Inspired by the return of the Great British Bake-Off, we thought we’d look back at our favourite pastry stouts and dessert beers of recent times. If you’ve got a sweet tooth and you like your stouts as sweet as they are strong, you can’t go wrong with the beers we’ve listed below.
Buxton Brewery x Omnipollo – Yellow Belly
Pictured in the featured image above. Yes, it looks like a KKK member. No, it’s not racist. The packaging of this beer has always been highly controversial but its intent is to poke fun, create a dialogue and to take a stand against racism; it’s called Yellow Belly, after all.
“Yellow belly” — a person who is without courage, fortitude, or nerve; a coward.
Sadly, Buxton have been forced to cease production due to legal issues over the name, however, it would be impossible to make this list without featuring this peanut butter biscuit stout brewed without biscuits, butter or nuts.
Amundsen Bryggeri – Zygoat
Amundsen Bryggeri make a number of amazing pastry stouts, with their Dessert in a Can series in particular, standing toe-to-toe with any of the beers on our list.
We’ve opted for Zygoat though, a Salted Caramel Choc Chip Cookie stout which invokes all of the flavours you’d imagine from that description. It’s incredibly more-ish and easy-drinking for a beer at 10.5%.
Omnipollo x Dugges Bryggeri – Anagram
Omnipollo’s second mention on this list is Anagram, their blueberry cheesecake stout, brewed in collaboration with Dugges. Another beautiful dessert beer, clocking in at a mere 12%.
In truth, Omnipollo are the kings of the pastry stout and we could’ve easily picked Aon (formerly Noa), Lorelei, Selassie or Hypnopompa (pictured beside Yellow Belly above) to be on this list.
Evil Twin Brewing – Imperial Doughnut Break
Evil Twin‘s Imperial Biscotti Break was brewed with coffee, almonds and vanilla. And it was awesome. But Evil Twin’s head-brewer, Jepper Jarnit-Bjergsø, likes to experiment. He stuffed several whole donuts into a keg of Imperial Biscotti Break and tapped it for a special event – it was incredibly well-received and thus, Imperial Doughnut Break came into existence.
Some beers are dry-hopped. This one was dry-doughnutted.
Lervig – Saskatoon Cheesecake Stout
Lervig are the fifth Nordic brewery on our list, alongside Omnipollo, Evil Twin, Dugges and Amundsen. It seems like the Scandinavians have nailed this style better than anyone else.
This is also the second blueberry cheesecake beer on the list, but it’s a glorious mash-up of chocolate, blueberry, vanilla and caramel loveliness. Another hard-hitter at 12% but you’d never know it.
While you’re here, check out our interview with Nanna Guldbæk, the lady responsible for the awesome artwork adorning the can.
What’s your favourite pastry stout or dessert beer? Let us know in the comments below!
