Royal Extra Stout - Carib Brewery Limited

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Interesting brown mini bottle (275ml) with the silk-screened logo on it, makes it stand out right from the beginning. Big brown foamy head that lasts a while. This is a pitch black stout, like the tar pits. When held up to direct sunlight, no light could permeate it at all, there was just a tiny, tiny mahogany pinprick caught floating in the middle of it, trapped and suspended there forever. Nose is sweet, syrupy and boozy, reminds me of a maple porter I once made. Definite aroma of carmelized sugar in there. Taste is sweet sweet sweet. Malt highlights, definite lactose, blackstrap molasses, faint star anise, carmelized cane sugar, some type of boozy syrup. One could get lost in the kitchen sink of confectionaries found within this complex (yet undeniably sweet) stout. Very boozy, acidic mouthfeel and aftertaste, due to the high sugar content no less. Like candy. Worth a try, but I have to stop at one. If you have a lady friend you'd like to introduce to the wonderful world of stouts, this would be a great first step next to Young's Luxury Double Chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2003 20:20:22 | More by IronDjinn

Dchou

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

05-10-2013 06:08:23 | More by Dchou

kirbmeist

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

03-06-2013 03:21:11 | More by kirbmeist

djrn2

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-02-2013 17:33:44 | More by djrn2

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

2.75/5  rDev -22.3%

02-07-2013 04:34:38 | More by ThinkAgain

beertunes

Washington

2.86/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Another courtesy of Rampaige. Poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a very nice black color, with just a thin cap of tan head that had low retention and lacing.

The aroma was pretty soft, a touch of gentle roast over a base of solidly basic malt. The beer was basically the same on the tongue, but sadly there was a just enough of an odd funk that was mildly off-putting.

The body was decent, but thinner than I like in a stout, more Porterish. Drinkability was OK, but that funk kinda hurt it. Overall, a decent enough brew, and if want a change of pace while you're on your tropic holiday, this would suffice.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 00:50:40 | More by beertunes

Jayship

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

11-22-2012 16:58:33 | More by Jayship

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -15.3%

11-22-2012 01:29:14 | More by cfalovo97

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

10-18-2012 03:56:15 | More by schopenhauerale

cmr5056

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13%

10-11-2012 16:06:06 | More by cmr5056

tripledbrew

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -15.3%

10-06-2012 05:04:48 | More by tripledbrew

jwc215

New Jersey

3.2/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours opaque black with a thin, lasting brown head. Strands of lacing stick.

The smell is of sweet licorice and dark grain with just a slight hint of roast. Slight alcohol comes through.

The taste of sweetness is overwhelming. I know it's the style, but it is a heap of sugar in a grainy sweetness. The underlying "macro" graininess and alcohol try to "balance" the sweetness. It does have some dryness from the alcohol in the finish.

The feel is thinner than it appears. It has a slight fizz as it is swallowed.

It is sweet, as per the style. A very malty, with something unpleasant mixed in, boozy, brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 20:44:24 | More by jwc215

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330 mL bottle bought as part of a six-pack from the LCBO; best before January 2013. I've only had one other Caribbean export stout (Dragon), and although I found it serviceable, I was not a big fan and it left me with a feeling that maybe the style just wasn't for me. Hopefully Trinidad's take on it is more up my alley - and besides, I always like to tick off a new country.

Pours a lovely pitch-black colour, topped with slightly more than two fingers of frothy, puffy tan-coloured head. It dissipates quickly, but it does leave behind some intricate lacing webs and a creamy, even cap atop the surface that lasts considerably longer. Certainly looks good, and the aroma is nearly equally enticing - lots of sweet caramel and molasses, big dark, roasted malts, with notes of dark chocolate and dates.

Very good taste with most of the elements from the aroma also being present here - sticky sweet molasses, roasted malts, as well as a mix of dark fruit, dark chocolate, and maybe a hint of coffee. Very faint smokiness that adds a bit of character to an otherwise mostly-straightforward (though enjoyable) flavour profile. Definitely leans on the sweet side, with cocoa and caramel sweetness lingering in the aftertaste. Medium-bodied, with some slight chew, but not quite enough to appease me completely. Moderate carbonation levels give it a solid bite, though not enough to seriously distract from the flavour. No heat from the alcohol.

