Past Masters Double Stout - Fuller Smith & Turner PLC

BretSikkink

Mexico

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

Dark brown with a mocha colored head - looks like Arabic style espresso. Quite chocolatey on the nose, but fairly clean overall. Roasted barley with enough "sweet" to be rounded.

Flavor is pretty solid as well. Slightly metallic, and finishes super-boozy. But everything else is quite nice: full body, great flavor with roasted barley, sweet lactose, and dark fruitiness that rises from the charred grain like a phoenix.

Fairly "masterful" stout that's plausibly an old recipe while enticing a modern audience. There are some flaws, and for the size of the booze, we could get more interplay between brown sugar and coffee-like grain, but these are small nits to pick.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 02:08:07 | More by BretSikkink

bark

Sweden

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The colour is pitch black (80 EBC), the two finger beige compact head sinks down leaving no lacing on the glass.

The smell is rich and creamy. Lots of salt liquorice, fruity-flowery bitterness, dark chocolate, smoked ham and black currants. Hints of band aids and Marmite. The smoked notes gets stronger as the beer gets into room temperature.

The taste is smooth, although the bitter notes are quite prominent this beer is all about the salty-smoked malt flavours. The smoke is more like... burned rubber or paint rather than Bamberg-style delicatessen. Hints of black currants and dried berries, some alcohol. Medium body. The aftertaste got salty flavours of liquorice and barbequed bacon. Dry notes of blackberries and a touch of lime peels. The long finish got notes of charcoal, green plants and black currants.

The carbonation is mild; the many small bubbles fresh. The liquid is semi-smooth.

A complex brew – a bit dry at start and sweet in the finish. The smoked flavours of the Plumage Archer barley creates a beer unlike any other I have had.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 20:51:15 | More by bark

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.53/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Purchased from Fuller’s online shop; BB 19/04/2014, served cool in a tulip-shaped sniffer. Note: The beer label describes this beer brewed according to a recipe back on 4th August 1893, ‘a time when “stout” meant “strong”’.

A: pours a super dark brown colour, coming with constant streams of fine carbonation and a slowly retreating frothy tan head.
S: typical of a potent, high-octave Stout, the oily rich treacle and bittersweet chocolates with a hint of banana oil or tar are firmly supported by syrupy dates, sweetened roast walnuts, vanilla beans, sweet smoky woodiness, and ripe citric fruitiness from Goldings-like hops. Overall, the sweetness is well-balanced by a sound acidity, while the smell is dense, pleasantly roast-malty, and fruity all at the same time.
T: medium-bodied sweet nuttiness and sweet coffee flavours come upfront, coupled with a hint of chocolates, oily rich dates, then the palate is overwhelmed by a wave of chewy, herbal-tannic and pleasantly dried-rind spicy hoppy aftertaste that is simultaneously roasty bitter as of from black malts or roasted barley. Aromatically charred-woody, burned-nutty and leather-ish in the finish, with a wee touch of warming alc. creeping down the throat.
M&D: the mouthfeel is just superb – the fine carbonation supports a mellow, smooth palate rendered by the complex yet well-structured flavour profile, beautifully balanced b/w sweetness, bitterness and acidity on top of a full body; this potent, ‘stout’ Double Stout is reminiscent of one’s so-called “Foreign/Export Stout” or “Russian Imperial Stout” (is there any academically-defined difference b/w the two???), that it is rich, complex, worth slowly sipping almost like a liquor and yet ever so… quaffable due to the sound hop profile. I personally think it shall be a fun task of the season to do a comparison b/w this ale and Fuller’s London Porter, why not (it’s scribbled down in my beer diary now!)??

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:46:34 | More by wl0307

StJamesGate

New York

4.04/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Jet black with chocolate highlights and a creamy violet-tinged sepia head that fades fast, leaving not a speck of lace.
Treacle, smoke, prune and steak on the nose.
Dark chocolate and a hit of sweet brown sugar before heavy black licorice with hints of espresso bean and Concord grape then woody hops.
Sarsaparilla and incense finish and roasty linger.
Medium, chewy, oily, round.

1893 recipe, apparently.

18 months in the bottle has killed the hops (EKG late and dry) leaving lots of black malt and lots of chew. I'm not crazy about licorice, though, so this is a bit of a hard sell for me. I do respect the history; this has some depth and is a departure from every other stout today.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 22:11:01 | More by StJamesGate

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.09/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 500ml bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a dark red/black colour, with a tan head.

Smells faint, malts mostly.

