Brasserie de la Senne does it again with a low ABV stout: Stouterik. If you’re not familiar with Brasserie de la Senne, you should be. They’re the other brewery in Brussels; Cantillon being the longest standing, most famous, and for a long time the only one. As part of the new craft beer revolution in Belgium, Brasserie de la Senne is part of the vanguard of new breweries pushing the traditional Belgian beer culture to new places, borrowing from outside beer cultures and melding them with their own Belgian heritage.
Stouterik is definitely in that blended heritage mold, and an excellent example of Brasserie de la Senne’s brewing prowess. Also, they have fantastic labels with an art deco flair, The Brussels Stout is no exception.
Appearance: Cloudy brown/black, tan head, great retention.
Aroma: Espresso, raisins, figs, dates, chocolate, burnt toast, ash.
Taste: roasty, burnt toast, ash, chocolate.
Overall Impression: What a fantastic stout! At 4.5%, this is an eminently quaffable stout. I’m sure I’ll cause some people’s heads to explode by saying this, but I often tell people this beer is best described as a session imperial stout. It’s got the classic dried fruit aromas of raisins, figs, and dates you’d find in an imperial stout but it’s only 4.5% ABV! It’s dry, balanced, and quite tasty. They’ve definitely packed a lot of flavor into this beer. With a medium finish, the great carbonation and the rich flavors create a silky, creamy, velvety texture.
Availability: Look for it at progressive shops that carry a good selection of Belgian beers. Imported by Shelton Brothers.
4.5% ABV
Additional Notes: This beer was sent to me by my friend and Belgian Beer Blogger, Belgian Beer Geek.
You can read more about Brasserie de la Senne on my page dedicated to them.
