Free from nuts… and cowardice.
In an age where additions are liberally used to bring interesting flavours into brews the idea of a stout that tastes of peanut butter and biscuits yet contains neither is intriguing to say the least. And if that isn’t interesting enough the backstory and the end story makes a for a cracking tale while propping up the bar.
We uncloak the infamous Yellow Belly Peanut Butter and Biscuit Imperial Stout to discover more.
From the rainbow came dark
This story starts with a rainbow. The International Rainbow Project challenge, created by UK based Siren Craft Brew in 2014, brought together 14 breweries from different countries to make 7 collaborative beers themed on the colours of the rainbow.
That first year, Buxton Brewery and Stockholm based Omnipollo were paired up with the colour yellow to base their collaborative brew on.
Their thoughts turned to the association yellow has with cowardice. They agreed that one of the most cowardly deeds is to act anonymously: to voice and act out your beliefs while hiding behind a group. A signifying trait of institutionalised racism.
And so Yellow Belly was born. A beer that was something that it was not. A Peanut Butter and Biscuit Imperial Stout made without peanuts and without biscuits. Its gutlessness reflected in its ingenious packing – again cloaked by anonymity.
And then there was light
This theme of being something its not had a nice twist. Because while Yellow Belly stout is dark – black – and its birth a nod to dark deeds, the thought behind the stout was to project lighter intentions.
“This beer, whilst attempting to make a commentary on the current political winds blowing through Europe, is above all, meant to be enjoyed as a celebration of all things new, open minded and progressive.” say Buxton Brewery. “Taste, enjoy and don’t be prejudiced.”
Ceased and Desisted
This brilliant stout become highly sought after, but after 4 years of successful production a trademark dispute with Batemans Brewery over the name ‘Yellow Belly’ plunged a dagger through the dark heart of the beer. In December 2018, Buxton Brewery and Omnipollo issued a press release stating that distribution of Yellow Belly would cease at the end of their current batch.
Which is a crying shame when Yellow Belly has peacefully coexisted over the years with similar named brews: Yellow Belly Beer, from Wexford in Ireland, and Sapsucker Farm’s Yellow Belly Cider in USA.
Yellow Belly Tasting at Dark Farm
We couldn’t resist investing in one of the final bottles of this epic brew to sample it for ourselves.
The verdict
At 11% this sweet and sultry stout is certainly a slow sipper. One to be savoured. Initial coffee and chocolate flavours are chased with a welcome peanut biscuit aftertaste.
It’s slim on its carbonation but full in body and surfs along the bitter/sweet see-saw, perfectly balanced in the middle with narry a toe too many in either direction.
The work of a true craftsperson!
Or as one so eloquently taster said: “OMG, this does actually taste of peanuts and biscuits!”
Our rating: 8/10 – What would increase the score? A creamy head.