Tastes of very rich malts - slight sweetness, burnt malt, rich and dark fruit, dark yet sweet chocolate, with some fruity bitter hops balancing everything out in the background. Nice full mouthfeel.

Overall a very decent beer, worth getting if you can.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 21:30:12 | More by CwrwAmByth

MasterSki

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from peensteen I believe. Served in a Russian River tulip. Best before April 19th, 2014.

A - A half-finger of light tan foam settles to wisps, a collar, and a few specks of lace. Very dark brown body with a hint of transparency at the fringes of the glass.

S - Fruity and estery ale yeast, with biscuit and malted milk chocolate sweetness, as well as an unexpected smokey and slightly meaty flavor. There's a hint of molasses in there as well. Really interesting and unusually complex.

T - The taste has a bit more of the smokey and umami flavors, with the sweetness from the chocolate, biscuit, and caramel malt flavors showing up late and lingering through the finish. I'm reminded of some of De Molen's malt bills, which is unsurprising considering Menno bases his stouts on traditional English ones (before barrel-aging the crap out of them).

M - Smooth medium body, with somewhat higher carbonation than you'd expect from an English ale. Dry and toasty finish, with no apparent alcohol.

D - A very well-crafted and easy-drinking English stout. It's a bit more meaty than I tend to prefer personally, but it was enjoyable for a few pours. I'd probably have a hard time putting down 500ml on my own, but three of us had no troubles. Hopefully Fuller's revisits this one a bit sooner this time, as 118 years is an awfully long time.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2012 05:43:06 | More by MasterSki

AgentZero

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

12-10-2012 18:43:56 | More by AgentZero

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -28.4%

11-11-2012 01:14:43 | More by cfalovo97

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Seemingly opaque nearly black body with ruby hue when held to the light gets topped by low yet distinctive tan head creating firm lacing on the sides. The head dissipates completely, though.

Nose delivers chocolate with milky sweetness, coffee and lightly burnt aromas of roasted malts, molasses, bready qualities, dark fruit esters, hints of soy sauce and perhaps some vinous notes. Utterly complex aroma comprises all key-elements of a great Stout, resembling a scaled down Imperial Stout.

Taste is dryer than the nose suggests with dark fruits and coffee flavor. The roasted character transfers trough the aftertaste featuring lightly burnt grain notes.

Medium-full bodied with a bit too soft carbonation and smooth texture.

When it comes to the art ancient master did it better. Brewing is Art hence no surprise Past Masters performed such an excellent job (500 ml, BB 04-19-2014, into tulip).

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 16:29:52 | More by crnipeter

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

09-11-2012 00:07:50 | More by Molson2000

pin

Australia

5/5  rDev +19.3%

07-31-2012 04:06:39 | More by pin

BogBoyJD

Ireland

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

07-19-2012 17:46:28 | More by BogBoyJD

HankC

Sweden

4/5  rDev -4.5%

06-29-2012 16:22:57 | More by HankC

imperialking

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-11-2012 02:11:23 | More by imperialking

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into tulip 26/4/12 thanks liamt07 for the bottle

A the darkest brown with deep cola highlights, large mocha head falls fairly quickly but manages to leave a single distinct thick ring of lace

S heavy amounts of smokey chocolate with some prune, raisin, earthy hops, dark nutty toffee and just a little coffee and booze

T has some char on top of what I smell and there's a little more of a hoppy profile that makes me wonder what this was like fresh because with a BB of April 19 2014 I'm guessing that it wasn't brewed last week but this week last year.

M not overly thick but the bubbles give it some life, faint heat and a burnt coffee aftertaste

O went down fast, too fast even, a great smelling and tasting beer is always a good thing, not a thick heavy monster and but this one is drinkable as all hell and for 7.4% it could just kick your ass because it sinks like a ship

I can just imagine walking into an English pub a 115 years ago and slamming a dozen pints of this goodness then going home to beat my wife with a stick no thicker then my thumb. Oh how time have changed, today the rule of thumb in my home... I get my ass kicked if I come home loaded after trying to session a 7.4% sneaky bastard like this one. another cheers towards liamt07 for this one

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 07:12:17 | More by wordemupg

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle served in a chalice (sorry about that :))

A: Pours a magnificent dark brown to black color forming a big beige mocca bubbled aired head. Medium retention. Head never disappears completely, leaving only few lacings around

S: Roasted malts, dark chocolate and coffee. Bit fruit and alcoholic too

T: Follows the nose. Strong notes of dark chocolate, roasted malts and coffee. Delicious roasted bitterness, oh boy!

