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There is nothing quite like the first taste of a really good stout. Even if a stout is not the best, it is still a good beer. The complexity of these dark beers just leans toward an always enjoyable experience, even if the beer is not top notch.

Recently, I revisited an old stout that I have drunk in the past, but I also bought an imported beer that a local shop has been promoting quite seriously now for a while. Usually, I do not buy these types of beers, because I am not sure what status they hold in their home countries. (For all that I know, this can be a very bad beer for locals, and here I am commenting on how good it is...)

Either way, after going away for a while, we enjoyed a rest period in which we could just enjoy the views, the sounds of nature, and then obviously the delicious taste of some ice cold stout beers for #BeerSaturday.

So, please join me on this beer tasting adventure!

Without further ado.

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Eichbaum Extra Stout

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Stout | 7.5% ABV | ?? IBUs

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I have seen this beer in a local shop for months on end, and then I bought one. It was a good beer, I would say. But I am not sure about it...

As I opened it, there was not much on the smell, only a slight sweetness.

But the taste was very nice. It had a good and thick full body. It was slightly alcoholic with a nice bit of sweetness. It was not that bitter, yet it had a very chocolatey taste.

There was slight carbonation but not too much, even though the head was quite nice.

There is a funny story behind the beer. At the counter paying, the person behind till told me that this beer had way too much alcohol for him and that was not that good; rather, get some other beer he advised me. Yet I bought this one, and it was not too bad!

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Drakensberg Brewery Giant's Castle Stout

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Stout | 4% ABV | ?? IBUs

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I visited the brewery which is about 500km away from me. As I sat down, the owner poured me a beer and having some discussion, he did not want me to pay. So, I then bought a beer to show my support.

I opted for the stout this time. But sadly, the beer was almost completely flat... Maybe I did something wrong with transportation or something, but the beer did not have any carbonation.

But this did not stop me from enjoying it!

There was no real first smell as I opened it, and no hissing sound from the bottle. So, my hopes for carbonated beer went out of the window.

The first taste was incredible but with almost no carbonation; it really tastes like my homebrewed stout beer, which is awesome! The taste was bitter with cacao and coffee bean notes, including the extreme bitterness.

Even with everything wrong (carbonation wise), this beer was still enjoyable!

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Postscriptum, or Cheers!

Even with some beers not coming out as we want them to taste like, they are still incredible.

For now, I am taking things slowly as my stress levels are rising: the PhD defence date has been scheduled, and everything comes down to this month.

But I am sure everything will be fine (with enough beer).

For now, happy drinking and keep well.

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All of the musings and writings are my own, albeit inspired by some nice beers. The photographs are my own, taken with my Nikon D300.