Beer – #301 – The Twisted Hop – Nokabollokov

bwahaha and so it’s back to reality with this The Twisted Hop Nokabollokov.

Brewed by The Twisted Hop in the style of an Imperial Stout in the lovely Christchurch, New Zealand. I know it’s lovely I’ve been there.

Which means I’m still in the stout vein that I got into recently. But that’s ok.

This is a 330ml bottle of an 8% ABV beer, with 75 IBU’s which makes it 2 standard drinks and 240 calories.

An Imperial Russian Stout strong enough to warm your cockles during long Baltic winters. Mind how you go. (Not recommended for those undergoing fertility treatment)

I like the idea that this is beer that makes me sit back and not take myself seriously either.

Nokabollokov 8.0% Russian Imperial Stout. This is a very strong dark beer, first brewed in the 18th century in London for export to the court of Catherine II of Russia. The extra alcoholic strenght was required to prevent the beer from freezing on its journey over the Russian plains. Well, that was their story anyway! Limited stocks available in 330ml bottles.

in special fuzzy-o-vision

More fruit than anything on opening this, Dark dark poor with a great chocolate coloured head that is persistent and fluffy. Aroma still more fruits than anything else I can pick.

Musty mixed bitter and chocolate note.

But this needs to be dialled up to 11 to make improvement, the malingering bitterness detracts from the other things, and this is really a bit dry on the finish.

Not a raving success that makes it only to 6 on the pduybyah-o-meter. Average is as average is. I feel mean to mark it down but it’s not making me smile, it;s not easy to drink and it’s sitting there looking all mardy and sulky.

Far to fruity, a bit dry, lacking clarity, and needs more work is what I think, and remember this is only what I think. I’ve had a few stouts recently and there are a few good ones in there, and this can’t shine a light on those.

To quote a lyric from the music that I’m listening to “I wish I didn’t know now what I didn’t know then” which is Bon Seger from – Against the Wind and not that other jonny come lately.

Don’t ask how this happened but I’m listening to Bob Seger, and I’m enjoying it.

But then I would 🙂

IMPERIAL STOUT

Imperial stouts are usually extremely dark brown to black in color with flavors that are intensely malty, deeply roasted and sometimes with accents of dark fruit (raisin, fig) or milk sourness. The bitterness is typically medium and often the low sie of that. Imperial stouts are strong and often exceed 8% by volume.