Yes, Nitro is not just for stouts anymore as more and more brewers are using the technique to make their special brews extra special. Guinness led the nitro charge so to speak, but C’est What & Durham have taken the fine art of Nitro brewing to a whole new level with a full line up of pop the top and pour hard beauties. Blak Katt was missing a few “c’s” but was minding its “p’s and q’s”. And of course there was Uncle Al, the kiddies pal. How about a tasty flagon of Red Dragon. Now it’s time to sample their British invasion ESB, their Nitro charged English style Extra Special Bitter ale.
“The” Record Store
The only part of the British invasion I remember was The Beatles. Buying 45s at the House of Sounds sidewalk sales for 50 cents with paper route money. As Farmer Steve so eloquently put it “those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end.” * If you knew Farmer Steve like I know Farmer Steve you would know that he is reminiscing about the low prices, not the music. A pop and pour and we’re back to present day with this English Style Bitter
I say a pop but it was more like a pfft. The hard pour did not result in a classic cascade craft but rather a very slim trim head. It was like the Nitro had lost it’s will to live. A nutty dark brown pour, too clear to hide behind. An aroma of roast malt maybe a bit nutty too? It didn’t have the cascade but does have that creamy mouthfeel. The taste is roast malt full on, with a dry flat finish. The dry evolved into to slight, dare I say special, bitters. I’m not sure if I would go so far as to say extra special. As it warmed, some slightly harsh bitters towards the bottom staged their own mini-British invasion. The mellow nuttiness and mildly bitter finish as it warms reminds me of the mild mannered Kilkenny Cream.
0 Comments