Black Nitro - Belhaven Review
There are lots of beers to love from all over the world, Marzens from Germany, IPAs from America, Lagers from Austria, but a group of beers I constantly come back to are the stouts from the UK.
Obviously there is one well-known (and well-distributed) brand that sets the standard over there, but there are many others that have jumped up to meet it. One of those breweries is even older, a touch farther north, and celebrates the hills of Scotland.
Belhaven has been brewing Scottish beers since 1719, and it was named one of the “Icons of Beer” by the World Beer Awards in 2022. And with spring coming in, we’re getting our lips on a pint of Belhaven’s Black Scottish Stout Nitro.
Belhaven starts with 100% Scottish grown barley using Pale, Crystal, Chocolate and Roasted barley malt as their base and adds Challenger hops to finish it off.
We’re expecting something with roasted notes, chocolate garnish, and a definite UK flavor with that smooth nitro mouthfeel. Let’s see how it adds up in our first impressions.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Belhaven Black cracks open with that beautiful whizz of released nitrogen and the wave that follows is a feast for the eyes. When held up to the light, a bit of amber shines through, and this stout is topped with a tight and creamy beige head.
On the Nose--Roasted and light aroma with the slightest hint of coffee. Smells very much like a UK ale. Mouth watering and ready to drink—after the wave settles, of course.
On the Palate--Smooth as can be expected from a Nitro beer, Belhaven Black has a distinct smokiness that adds to the depth of roasted and chocolate malt and lingers through the dry finish. It tastes a lot like many lighter UK ales but with the truly distinct smokiness at the end. I get chocolate flavors less so, and coffee only at the first touch on the tongue.
Food Pairings: Belhaven suggests pairing their Black stout with beef or game stews, steak pies or casseroles, and they say it is a revelation with dark chocolate torte, and we are inclined to believe them.
Final Thoughts:
I can’t say it enough: Black Nitro is super smooth and fun to drink. It is sessionable without compromising on that depth of roasted malt flavor, and the depth of history and dedication to Scotland by this iconic brewer is one of my favorite parts of this beer. It does taste similar to many other UK ales, but with a truly unique and distinct smokiness that lingers pleasantly through the dry finish. So we would say it is classic but distinct. And while we have no doubt that it would pair excellently with a dark chocolate torte, we also believe its smoothness and smokiness would pair just as well with a fine cigar, if that’s your thing.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew