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Brooklyn Brewery
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Brooklyn Brewery, Black Chocolate Stout (USA) 
Weighing in with a hefty 8.7 ABV, this is brewed seasonally in winter only each year: this is the 03/04 release, imported by friends from the US. I have to say it is a sensational beer, displaying much better balance than the Thornton's bottling also reviewed. The colour is jet black with a hint of ruby, and the head is a dark tan. On the nose it has a beautiful fruity quality layered with more predictable chocolate, dark-roasted espresso and burnt grain notes. That fine fruity and hoppy aroma manages to hold its own. On the palate it is delightfully bitter and chocolaty, with burnt toast and sweet black cherry playing against a lovely hoppy undertow and lots of solid plum and blackcurrant skin tang. Very long too, this is a must taste beer if you can track it down. 8.7% ABV, 35.5. |  |
Brooklyn Brewery, Lager (USA)
New York's brooklyn brewery has over 100 years of brewing history, and this Vienna-style amber lager is its biggest selling beer. Made with German Hallertauer, Vanguard and Cascade hops, and late hopped for extra bitterness, it is a fabulous beer. The colour is deep amber with a thinnish off-white head. The nose overflows with hoppy, herbal aromas, a eucalyptus note and a pillow of sweet malt. On the palate it is full and rich, but is all about bittering hops and masses of savoury depth of flavour. Serve this a little less chilled than most lagers, and it is an absolute treat. 5.1% ABV, 35.5cl, �1.39, Euro-beer, Luvians, Onlyfinebeer, Peckhams. |  |
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