Final Grade: 3.85, an above average B+ grade. This is a solid stout; rich and tasty without being cloying or boozy. Not complex by a longshot, but quite enjoyable. I'd take this over Dragon Stout any day - Royal Extra is a bit lighter (both in body and ABV), which makes it that much more drinkable. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a (relatively speaking) sessionable Caribbean export stout, but I doubt it will be a regular purchase - I generally need to be in 'the mood' for sweet, dark beer before I will go out of my way to buy it.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 06:30:27 | More by thehyperduck

cyrenaica

Ontario (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

275ml bottle
6.6% ABV

I tried this beer on September 23, 2008 at "Smokeless Joe's" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The beer poured black with a thin tan coloured head. The aroma was chocolate and plums. The mouthfeel was full-bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour waas roasted malt, raisins, plums, and chocolate. A little sweet for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 03:45:39 | More by cyrenaica

BlurryVisi0n

New York

3.78/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint.

Appearance: Pitch black and little thick coming off like motor oil, tan head vaguely thin which rose to maybe 1/8" if that off the body.

Smell: sweet vanilla bean, and you definitely get a whiff of the alcohol.

Taste: little complex, sweet with molasses and vanilla to add. Does have a little bitterness to it but vary bland. I can't complain because taste alone is ahead of what I was expecting.

Mouth: medium carbonation, slightly bubbly but very very smooth.

Overall: Not knowing a thing about this beer I picked it up on a just chance and was not disappointed, I enjoyed very well right after dinner and this ended up being my dessert. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 22:57:48 | More by BlurryVisi0n

smi

New York

3/5  rDev -15.3%

04-06-2012 22:35:58 | More by smi

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.85/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

We pour a nearly black brew. It holds a one finger head of soft, creamy, medium brown bubbles. Retention is solid, leaving thick lacing around the glass. Big bubbles float across the top for most of the tasting. Carbonation appears average, and no sediment is noted. The aroma is rich with dark and roasty chocolate/black malts, toffees, and steely coffee bean. Tin comes in, taking the metals to the next level. Sweetness is of heavy creamer, with an added glucose/cola sugariness. There is a baked, bready heaviness, with a light buttery quality. Salts and a dash of vinegar come through with warmth. As we sip, charcoal malts and chemically phenols hit first. These blend to give a synthetic, bittering start. The flavoring continues with metallics and soy sauce to the middle, where the malts soften up, but darken. At the peak coffee comes through, with enhanced sweetness of white sugar. This makes for an equally soft transition to the finish. We end with notes of continued sweetness, mild smoke, even roast, and cleanly blackened malts. The aftertaste breathes of light tin, coffee, milk chocolate, more smoke, and warming booze. The body is medium, and the carbonation is medium but soft. The entire sip is rather soft, with nice cream, slurp, and froth. The mouth is left astringently dried and slightly chalky. The abv is appropriate, and the beer drinks easily as more of a sipper.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the even, solidly balanced and robust flavoring. Before we even tasted we were presented with a gorgeous looking liquid. We were a little let down with the nose, as we wished it were as robust as the flavoring, but the taste did redeem things nicely. There were nice smoky inclusions, and tasty, roasty malts to carry a strong base. Everything remained pleasant throughout, and this was a great surprise.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 00:47:48 | More by TheBrewo

ckollias

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a porter glass.

A: Pours a dark black with a thick brown 2-finger head that quickly dissipates into a wispy lace and leaves a nice trail down the glass.

S: Very sweet malt aroma with hints of chocolate and cofffe.

T: Dark rich ale with a generous sweetness and huge chocolate malt background. Very smooth and sweet.

M: Heavy body and medium carbonation.

O: Very good foreign stout. It got a little too sweet for me at the end – but overall I was very impressed with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 01:36:30 | More by ckollias

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

03-18-2012 21:20:08 | More by TMoney2591

OldTime

Georgia

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

03-10-2012 07:06:53 | More by OldTime

LJWalker

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

02-06-2012 19:29:51 | More by LJWalker

cdwil

Texas

4/5  rDev +13%

12-29-2011 20:49:48 | More by cdwil

nmann08

Maryland

4/5  rDev +13%

12-14-2011 04:24:17 | More by nmann08

pavpav12

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +13%

12-04-2011 01:46:55 | More by pavpav12

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +13%

12-01-2011 04:56:06 | More by rab53