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Jan 2020

Sambrook's Russian Imperial Stout, Sambrooks

Added: Wednesday, January 1st 2020

Style Stout ABV 10.4%

Sambrook’s Russian Imperial Stout, 10.4%

Duncan Sambrook founded his brewery in South-east London in 2008 to plug the large hole left when Young’s of Wandsworth closed. This year, Duncan will cement the relationship by moving his brewery to the Ram Quarter in Wandworth, a modern housing and business complex on the old Young’s site, with the brewing coppers still in situ.

Duncan has also reignited the historic connection between the area and imperial stouts, for it was the likes of Barclays and other breweries in South London that first brewed strong stouts and porters in the 18th and 19th centuries for export to Russia and the Baltic States.

Sambrook’s beer is brewed with a complex grain bill of pale, crystal, brown, chocolate and black malt, with oats and torrefied wheat. The hops are Challenger, Target and Whitbread Goldings Variety.

The jet-black beer has coffee and chocolate on the aroma with ripe, dark fruits such as raisins and plums, balanced by peppery hops. Burnt malt dominates the palate with dark fruits, chocolate, coffee and light hop notes. The finish is bittersweet to start with dark malts and fruit dominating but coffee, chocolate and spicy hops build in the long finale.

£3 for 330ml bottle. www.sambrooksbrewery.co.uk.

 

Sambrook's Russian Imperial Stout, Sambrooks