Could we see black become the new amber? Guinness recently launched an initiative encouraging consumers to rate the best pint of the black stuff around town, while a pair of hefty local stouts has been rolled out in limited-releases.

Guinness master brewer and global brand ambassador Fergal Murray was in Sydney to unveil The Black List (www.blacklist.com.au), an interactive website which allows punters to rate the quality of both the stout and the venues they frequent. There’s even an iPhone application so they can send instant feedback.

“It’s quite risky because it’s the first time it’s been done at this level,” says Murray. “And if there are negative comments then we’ve got to check the problem.”

Despite being the undisputed world market leader in the stout category, Guinness hopes the new “viral” campaign will further cement consumers’ relationship with the legendary Irish brew.

“Being Irish doesn’t really work in Uganda or Kenya [where Murray was headed next], but consumers enjoy Guinness for the same reasons everywhere. Guinness gets the conversation going and there’s a reference point about how good the pint was you had last night or last week.”

A new branded pint glass will be available in the top 150 Guinness outlets around the country, featuring a raised harp design which, conveniently, provides a neat resting space for the drinker’s thumb. “It’s been ergonomically designed,” Murray says in that Irish way which may or may not be a gentle joke.

The Mad Brewers brand is an offshoot of the Malt Shovel Brewery which lately has been employing various fruit and spice themes to seasonal brews. Noir Stout continues the theme with licorice root featuring in this full-blooded dry stout. Unlike previous Mad Brewers releases, Noir Stout is only available on tap.

Owner/brewer John Stallwood launched Nail Brewery 10 years ago in Perth and it’s been quite a convoluted journey over the decade. He suffered a serious head injury from an unprovoked assault in 2004 which forced him to close the brewery and sell off the equipment.

Thankfully, he fully recovered and was soon producing his Nail Ale and Nail Stout using “borrowed” microbreweries. Over the years, Nail Stout has won gold medals at all three Australian beer competitions – the Australian International Beer Awards, the Sydney Royal Beer Show and the Royal Perth Beer Show.

Stallwood is currently using the Edith Cowen University’s training microbrewery to produce his beers. Nail Clout Stout is a Russian Imperial version, specially brewed in March this year to celebrate the 10-year milestone.

True to style, Clout Stout has been bottle-aged for five months and pours with a thick tarry texture and minimal carbonation. The sleekly-packaged, heavyweight 750ml bottles sell for $60 each and come in an attractive wooden box. It’s expensive, for sure, but still pretty good value compared to something like the $90 Crown Ambassador Reserve.  

TASTING NOTES

MAD BREWERS NOIR STOUT (7%)

Pitch-black; dark beige head. Aroma: coffee, allspice and burnt toffee notes. Palate: chewy, dark malt-laden flavours upfront; smooth roasted malt and espresso hints mid-palate; rounds out with restrained hop bitterness and pleasantly tingling licorice and sarsaparilla notes. Overall: easy to drink despite the considerable strength, with intriguing spicy edge. Available on tap at selected outlets including James Squire Brewhouse, King Street Wharf.

NAIL CLOUT STOUT (10.6%)

Black, thick and tarry; pours with minimal head. Aroma: hints of espresso coffee, dark rum, burnt molasses and raisins. Palate: dense burnt molasses notes initially, then overwhelmed by sweet dark toffee heart, syrupy texture with hints of dried muscatels and figs, interwoven in the multilayered finish; lingering aftertaste of rum-soaked Christmas pudding and warming alcohol. Overall: deliciously dusky and decadent. Available: Platinum Liquor Bellevue Hill and North Strathfield; rrp: $60/750ml bottle.