Blog Tracker
27-04-2022, 09:36
Visit The Beer Nut site (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2022/04/darkest-romania.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGErkevYyGKaMqfNAeTsfCKTUw7Y2t98SZXDoF1-r-wSgYZB16eD0v1mXHBPsaqKxunbl9yZQ7WuEjOSlCQBnjQrU8oL IptAXs-oLZZZ_c9vhuFBXZM7N9wchRXsjm5nXwaGTEsFgDM1lu_6iQFc2 Vy4CO17_I2UsdQqglXUDN81E5TFbOig/w200-h191/hop_hooligans_imperial_chupacabra_imperial_spiced_ stout.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGErkevYyGKaMqfNAeTsfCKTUw7Y2t98SZXDoF1-r-wSgYZB16eD0v1mXHBPsaqKxunbl9yZQ7WuEjOSlCQBnjQrU8oL IptAXs-oLZZZ_c9vhuFBXZM7N9wchRXsjm5nXwaGTEsFgDM1lu_6iQFc2 Vy4CO17_I2UsdQqglXUDN81E5TFbOig/s2255/hop_hooligans_imperial_chupacabra_imperial_spiced_ stout.jpg)Two strong and dark yokes from Romanian funsters Hop Hooligans today. The brewery was a highlight of my visit to Bucharest (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2017/01/bucharest-and-relaxation.html) a few years back so it was a cheery reunion when they arrived in Dublin.
I enjoyed the Chupacabra spiced imperial stout back then so was well up for Imperial Chupacabra, even if it's only slightly stronger than the original at 9.5% ABV. Empires come cheap these days. Chocolate is still the main feature, occupying all of the aroma and a good portion of the foretaste. It's a tiny bit thin on that, given the strength: I would have liked some more heat from what must be a substantial malt base. Heat arrives a little later via the added chilli. This sparks late in the flavour, flaming the palate a little before setting the belly aglow after swallowing. It's a tingle more than a full burn and works beautifully with the dark malt characteristics. I like an assertive chilli stout and this hits the sweet spot just right.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj6LZbratxfxi8krizByKRD7nS-Lxwcz72TwwS_dp_IGhIzvc7mHTVOU5r5mztPSzTETxeiUq3oW4 0mRqNYbkwh171eeVMqRQMRFpScqxo8Ht2XvQnjKY7d7ftH5b-ZhfRemSLGLPjC9_fwwMLCVuBpnVFgs6opp5CuYy_dBGbI8N0E5 E1zk/w180-h200/hop_hooligans_bloody_koschei_beetroot_imperial_sto ut.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj6LZbratxfxi8krizByKRD7nS-Lxwcz72TwwS_dp_IGhIzvc7mHTVOU5r5mztPSzTETxeiUq3oW4 0mRqNYbkwh171eeVMqRQMRFpScqxo8Ht2XvQnjKY7d7ftH5b-ZhfRemSLGLPjC9_fwwMLCVuBpnVFgs6opp5CuYy_dBGbI8N0E5 E1zk/s2520/hop_hooligans_bloody_koschei_beetroot_imperial_sto ut.jpg)Chilli is easy; beetroot is hard. The next beer is called Bloody Koschei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koschei), and check out that head! It's properly dramatic, being a deep blood red colour on top of the dense black body. The beer is an imperial stout at 11% ABV. It smells broadly vegetal, the sweetness all about those wintery roots. Sweetness of the malt kind dominates the flavour, all Parma Violets and caramel chews with a shot of espresso in the finish. The beetroot is nothing more than a savoury buzz running in parallel. While the previous beer was subtle about the alcohol, this one wears it loud and proud: it is hot, and gets a bit cloying as a result. Sticky chocolate sauce and real deep-purple beetroot bitterness team up in the flavour that's briefly fun but gets a little difficult before you're a few sips in. This doesn't have the cleansing sharpness of the previous beer. I deem it OK, but not brilliant and not fun. Damn you, beetroot!