M: Medium creamy body. Good carbonation. Intense roasted bitter aftertaste

O: Very drinkable. Kind of excellent beer to stout lovers like me...

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 15:58:53 | More by eduardolinhalis

Khazadum

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

04-06-2012 23:58:07 | More by Khazadum

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4.78/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

500ml bottle.Snifter glass.Enjoyed on nov´11.Pure black appearance,dark mahogany to the light.Beige in color creamy froth. Small bubbled crown.Faily well retention then a thick ring is left.Some spotty lacing. Intense licorice & roasted malt aromas. Notes of smoke & coffee.Licorice upfront followed by mildy sweet malt,coffee,bitter chocolate & toffee notes.Full body,kind carbonation.Coffee finish & aftertaste.ABV is not felt.Pleasant drink.Fuller´s did it once again!!.Don´t call it Past Masters but Masterpiece.Very well balanced flavors & aromas.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2012 16:05:31 | More by GONZALOYANNA

Ruds

United Kingdom (England)

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Purchased from the brewery shop at Fullers Griffin Brewery, Chiswick and poured into a Fullers ESB large pint goblet.

Pours a very dark brown 'almost' black in colour with a large frothy tan head.

Dark roasted malts make up the majority of the aroma and in the background a definate whiff of chocolate allied to a little nut and smoke.

Great tastes in this well balanced beer, picking up on all the favourites of a good old school stout that so many beers lack. From chocolate and coffee to leather, nut, a little dark fruit, a good dose of smoke - more so than on the nose and a small pinch of liquorice. A little woody on the finish (this is no criticism btw!)

Medium to full in body, you wouldn't necessarily think you were drinking a 7%+ beer! A fairly creamy texture which teases the throat for more and a small amount of carbonation which befits this style of beer.

Overall a very good beer and I'll definiately seek out again. However it cost £4.25 for a 500ml bottle at the brewery shop which I felt was a little overpriced!

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 08:51:47 | More by Ruds

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -4.5%

03-06-2012 16:09:21 | More by MattPS

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Good for the style. Pours black body without a significant head. Slightly smokey, chocolate aroma. Thickish looking and it is above average mouthfeel. Good drinkability. Middle of the road conservative, not extreme in roast or smoke. Mostly sweet chocolate aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 01:07:17 | More by northyorksammy

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

500ml Bottle from the LCBO

Appearance - Black/brown colour with an above average size fizzy and frothy light brown head. There is a low amount of carbonation showing and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for around 5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, chocolate, roasted/toasted nuts

Taste & Mouth - There is low amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, chocolate, and coffee. There is also a bit of a hop bitterness and some burnt flavours. It ends with a malt and chocolate aftertaste and a lingering bitterness.

Overall - You can really taste the quality with this beer. It's well crafted and has a nice non-artificial chocolate flavour.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:33:01 | More by spinrsx

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

3.18/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Late night beer review. Pouring this into two ±250 mL servings in a small tulip. BB 2014.

Jet black, a thin beige ring and no lace.

Booze, wood, smoke, coffee and chocolate.

Lots of sweet wood and scotch taste. Bitter and dry, boozy and syrupy.

Very thick and viscose mouthfeel, I find it sweet on my teeth. Lots of wood and smoke in the aftertaste.

This is a pretty harsh beer that needs some age, will be glad to re-review, glad I bought three.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 02:52:44 | More by bryehn

eric5bellies

Australia

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from my Bombardier conic pint glass.

A - Pours a deep Ebony colour with no light visible through the glass. The head is coffee coloured and retains very well.

S - Massive coffee aromas backed up nicely by dark chocolate.

T - Up front some nice sweet malt flavours of chocolate. The middle is expresso and the finish is massively coffee, and I mean big coffee. Slight roasted rauch flavour as well.

M - Full body and silky smooth carbonation.

O - This is a big stout and based on this brew I sure hope that Fullers bring out some more of these Past Masters brews. Its so well balanced and not overpowering. Its just nice to try a big stout without it having to be a super duper, double trouble Barrel aged stout aged in 240 yr old Whiskey barrels.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 15:50:44 | More by eric5bellies

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black with dark brown & ruby highlights, light tan head, light retention & lace

Demerara sugar, black licorice, coffee, roasted nut, light pear-like fruity esters.

Molasses, black licorice, bakers chocolate, coffee, roasted nut, hints of field berries, good bitterness, pleasingly light alcohol warmth.

Well-attenuated, moderate body, hints of roasted acidity, slightly drying alcohol finish.

Nicely crafted and very drinkable. I'd love to try some more pre-war UK brews!

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 02:47:10 | More by Derek