5.5

billie's craft beer fest 2022

7.9

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Black IPA of sorts aged for no less than seven years and refermented with a house yeast culture, which - if I understood this memorable female brewer's explanation correctly - consists of Saccharomyces and lactic bacteria. Moussy, thick, yellowish beige head on a very dark chocolate brown (almost black), misty beer. Aroma of old red wine, strong old moist oak wood, autumn leaves, dried wormwood, coffee grounds, red wine vinegar, wet toast, unsugared black chocolate, dried blackcurrants, fresh fig, wet leather. Estery, tart onset, lots of astringent fruitiness reminiscent of red plum, blackcurrant and elderberry, medium carbonated with full mouthfeel; lingering sour blackberry and other wild berries over a sturdy 'bridge' of brown bread-crusty and eventually bitter-toasty maltiness, picking up more and more drying tannic woodiness going along, as well as layers of oxidation (old red wine), increased lactic tartness and residual toasty and spicy-hoppy bitterness, adorned with dried fruit, leather and sour grape aspects. Ends with warming, dry sherry-like alcohol tying everything together elegantly. Pennylan's output made an impression on me the first time I encountered one of their beers (thanks to Dinka) and now that I actually got a chance to talk to the - rather flamboyant but utterly passionate - female brewer, my fascination with this project has only grown. I think this brewery was among the revelations of Billie's Craft Beer Fest 2022 and justly so, but considering the small production scales, expect a hype to follow. This particular one was rich, complex, interesting throughout and very rewarding, like a sour stout of sorts - a roasted version of oud bruin, in a way, but, more importantly, a truly great beer regardless of style categorisations.

7

Sampled @ Billie's Craft Beer Fest 2022, Saturday Session. A very dark brown beer with a tan head. Aroma and Taste of sour dark red fruits, wood, sweet sticky finish.

7.5

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Draught Fast gone russet-cream head over jet-black beer. Cookies ( Café Noir ), C-hops, dry resiny, pine, musk. Sourish, vinous, again fruity C-hops but with a fruity tartness. Medium bodied, giving a better body impression despite some acidthinning. Original (sour) take on a black IPA.

7

Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Draft. Black. Very roasty and earthy. Red wine, marzipan, cocoa nibs, ash, blackberries, sour red grapes. This is very complex, but also all over the place. Not my thing.

7

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

How: Draught.
Where: MBCC 2021.
Appearance: Black colour with a tan head.
Aroma: Roasted malt, cherries, vinous, chocolate, acidic, alcohol.
Body: Full body, low carbonation.
Flavour: Roasted malt, chocolate, cherries, vinous, alcohol.

7

Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7

Draught, taster. @MBCC 2021, Copenhagen (Denmark). 23/10/2021 [#4.475 Global - #280 Denmark - #4 Penyllan] Pours black with a creamy beige head. Port, strong barrels. Raisins. Boozy finish. Next one please!