Discount store Home Bargains stock a range of beers brewed exclusively for them under the 'Off Axis Brew Co' banner. They may be cheap, but they're certainly not nasty and although I haven't scored them particularly highly, they're decent budget beers.
This Off Axis winter stout is brewed with lactose and it's a dark mahogany colour with a small tan head that leaves a patchy layer when it settles. It has a lovely sweet stout smell of malt, treacle and toffee but I couldn't smell any spice.
The spice flavour is definitely there in the taste; I picked up hints of cinnamon and cloves along with notes of malt and treacle toffee. It also contains nutmeg, star anise and vanilla to give it a real winter spice taste. It's well carbonated and surprisingly fizzy with a medium body that feels a little thin for a stout.
It's a nice winter stout and it tastes like you would expect from its description on the can. Although Ale probably not Be Seeing You again, I would definitely recommend trying it if you see it in Home Bargains.
Brewed exclusively for TJ Morris (Home Bargains), UK
5% ABV
My rating:
