Beer review — Young’s and Gage Roads

Young’s Luxury Double Malt Chocolate Stout 500ml $5.90
There’s chocolate in the brew and it shows up as a dry, bitter note in the finish – like strong high-cocoa chocolate. But more than anything it’s a full-bore stout featuring rich, roasted malt flavour, all-round opulence, smooth texture and assertive hops bitterness. A small glass on a cold night would be perfect.

Gage Roads Abstinence Belgian Dubbel Chocolate Ale 640ml $7.90
Western Australia’s Gage Roads, partly owned by Woolworths, made this Belgian style ale using Belgian yeast strains and Gabriel chocolate from Margaret River. Delicious chocolate flavour, tinged with hops, permeates the lively 7.4 per cent alcohol palate. Alas, the ale lost its head almost instantly.

Copyright © Chris Shanahan 2013
First published 10 April 2013 in The Canberra Times