NESTA is the first Polish-brewed stout I have tried and I am very impressed.
It pours a velvet black colour with a tiny head that I had to encourage during the pour. There is a lot of sediment left in the can but none of it came out in the pour. I note from Trzech Kumpli's website that this beer should be poured with a complete inversion of the can to create a creamy head, rather than gently down the side of the glass like I did.
I was immediately hit with the delicious aroma of chocolate, malt and treacle. It's a lovely stouty smell but I didn't really get any hint of fruit, despite it claiming to be a (Tropical) Foreign Extra Stout.
The taste is very impressive; it's deliciously roasty and malty, just what you would expect in a stout. Notes of chocolate, malt and coffee combine to create a delicious roasted and slightly sweet flavour, with a lingering sweet treacle aftertaste. I love the balance leaning slightly towards sweet rather than bitter.
It is lightly carbonated with nitrogen rather than the more usual carbon dioxide which, together with its full body, creates a silky smooth mouthfeel.
I really liked NESTA and I was just a little disappointed that I didn't detect any fruitiness but I absolutely loved the sweetness of the chocolate, malt and treacle flavours. It's an absolute pleasure to drink and Ale Be Seeing You again!
6% ABV
My rating:
