Southwark Old Stout

Brewed by South Australia Brewing (Lion Nathan Co.)
Style: Foreign Stout
Thebarton, Australia

Lots of coffee some caramel smell. It's black, very black... holding it in front of a 21" monitor you can't see though it at all. Tastes like it smells with a bit of alcohol thown in. Very thick and sticky mouthfeel, as the stickiness dissolves from the roof of your mouth you get a nice touch of bitter.

This was a very nice dry stout. Lots of dark chocolate flavors, with some nice espresso coffee roastedness. A nice full mouthfeel, that is sticky and chewy. Very drinkable.

2003 Bottle. Pours an opaque dark milk chocolate brown with a small tan head. Aroma is hugely roasted malt, lots of fresh barley, and some lightly sweet caramel notes. Flavor begins with an enormous amount of roasted malt. Tastes very fresh and unrefined, that is to say, VERY bitter. I like bitter stouts but even this was getting to be a bit much. Fortunately, the more it sat out and warmed (approaching room temp) the more sweet cocoa flavors began to emerge. Full body, low carbonation. Good rich, oily mouthfeel. The flavor was definitely oily black malt with some dry cocoa, sweet chocolate, and plenty of alcohol esters, quite vinous. This is about as good as any stout I've ever had. Like a cross between a regular roasty stout and a bigger imperial. Amazing beer if you are in the mood for a little less than an Imperial stout. Thanks, James (Mutant) for the chance to try this gem.

Got a big 750ml longneck of the beer because I couldn't find stubbies, no problem though. Big aroma. Plenty of roasted malt, cocoa, and kind of spicey too. Pours black with a tinge of red and a foamy tan head. Big flavour! Lots of burnt coffee and malt, spiciness, smokiness, and slight bitterness, possible dark fruitiness? Alcohol is well masked in the big mouthfeel. I'm not a big fan of stouts, but this is certainly a great value for money beer with plenty of good flavour.

Opaque dark brown with a small short lasting tan head. Faint earthy dusty roasted malt aroma. Palate is medium to thin 'n lightly crispy. Medium coffee roasted malt flavours and that faint metallic earthiness again. Finish and aftertaste are quite dry bitter with a touch of tobacco of and a burnt varnish. Alcohol is well masked. An interesting brew but for me the Coopers is definitely better.

Wow. I didn't get much aroma from this except alcohol to begin with but agree with another poster it does have cocoa powder there as well. The flavours and mouth feel are unbelievable! My first sip I would have sworn it was cut with a rich desert wine but then quickly gives way to roasted barley & bitter chocolate flavours. Pleasently bitter with a hint of metal. Though well carbonated this still has great mouthfeel.

I guess comparisons to Coopers Stout are inevitable, and I definitely prefer this. Perfectly opaque black colour which is good, with nice head. Aroma is more cocoa/powdery than roasty and burnt, but there's plenty of that too, and a bit of alcohol. Burnt flavours manifest themselves more in the flavour, there's a bit of generic fruit at the front of the palate but it's soon dominated by the roast flavours and bitterness. A bit fizzy (I seem to be writing that a lot of late). Bonus points for excellent alcohol:money ratio.

WOW, after trying their average lager, Southwark have hit home with this big, wonderful stout. Just about everything with this one is spot on. Nice flavour with a rich dark roast malt flavour and bitter finish. Big beer at 7.4%.