It looks like Hop Hooligans are still as creative and quality-focused as ever. And if any other brewer wants to increase the variety of chilli stouts on the Irish market, I'll be very happy to assist in consuming them.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2022/04/darkest-romania.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGErkevYyGKaMqfNAeTsfCKTUw7Y2t98SZXDoF1-r-wSgYZB16eD0v1mXHBPsaqKxunbl9yZQ7WuEjOSlCQBnjQrU8oL IptAXs-oLZZZ_c9vhuFBXZM7N9wchRXsjm5nXwaGTEsFgDM1lu_6iQFc2 Vy4CO17_I2UsdQqglXUDN81E5TFbOig/w200-h191/hop_hooligans_imperial_chupacabra_imperial_spiced_ stout.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGErkevYyGKaMqfNAeTsfCKTUw7Y2t98SZXDoF1-r-wSgYZB16eD0v1mXHBPsaqKxunbl9yZQ7WuEjOSlCQBnjQrU8oL IptAXs-oLZZZ_c9vhuFBXZM7N9wchRXsjm5nXwaGTEsFgDM1lu_6iQFc2 Vy4CO17_I2UsdQqglXUDN81E5TFbOig/s2255/hop_hooligans_imperial_chupacabra_imperial_spiced_ stout.jpg)Two strong and dark yokes from Romanian funsters Hop Hooligans today. The brewery was a highlight of my visit to Bucharest (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2017/01/bucharest-and-relaxation.html) a few years back so it was a cheery reunion when they arrived in Dublin.
I enjoyed the Chupacabra spiced imperial stout back then so was well up for Imperial Chupacabra, even if it's only slightly stronger than the original at 9.5% ABV. Empires come cheap these days. Chocolate is still the main feature, occupying all of the aroma and a good portion of the foretaste. It's a tiny bit thin on that, given the strength: I would have liked some more heat from what must be a substantial malt base. Heat arrives a little later via the added chilli. This sparks late in the flavour, flaming the palate a little before setting the belly aglow after swallowing. It's a tingle more than a full burn and works beautifully with the dark malt characteristics. I like an assertive chilli stout and this hits the sweet spot just right.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj6LZbratxfxi8krizByKRD7nS-Lxwcz72TwwS_dp_IGhIzvc7mHTVOU5r5mztPSzTETxeiUq3oW4 0mRqNYbkwh171eeVMqRQMRFpScqxo8Ht2XvQnjKY7d7ftH5b-ZhfRemSLGLPjC9_fwwMLCVuBpnVFgs6opp5CuYy_dBGbI8N0E5 E1zk/w180-h200/hop_hooligans_bloody_koschei_beetroot_imperial_sto ut.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQj6LZbratxfxi8krizByKRD7nS-Lxwcz72TwwS_dp_IGhIzvc7mHTVOU5r5mztPSzTETxeiUq3oW4 0mRqNYbkwh171eeVMqRQMRFpScqxo8Ht2XvQnjKY7d7ftH5b-ZhfRemSLGLPjC9_fwwMLCVuBpnVFgs6opp5CuYy_dBGbI8N0E5 E1zk/s2520/hop_hooligans_bloody_koschei_beetroot_imperial_sto ut.jpg)Chilli is easy; beetroot is hard. The next beer is called Bloody Koschei (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koschei), and check out that head! It's properly dramatic, being a deep blood red colour on top of the dense black body. The beer is an imperial stout at 11% ABV. It smells broadly vegetal, the sweetness all about those wintery roots. Sweetness of the malt kind dominates the flavour, all Parma Violets and caramel chews with a shot of espresso in the finish. The beetroot is nothing more than a savoury buzz running in parallel. While the previous beer was subtle about the alcohol, this one wears it loud and proud: it is hot, and gets a bit cloying as a result. Sticky chocolate sauce and real deep-purple beetroot bitterness team up in the flavour that's briefly fun but gets a little difficult before you're a few sips in. This doesn't have the cleansing sharpness of the previous beer. I deem it OK, but not brilliant and not fun. Damn you, beetroot!
It looks like Hop Hooligans are still as creative and quality-focused as ever. And if any other brewer wants to increase the variety of chilli stouts on the Irish market, I'll be very happy to assist in consuming them.
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2022/04/darkest-romania.html)