Brewery]

Next up @Stu's Brews offering.

Opened with a slight hiss, poured with a nice tan head but not too much of one. First smell was a very toasty coffee aroma.

Then to the taste… I bloody love this, so soft in the mouth with chocolate and coffee flavours that tickle the taste buds. I read somewhere that it should be thirst quenching and this certainly was. Didn’t last long at all.

Excellent beer really well made and I would say is spot on for the brief.

Forgot to say the mouth feel is soft like a pillow

 

[Stu's Brews]

Next up @Stu's Brews offering.

View attachment 79156

Opened with a slight hiss, poured with a nice tan head but not too much of one. First smell was a very toasty coffee aroma.

Then to the taste… I bloody love this, so soft in the mouth with chocolate and coffee flavours that tickle the taste buds. I read somewhere that it should be thirst quenching and this certainly was. Didn’t last long at all.

Excellent beer really wel made and I would say is spot on for the brief.

Forgot to say the mouth feel is soft like a pillow

Glad you enjoyed it. I suspect I was the only person to use black treacle which when combined with a lager yeast seems to have produced a surprisingly refreshing beer.

 

[Stu's Brews]

@pilgrimhudd and @samale - according to the tracking info your bottles are still stuck at your local Evri depots. I assume that is correct and you haven't received them?

 

[samale]

@pilgrimhudd and @samale - according to the tracking info your bottles are still stuck at your local Evri depots. I assume that is correct and you haven't received them?

I haven't received it yet. Looking forward to it after that review

 

[Donegal john]

@SMP Brewery your beer in the fridge a few days and getting drunk tonight.
@Stu's Brews have you received my beer ? Can’t remember if you had got it yet.

 

[Stu's Brews]

@SMP Brewery your beer in the fridge a few days and getting drunk tonight.
@Stu's Brews have you received my beer ? Can’t remember if you had got it yet.

Yep, received it a couple of weeks back. Planning on drinking it tomorrow as a reward for dragging myself round town for Christmas shopping.

 

[pilgrimhudd]

@pilgrimhudd and @samale - according to the tracking info your bottles are still stuck at your local Evri depots. I assume that is correct and you haven't received them?

Did I reply? I can't remember, no it hasn't arrived, it doesn't surprise me, I have about 10 things waiting with evri, I'm going to have to tell the kids that santa died at this rate.

 

[Stu's Brews]

Did I reply? I can't remember, no it hasn't arrived, it doesn't surprise me, I have about 10 things waiting with evri, I'm going to have to tell the kids that santa died at this rate.

I fear I've missed the Royal Mail cut off for Christmas delivery now so a bit unsure what to do at this point. I could send another bottle but no idea when that would arrive.

Feels like it might be easier if I attach it to a reindeer and point it roughly in your direction.

 

[samale]

I fear I've missed the Royal Mail cut off for Christmas delivery now so a bit unsure what to do at this point. I could send another bottle but no idea when that would arrive.

Feels like it might be easier if I attach it to a reindeer and point it roughly in your direction.

Still no sign at my side either. I sent bottles over a week ago that haven't been delivered either