Fallen Big Raspberry Dog Chew
December 1, 2016Fallen Brewing Co.
Big Raspberry Dog ChewKippen, Scotland Style: Salted Caramel & Raspberry Milk Stout ABV: 10%
Originally brewed at BrewDog Glasgow. A double version of the brewery’s Chew Chew w/ lactose, Hebridean sea salt & raspberries.
A “salted caramel and raspberry milk stout.” Sounds like someone may just be trying too hard. In reality, it’s a damn fine beer, exceptionally well made, with raspberry notes floating on top of a rich, smooth milk stout base. Creamy dark chocolate and hints of biscuit and caramel sit richly in the foundation beer, which is exceptionally drinkable for the strength and keeps the 10% alcohol well and truly under wraps. And that leads me to conclude that maybe the raspberries —which some drinkers perhaps won’t care for—really aren’t needed after all. They might just be an unnecessary distraction.
Jeff Evans is author of the Good Bottled Beer Guide, The Book of Beer Knowledge, Beer Lover's Britain and So You Want to Be a Beer Expert? More of his writing can be found at insidebeer.com.
This 10% Scottish bottle-conditioned beer is described as “salted caramel and raspberry milk stout,” which covers quite a few new bases. Milk stout, brewed with lactose or milk sugar, is a style I am familiar with, but salted caramel is a new one on me. It’s brewed with pale, crystal and caramel malts with oats, and the hops are East Kent Goldings, plus the addition of raspberry juice. The jet black beer has a big “kids in a candy store” aroma of fruit and licorice, with rich creamy malt. In the mouth, caramel, raspberry and creamy malt dominate with only a small walk-on role for the peppery hops. The finish is sweet but clean and not cloying, with caramel, fruit, creamy malt and gentle hop bitterness.
Roger Protz is the author of 300 Beers to Try Before You Die and 300 More Beers to Try Before You Die. Respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and protzonbeer.co.uk.