tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8992879.post-66682483679961826162008-03-03T03:09:00.003Z2008-03-03T06:20:01.617ZThis isn't just homebrew.....<div>When Kieran came up from Wellington he came bearing gifts. A couple of beers from <a href="http://www.saltairebrewery.co.uk/">Saltaire brewery</a> in the UK which I'll look forward to sampling soon, plus a bottle of his own Imperial Stout which I couldn't resist beyond last night!</div><div> </div><br /><div>The photo below shows the extremely sexy bottle of Imperial Stout alongside the glass I was about to drink it from - a Fuller's ESB glass which I (ahem) liberated from a pub back in the UK. It's excellent for sampling the stronger beers.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mgbridges/2304508205/" title="Kieran's Imperial Stout by mgbridges, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2076/2304508205_7129449f2d_m.jpg" width="240" height="221" alt="Kieran's Imperial Stout" /></a><br /></div></div><div> </div><insert></insert><div> </div><br /><div>So, what was it like? I feel I have to come over all <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHFKE6PD_6U"><em>Dervla Kirwan M&S advert</em></a> here - "This isn't just homebrew....". Wow. Stunning. It's quite obviously dark, rich and alcoholic but there isn't that cloying sweetness which you sometimes get with big strong beers. The bitterness isn't over-assertive but it provides a good backbone to the beer. And the finish! It seems to last forever. I can almost taste it now. A superb beer that I would have been very happy paying good money for. Kieran, you're a gent!</div>Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08122623789276155279noreply@blogger.com