Beer – #487 – Yeastie Boys – The Last Dictator

Spoonbending, spellbinding, whole numbers, whole conversations.

Imperial porter with botrytised vigonier.

The last of the 3 in a series of the Spoonbender series – this one is the Yeastie Boys “The Last Dictator.” Actually #2 in the series, but I don’t do things in order.

For Yeastie Boys this is brewed at Invercargill Brewery in the style that is an Imperial/Strong Porter, YB are based in Wellington, New Zealand

The smaller 330ml bottle that is 10%ABV and 300 calories a serve, this is 2.60 standard drink units. Also this is 72 IBU things.

I was called out by the brewer on twitter for not liking, “The Sly Persuader” as being muddled, to which you have to say, “you can’t like them all, all of the time” But that’s not the first time we’ve had words, might not be the last. His preference, and favourite perhaps but on my research, which isn’t a lot, I’m not in the minority. Plus also I’m not sure that’s how you do Social Media by calling out your audience.

Small but deadly?

An Imperial Porter with an enticing musky aroma, rich warming fruitcake and chocolate flavours, a luscious mouthfeel and a lengthy bittersweet finish.

Drink now or cellar for up to five years.

Aged on red wine barrels

So undaunted and keeping my own counsel and opinions let’s go! What could possibly go wrong?

A lot of chocolate on the nose on opening. It’s very pleasant.

Pour is “thick” and very dark, pours with a small and thin head, which isn’t a disaster. Aroma moves more to a mustiness, but still with some chocolate.

Loads of rich fruits, like loads, in a smash of flavours right at the front, and a finish that lingers, again of chocolate amongst the bitter. Gosh.

I love the slightly sour too, it’s not urgent and forward, its just a layer in the unravelling.

If I had doubts about which of these beers I would prefer it’s down to a two horse race. Sorry brewer man.

This is a belter of a beer and deserves to get some credit, it’s made my week, but to be fair it hasn’t had much going for it :-).

I found that I finished it before I finished thinking about it. and have a lingering of slightly sour but very rich fruits, a sticky sweet mouthfeel, and a lingering bitter chocolate.

I could drink another very easily, but it’s not a session beer, because the end would some quickly.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 a of its things from the thing. It’s a real gem of a beer, and I’d stretch to a 10 except that I won’t because I wanted something fuller perhaps, but would that I could cellar one and go again in a few months or year or so.

The double dip review

Am I enjoying it? Yes this is really a very good beer that is good.
Would I have another? Yes this would make a really good “go back to in a few months” beer.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? This is a finishing beer, and should be best at the end of an evening when you’ve indulged, it stands up well to desserts and that sort of thing. Come on over, I’ll do the honours.

Music for a beer this time is the band “The missing season” this track “Day is Out” from “After Hours”

IMPERIAL/STRONG PORTER

Imperial or extra-strong porters fall in between the traditional porter, a Baltic porter, and an imperial stout. They range from around 7.5% upwards, with hefty dark malt character, but lack the overt roastiness of an imperial stout.