Wychwood Black Wych 4.5%

Formerly brewed at Wychwood (Refresh UK - Marstons plc)
Style: Stout
Witney, England

Pitch black with a beige head. Fairly ashen aroma. Some licorice in the taste which gives way to a painfully dry finish. Smooth but a little thin. Just average.

Clear black body with a minimal tan coloured head and some traces of lacing. Medium bitterness, medium body, thin feel, average carbonation,some rich chocolate notes also some liquorice. Not a real great stout although I gave it extra points cos it went down a treat. Better than a dark lager but not a real stout.

Interestingly, the word "stout" is buried on the back label, with the front label simply indicating "black beer". And, as advertised, it’s as black as an overcast night on Allhallow’s Eve. The aroma is fairly relaxed, with some mild chocolate and sugar notes showing through but not much else. Very innocent palate and mild flavour, with a little chocolate continuing through in the flavour and some espresso bitterness in the finish. Way less flavour-forward than expected, with an emphasis on drinkability vs. savourability.

Bottle. The colour is black with a tint of wine red. The head is beige and two fingers high.

The smell is soft with notes of dry, roasted malt, coffee and some vanilla.

The carbonation is creamy with small bubbles that tickled my tongue.

The taste is somewhat sweet with roasted, velvety malts. There are some fruity hops and a full-bodied taste. The long aftertaste is creamy with some delicate bitterness, coffee and toffee.

I feel I may have gotten a bad bottle. This beer showed no aroma while looking watery in the glass. The taste was lacking and somewhat waterdown a shame that I have to say this about a brewery whose beers I really want to like. Maybe if I try it when it’s a little fresher I may change my mind.

Bottled. Dark brown/black, no head. Very thin for being a stout. Smoky/roasted aroma with hints of caramel. Roasted malt in taste with hints of licorace. Mostly roast in the aftertaste.

Sweetness comes to mind once this stout hits the mouth. Still can’t come close to Fullers. For a neophyte stout lover its good, but not the best.

Dark color with glimpses of deep ruby in the light. Thin head, thin mouthfeel, roasted malt presence like burnt candy almost.. Drinkable but not overly enjoyable.