Horny Bull Stout (@hillstownbeer) By @SpectreUK

Although we try to keep track of where the products are from that we blog about, every now and then I find something that I have no idea where it came from. This Horny Bull Stout is one of those mystery products. I can only think that someone may have bought it me for a joke at some point. So for a bit of a titter I thought I'd write about it mid-week or 'hump' day, as some people like to put it. I know there are many people across the globe that are stuck indoors during a fairly sunny Spring with nothing much to do at the moment, so reading this blog may alleviate some of your frustration or add to it, depending on how full or empty your glass is at the time of reading!

This 7% volume Horny Bull Stout is from the Hillstown Brewery in County Antrim, in Northern Ireland. Hence why I think it might have been a present from someone on holiday there. This strong and full bodied Imperial Stout should yield flavours of coffee, chocolate, fruity hops and roasted malts. Apparently the brewery is situated on a farm and started brewing beer for a 'beer-fed' cattle project. I'm not sure what that says about their beer, but I'd wouldn't like to meet a drunk bull in the middle of a field!

On opening this almost jet black Horny Bull Stout it was like a big black bull at a gate. The aromas of coffee and roasted malts burst out of the bottle, followed by those fruity bitter hops and the smell of dark chocolate. On taste this Horny Bull Stout is smooth and yet crisp at the same time, with it's roasted malts giving initial dominance, sporting coffee and smooth dark chocolate. There is a bitter bite from the fruity hops following those luscious malts and then the coffee and dark chocolate return creamily smoothing out the bitter flavours into the aftertaste. Don't let the funny name put you off, this is a quality craft stout and no mistake. Drink it with caution, because I'm certain you'll want another and then another… and then…