As you may be realising I have a thing about this Dutch brewery.
So far their beer has gotten better with every bottle I try.
The only UK brewer that springs to mind as being as far thinking and far reaching in their brew right now is The Kernel.
So De Molen’s Rasputin is a stout.
And it’s an enormous stout.
The beer pours thick and smooth and inside it you’ll find dark bitter chocolate and a deep whisky heat.
Then there’s damsons and plums soaked in syrup, all rich and unguent, viscous and puddingy.
Peat and a hint of woody smoke lurks around the back of some big black pepper tang.
Oh! and the aroma – Treacle and all spice.
And just when you think you’ve made it to the end along comes the hops to leave you puckered and wanting more.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is almost certainly the best stout I have ever tried.