Very Nutty Black - Daniel Thwaites Brewery PLC

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.85/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle conditioned 500ml worth of beer poured into a UK sleeve.

Good looking brew, dark and with a huge foaming tan coloured head.

Mildly coffee and malty molasses in the smell and taste with a soft feel to the overall flavours.

Not had a good mild for a while, this has reminded me how good they can be.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 21:17:18 | More by BlackHaddock

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I wanted to like this beer more but the overt sweetness and a strange cloying taste on the finish made me have trouble finishing the glass. I know this style is often sweet but with low ABV and little in the way of hops the beer needed more punch. I mixed it with half a glass of lancaster bomber and it was great as the fresher beer and more hops blended well but alas alone it does not satisfy.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 21:51:14 | More by canucklehead

rarbring

Sweden

3.8/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The ale is dark, dark brown, has an off-white head that leaves good lacing but small curtains.

Smelling of dark chocolate, tea, blackberries.

Starting with sweet brown sugar, dark forest fruites, dates.

Medium low carbonation, small foamy bubbles, very soft and smooth texture, a medium body, a shy dry finish.

An excellent dark mild, smooth and soothing.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 22:19:10 | More by rarbring

EmperorBevis

United Kingdom (England)

3.45/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A dark mild bottle conditioned and given a little bit more oomph!

I should be on cloud nine, but not quite.

Pours a near black body and a light head which disappears quickly (which is common among bottle conditioned beers)

Gives a slightly fruity roasted aroma with muted hints of malt

Not as much a charcoal taste as you would expect from such a dark brew, little coffee notes and strains of chocolate but mainly a plummy taste that dissolves to leave a slightly sour aftertaste.

Not great, not terrible, not drinkable enough
but very reasonably priced so will keep bottles in for company and conversation.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2011 19:44:04 | More by EmperorBevis

Eramen

Ireland

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - A dark brown beer that glows ruby in part when held up to sunlight. There is barely a head on this, just a small ring of foam around the edges of the glass.

S - A biscuit malt aroma mainly with some fruits.

T - Lovely roasted biscuit malts, roasted nuts, hints of dark fruit. Not a whole lot going on here but it's able to stand on its own.

MF - Quite a watery, unluxurious feel, it's not the best nor is it the worst in the world.

O - Not a bad effort from the brewer but for me it fails to satisfy - then again this is not my preferred style. Why not give it a try!

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 19:18:51 | More by Eramen

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

An interesting beer. Export strength mild? CAMRA approved. No bottling date on 500 mL bottle, but a fairly recent addition to the MLCC.

A: Deep brown with ruby accents. Clear, decent head when poured but has an odd look to it, almost as though gelatin is holding it together. The head retains a bit, but disappears giving no lacing.

S: Too muted, a bit of roasted malt along with fruity esters.

T: An enjoyable blend of roastiness, a touch of earthy bitterness, and some berry notes play together.

M: Very nice, low carbonation. A bitterness that clings lightly and finishes otherwise cleanly. A touch thin perhaps, but that is hard to avoid given the style.

O: An easy drinking brown ale that has a nice clean finish... I'd drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2011 23:39:02 | More by kjyost

marty21

Manitoba (Canada)

3.13/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a dark brown with ruby highlights. You can see right through it when held to a light. It has two fingers worth of light tan head. Settles to a solid cap and creamy lacing covers the glass.

S: Dark fruits and a little chocolate. Finishes with dark malt and some earthy/grassy notes.

T: Dark malt and some dark fruits. Finishes with earthy tones. The taste is pretty watery

M: Light to medium carbonation with a very light body.

D: This was a new arrival at the MLCC but I don't think I'll be buying anymore. It wasn't bad but it was just a little weak. Especially with the 3.9 Abv.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 21:31:09 | More by marty21

StJamesGate

New York

3.75/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark ruby brown with a taupe head that fades to film fast but leaves a little patch and then webs - very porter-like appearance. Nose is sultanas, cinnamon oil and autumn leaves. Raisin toast malts, bit of tar, and spicy kola hops, bit of mint. Musty barrel leave but tight dry linger. Medium, some chew and oil, a bit of prickle.

Still can't figure out this style - flips between almost RIS malt flavors and drying hops. At this strength, though, I'm happy to keep exploring.

+ .5 drinkability for sub-4% ABV, as usual.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 19:48:41 | More by StJamesGate

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle-Conditioned, purchased at the Waitrose Supermarket. According to the label, this version seems to build on the ordinary "Nutty Black" (re-branding of Dark Mild, 3.3%abv.), and given an "export strength"(3.9%abv.!). BB 05/11/2010, served cool in a straight imperial pint glass.

A: pours a very dark brown to ebony hue coming with smooth carbonation, topped with a fairly firm, khaki-frothy head lasting literally throuhgout the drink. Gorgeous.
S: semi-sweet dark malts, a touch of chocolates and hints of dark berry fruits' sourness are all well blended on the nose. A little dustiness is brought forward by a good swirl. Smelling fresh but not aromatic; a bit like a Schwarzbier even.
T: a refreshing swallow of smooth-textured dark malts comes with very limited level of sweetness upfront, gradually showing notes of boiled beans, wholemeal bread, aromatic black sugar and a flow of earthy hop bitterness quietly manifesting in the end.
M&D: the palate of the beer is a selling point, very fresh and soft, just about right for a bottle-conditioned ale. At just 3.9%abv., this light-bodied beer does not fall thin, either, more like a 4%+ stout actually. However, this "Very" version is even more shy in flavour than the "Ordinary", thus failing keep my interest after one pint.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2010 19:53:55 | More by wl0307