Beer- #1094 – Epic – Epicurean Coffee and Fig Oatmeal Stout – Three is a crowd

The seemingly never-ending  taste-off of  beers, I’ve got to the 3rd of them,  where I taste again the  2013, the 2014 and the 2015  versions of the Epic – Epicurean Coffee & Fig Oatmeal Stout,  a bit mad if you ask me. Firstly to have kept them and secondly to have kept then for so long.

Each year a different variety

These are beer that is  of 8% ABV,  the beer is 50 IBU things, and that makes 240 calories a serving size, each 750ml bottle contains 4.73 standard drink units.

This is then beer from Epic Brewing Company (NZ) brewed at Steam Brewing Company in the style that is  Imperial Stout and they are in Auckland, New Zealand

The Epicurean series is a celebration of the flavours and aromas that can be found within the diverse range of ingredients that brewers and chefs alike use in their creations.

This beer is a culmination of hours of cerebration, experimentation, ocgitation and libation.

And a sprinkling of dehydrated finesse.

• 2015 – COFFEE: Caffe L’Affare Ethiopian Sidamo whole beans and Philippine Toasted Coconut, and Caramelised Turkish Nerida Figs, 
• 2014 – COFFEE: Columbian Excelso (roasted by L’affare),  whole Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut
• 2013 – COFFEE: Wet Process Ethiopian Sidamo Coffee Bean (roasted by L’affare),  Caramelised Dried Turkish Lerida Figs, and Toasted Philippine Coconut

Apart from an early night what cold possibly go wrong?

Well the 2013 was lovely, the 2014 hadn’t really improved and may have been slightly worse, so who knows, I’d be stoked with a 2 from 3 result I’ve previously rated this an 8.

Im still prevaricating, even though I know this is a done deal, the opening and saying goodbye to a fridge companion for so long.

Ok, Well I think Christmas is saved, there’s a really deep rich milk chocolate aroma on opening, and somewhat reassuringly a hiss.

Look at the lovely pour on that! deep dark and with a good finger of firm solid hanging around coffee coloured head. I’m so happy. I’m about to try it, it could still go horribly wrong.

I went to sip but was brought up short by that aroma, it’s of cold brewed green coffee, it is a lovely and familiar aroma.

But alas, time has not been as kind as in philipworld it could have been. This lacks both body and mouthfeel, although they often go together, and somewhat sadly I have initially say that this is a bit thin.

Not undrinkable thin, I’m no expert in beers, but this seems otherwise ok, if thin coffee beer is your thing of course.

Of the 3 that I had this is the most disappointing. Which is odd, as I might have also have thought that being the youngest it might still have had legs.

The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 7 a of its things from the thing. I was thinking that age perhaps would have deepened and thickened this beer up, added denseness and syrupiness and oomf to the body whilst retaining a deep rich fresh coffee note about it. I got almost all of that it you only read the words “coffee note” and none of the other words.

The double dip review

1. Where did I get this? They’re treasures from the fridge, probably though Liquorland stores have the newest versions available.
2. Am I enjoying it? No, sadly this isn’t the beer it once was, and is but a mere shadow,
3. Would I have another? Nope, none left, unless there are other holders and keepers out there, to whom I would have to say sorry, it’s not been worth it.
4. Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Right upto the actual drinking after the initial sip, when this becomes a bit tedious and unenjoyable.

I’m listening to a RED Vinyl version of  Living in Hell by Heart Attack Alley – you can on Spotify iif you’d like, The Album is from 2012, so it is in effect older than the beer, and it hasn’t changed at all, nor will it, I handled well, or if you get it out and play it regularly.

STOUT

Many stouts do not fit the classic “Irish” definition as exemplified by Guinness, either due to their hop or roast rates, or higher gravity (in the case of many American stouts). They are still basic stouts, however, not falling into any of the subclasses.

Previously I’ve drunk the 2011 – a 9 on the pdubyah-o-meter,  and the 2013 – also a 9  , and the  2014 got to an 8 on the pdubyah-o-meter, and obviously I  missed a trick in 2012. The 2015 version – an 8

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