Black Isle Small Batch

I recently ordered a pick n' mix case from Black Isle Brewery in North-East Scotland. I drank a few of their beers at the weekend (review here). In addition to their core range they release special "one-off" brews, three of which I managed to get hold of.

Export Scotch Small batch is a souped up version of their regular export scotch (reviewed at the weekend) Its pretty challenging but enjoyable all the more for it. Dark brown.Dry and spicy, hint of rum, hedgerow fruits, treacle, liquorice. At first quite dry and fruity, wood, sultanas, tobacco, leather, smoke, molasses and kola in the long finish. That 7.9% ABV is very well hidden so beware! Quite sticky but also prickly carbonation. Would happily drink this again.

Red Hot Chili Bock was brewed by Tim Anderson (2010 Masterchef winner, yes he gets around a lot!) for a food and beer pairing dinner.Fluffy tan head on a ruby tinged black beer. Sweet aroma with golden syrup, a bit of smoke and black pepper. Sweet malt followed by an oily chilli with milk chocolate, a hint of coffee and mustard with an escalating chili warmth in the finish. A bit overcarbonated and thin in body, surprising for a 7%-er. I reckon that this could be tweaked to make a great beer.

Black Isle Black Islay is the brewery's stout aged in Bruichladdah casks. Bruichladdah being the dram that made me realise I enjoy Islay whiskys after all I've been pretty keen to try this one. Coming in at a whopping 8.3% and in a  750ml bottle this is definitely one for sharing! Except I neglected to listen to my own advice and have polished off the best part of a bottle in short shrift as its so enjoyable! Dark ruby brown bordering on black with big fluffy cola head and iodine/seaweed/briney/fruity aroma. Very smooth, vanilla, moderate carbonation, smoke. Long complex finish, a bit more vanilla, dried fruit, that seaweed. If you get your hands on any Black Isle beer I'd recommend this one. Its made me want to try the base stout too!

I also had one final "core range" bottle (it didn't fit into my rainbow) Heather Honey beer. Pale honey amber coloured with brief fluffy white head. Slightly dusty sweet honey and butterscotch nose. Light palate with gentle floral notes, vanilla and a sweet shortcake finish. Like a kolsch/helles in some ways, refreshing and probably a match for chicken or white fish.

I Can Drink a Rainbow

"Red and Orange and Yellow and Green...blue and indigo and violet. I can drink a (scientifically correct) rainbow, drink a rainbow, you can drink a rainbow too"

 

I love the simple design on the black isle labels, textured and organic, like the beer itself, with a single spot of colour to distinguish between each. I decided to drink them in rainbow-colour order.

Red Kite Ale (4.2%) was up first. A ruby amber in the glass. It forms a good fluffy head which remains down the glass and has the typical earthy and slightly metallic notes you expect from English hops.In the mouth initially its sweet with caramel and shortbread, with a balancing bitterness following in behind, leaving a dry finish.

Goldeneye Pale Ale (5.6%) is golden blonde with floral, caramel and lemon notes in the aroma. Quite pithy but also sweet with an unplacable but not unpleasant vegetal note near the finish, which is also quite sherbety.

Yellowhammer (4%) is Black Isle's session pale ale. Burnished gold. Lemon and spicy malt nose. Slightly prickly carbonation. Bitter finish with lemon and biscuit malt. 

The Blonde (5%) for some reason has a green spot, I guess the yellow had already  been taken! Beautifully clear and pale gold with a fluffy white head.Nose is pineapple and yeast esters. Clean malt with a biting carbonation and just enough hops to balance. Kind of a hybridised lager and quite enjoyable. 

Onto the big guns. Black Isle Hibernator oatmeal stout weighs in at a hefty 7%. Dark chestnut brown with thin beige head and roast barley/coffee nose. fairly prickly carbonation with roasted barley to the fore in the flavour with a smooth body and dry chocolate finish. Its deceptive and my 330ml bottle disappeared in no time.

Scotch Ale (6.2%) is a traditional Scottish style. Dark ruby with dense off-white head. Rich and fruity nose with a hint of licorice. Thick bodied, red berries, alcohol warmth, caramel sweetness. A triumph of malt. 

My final beer for the day was the Porter (4.8%). Dark brown with ruby corona. sweet, slightly lactic roast barley aroma. Silky, bubbly body with chocolate and a sweet finish. A decent session porter, one of my favourite UK beer styles.

All in a all an acomplished "core range" of beers proficiently covering the more popular styles. I'd like to try them all on cask and wouldn't refuse if someone offered me a bottle again. I've also got three bottles of "small batch" beers, so look out for them later this week (barring any disasters).

You can get hold of all of these beers from the brewery online shop and follow the brewery on twitter here and their brewer Col and sales chappy Chris.