Porterhouse Celebration Stout

Origin: Ireland | Date: 2006 | ABV: 10% | On The Beer Nut: October 2006

It's been another five years since this guy last appeared on this blog. I wanted to see how Ireland's seemingly indestructible first imperial stout of the craft era was getting on.

The brewery's branding has moved along so the glass is different but the beer still looked the same: a cola brownish black with a thin skim of beige foam on top. The aroma still has a slightly phenolic hit of TCP and marker pens, something I noted last time out so I'm not especially worried about it here.

With several more years of imperial stouts under my belt, what impresses me most is how dry it is: burnt toast and dry grass; not how anyone makes this sort of thing now. Secondly it's still pretty much totally devoid of off-flavours, with no more than a hint of sherry oxidation. That's kind of it, though. Looking back on my 2016 review I was awestruck by the complexity. This doesn't have that. It hasn't gone bad, but I think its peak may have passed. We've been left with a pint of earthy bogwater which is clean, but by no means a supreme imperial stout. Sic transit, etc.

I have a couple of bottles left, and with luck I'll get to them in due course, but I think this one's place as a special-occasion celebration beer is now lost, unless something else changes in it next.

YellowBelly Mashtun Millionaires

Origin: Ireland | Date: 2021 | ABV: 7.4% | On The Beer Nut: March 2021

It's about a year since I drank Mashtun Millionaires, one of a pair of beers which represented the final new releases from YellowBelly brewery, though we didn't know it at the time. The brewery had been doing everything right in terms of having a reliable core range, geek-pitched one-offs, two tied pubs and an overall plethora of good will. I guess it just wasn't enough. There's talk of a revival and I hope it works out.

Meanwhile, in Molloy's off licence recently, I spotted two bottles of Mashtun Millionaire in the expiring beer discount zone. First off, it's dated June 2022 so should be fine; secondly it's a strong Brett-fermented ale in an armoured Belgian bottle so should be absolutely fine; and thirdly it was priced at €2.50 a bottle so I bought both of the ones displayed. As it happened I had stashed a bottle that I acquired from the brewery last year for €6, so what better excuse to get it open?

Brett perfume is the first impression, mostly lavender and violet, with a greasy but enticing rotten funk in the background. The flavour takes that fermenting-flowers sweetness and adds in an incense spicing with some oaky vanilla. While all funky and farmyard to begin, the finish is pure and clean, with crisp white lemonade and sparkling dry cava.

In my original assessment I found it dirty and tough going to drink. I'm confident now that it has cleaned itself up and begun to fulfil its potential. I suspect it still has a way to go so don't crack your spare bottle just yet. Me, I'm very glad I have two more still in the stash.