Beer – #635 – Coopers – Best Extra Stout
A second Australian beer, to recap it was my big brothers birthday, he resides in Australia now, and so as a birthday tribute I brought some Aussie beer. Cheap beer I’d add, I could have picked VB, Tooheys, Carlton or indeed I could have splashed out on one of the craft brewers, but instead I went for something full bodied, aged and rich, oh and stout. 4 out of 5 on the tributes there.
Now here’s a beer with punch.
This is a 750ml bottle of beer that is 6.5% ABV, 189 calories a serve size, and 3.7 standard drinks in the bottle.
It comes with best AFTER date!
Brewed by Coopers Brewery in the style that is Foreign Stout and they do that in Regency Park, South Australia, Australia
Now here’s a beer with punch. Coopers Stout is a beacon for lovers of a hearty brew.
‘strayan beer time
With its robust flavour comprising a blend of fruit, chocolate and hop bitter notes it’s everything a stout should be. Brewed naturally using a top fermentation method, Coopers Stout’s unique rich, dark texture comes from specially roasted black malt.
So what could possibly go wrong? I did some homework and this could be a bit of a winner.
An intriguing aroma, there is a whiff of chocolate malt goodness, like a stout should be, bit it’s not overly strong. Early days. though.
The pour is magnificent with a deep dark richness, it pours ‘thick’ and has a brilliant firm persistent large head that is lighter brown. If it were a beauty pageant… the aroma though is peculiar, the chocolate/coffee aroma replaced with something that I might describe as the smell of wet wool, or ash.
The taste though, that is pretty nice, noticeably it’s very dry at the finish, but I’m working backwards, so the initial sip is a lovely fanfare of richness, but it’s very carbonated so a lot of that bubbles action that prickles.
There seems to be a nice amount of rich fruit type body in this that might be more prominent if it weren’t from the carbonation.
I’ve got to say that for the price this is a cracker of a beer.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 of its things from the thing. This is the best of the brewers beers, by a long way, hands down. It’s a fairly decent stout too, not perfect and could do with more body, and less carbonation, perhaps the latter would dix the former. A revelation and I’d thing about buying more if only MrsPdubyah would let me.
The double dip review
Am I enjoying it? Yes, this is rather nice and the best from this brewer.
Would I have another? I would at this price mad not to.
Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would, there is nothing embarrassing about this that would put you in a spot. Party on!
Music for this, ‘ Seeker Lover Keeper ‘ an Australian indie rock music supergroup formed by Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby. The album ‘ Seeker lover keeper ‘ and I’m of course listening on Spotify. This will give you an idea.
FOREIGN STOUT
Foreign Stout began with the beer that would become Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. This was a stronger, extra-hopped version of the basic Guinness Extra Stout, brewed to survive long journeys overseas. The classic FES still exists in a few different forms, but many of the original destination countries (Jamaica, Sri Lanka, etc.) now have their own, locally-produced versions. Foreign stout occupies a position between basic stout and imperial stout. It is sweeter than a basic stout, but not as robust as an imperial. It is less fruity and less hoppy as well. Foreign stouts are sometimes made with local grains and adjuncts sugar is not uncommon. Alcohol ranges from 6-8%
A life just as ordinary 
I used to drink a lot of this and still imbibe on occasion, certainly one of the best from the big aussie brewers, I don’t like anything else Coopers makes. When stuck in an old fashioned pub in NSW i’ll usually drink Tooheys Old which is suppose to be a brown ale, but I think it is really a dark lager and the only decent thing Tooheys brews, I don’t think I have seen it here though.
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I haven’t sen any Tooheys here, although I don’t look that hard for it. You’re right about Coopers, the stout the best of a bad bunch. I wasn’t about to go 6 pack VB, even for the comedy.
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