This is the second time we’ve featured a beer from La Pirata (The Pirates), from the town of Suria in the Catalonia region less than an hours drive out of Barcelona. Since setting up their own brewery in late 2015, they have firmly established themselves as one of Spain’s best small breweries.
And this beer – Black Block – is one of the favourites having won many awards for this beer.
As you pour the beer, the dark viscous body and heavy aroma will tell you that this is an imperial stout. And the nicely tanned foam is one of my tells for a sign of a complex, tasty imperial stout.
The big roasty malt body presents flavours of bitter dark chocolate, burnt toast, molasses, caramel with hints of coffee and licorice. While the flavours are intense, it doesn’t get too sweet – balanced out with the bitterness of the roasted malts and some hop bite.
The mouthfeel is really smooth and full, with just a gentle warmth covering the high ABV of this beer. This is one to sit on, allowing it to warm up and evolve as you sip and savour.
A big Imperial Stout, dark fruit, chocolate and a hint of sourness
A big and tasty imperial stout brewed with cacao, vanilla and orange peel
An imperial stout brewed with cacao, vanilla and orange zest, aged in Brazilian Amburana wood oak barrels
A luscious big imperial stout with cocao nibs and roasted peanuts
The name translates as 'lubricating oil', and that is a fair description for this rich and smooth imperial stout
Another 2019 Boreft Festival Beer, this is an imperial stout with chocolate nibs and fresh mint
This Borefts Festival beer from 2018 is an imperial stout with amarene cherries, finished on cedar wood
The flagship imperial stout from De Molen - 'Hell & Damnation'
De Molen's 'Hell & Damnation' Imperial Stout
De Molen's flagship imperial stout has been given a hazelnut twist
De Molen's 'Heaven & Earth' - s smoky, peaty Imperial Stout
De Molen's 'Malt & Mocha' is their winter seasonal coffee imperial stout
De Molen's 2018 Boreft Festival '9+1' beer is an imperial stout with added aloe vera
An Imperil Stout with 5 different barley malts, flaked oats and hand roasted coconut flakes
A slightly sour imperial stout with walnut extract, caramel and salt, aged in Bowmore Whiskey barrels
A blend of two of De Molen's imperial stouts, then aged in various barrels, blended again and spiked with a wild Brettanomyces yeast
A delicious Imperial Stout with the addition of Rooibos, a little lighter and drier than a typical IS
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
It is Creme Brûlée - dessert in a glass
by Brouwerij Emelisse/Slot-Oostende
A rich and luxurious Imperial Stout infused with coffee beans from Italy
It's a big dark lager, in the form of an imperial stout. And it is delicious!
Really this is more a cross between a Belgian Quadrupel and an Imperial Stout
A massive Imperial Stout, with loads of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee
A delicious imperial stout with oat flakes in the malt bill, and coffee beans, vanilla and chipotle and mulato chilli peppers
A wintery imperial stout with roasted chicory root
An oatmeal stout with a rich, creamy and luxurious chocolatey flavour
A delicious dessert beer, this is like caramel fudge in a glass
An imperial pastry stout with vanilla, toffee and dry dates
A really interesting, slightly sour Imperial Stout that has been barrel aged for 12 months and spiked with wild Brettanomyces yeast
A delicious imperial milk stout with the addition of coffee beans, cocoa beans and lactose
An imperial stout aged with American oak from bourbon barrels
Four malts, roasted barley and two hops create a beautiful Imperial Stout - with a Belgian twist.
This Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout is a three-way collaboration with Alvinne (BEL) and Velka Morava (RUS) brewed at Brouwerij Kees
Imperial pastry stout with vanilla, coconut and lactose
An oatmeal imperial stout with the addition of Jamaican coffee beans and orange peel
Imperial Pastry Stout with vanilla, coconut and lactose
An imperial milk stout with vanilla, cinnamon and lactose
A massive imperial stout with the addition of vanilla, marshmallows and lactose
A Belgian Imperial Stout, rich in chocolate, roasted malts and coffee
A Grisette brewed with green grapes and then dry-hopped with Huell Melon and Mandarina
