Hercule Stout – ABV 8.4%

Originally billed as the ‘only self-proclaimed Belgian stout’, this beer is dry yet malty-sweet thanks to its fermentation for ten days in German oak casks.

Look: Deep brown colour with a caramel-beige head. 

Aroma: Cocoa and red fruit with some malt and bread; a clear toffee and caramel bass punctuated with spicy, fresh pine.

Taste: Rich, creamy caramel and some alcohol warmth with a hint of spicy sweetness in the finish  the yeast and fermentation in oak barrels.

Verdict: Detective Poirrot himself would be proud – this is a world classic.