Lion Nathan’s Malt Shovel Brewery, best known for its James Squire range, is about to release its latest beer under the Mad Brewers label. The beer, described as an imperial-style stout, is made with liquorice and is named Noir Stout.

The brewery media release advises the beer takes its name from from the French word ‘noir’ meaning black and was chosen to indicate something both black and mysterious.

“And this mysterious complexity is what defines this special stout,” the release advises.

“Brewed with pale chocolate, dark crystal barley malts and roasted black wheat malt, the wort is combined with Australian Super Pride hops and New Zealand Super Alpha hops. After boiling the high gravity wort for an extended period, powdered liquorice root is added to the kettle before pumping to the whirlpool.

“Liquorice is the root of the plant Gycyrrhiza glabra, derived from the ancient Greek glukurrhiza, meaning ‘sweet root’. Used in various candies to impart a flavour similar to anise and fennel, it is being used increasingly in conventional and naturopathic medicine, for the treatment of viral infections and ulcers. In traditional Chinese medicine, liquorice is commonly used in herbal formulae to harmonize the ingredients and carry the formula to the regular meridians.

“Liquorice added to the kettle of a superb black stout adds a rich complexity to the satisfying hoppy finish. The Mad Brewers settled on liquorice as the unique ingredient to create that mysterious flavour enhancement. As one tastes Noir Stout, the various malts drive the black roasted barley/wheat flavours, but it is the liquorice that smooths out the rich finish.”

The imperial-style stout takes its name from beers originally brewed in England for export to the Baltic States and Russia and said to be popular with the Russian Imperial Court. Noir Stout weighs in at 7% ABV, putting it at the lowest end of the range for the style. Brewing above this level results in a very expensive beer as, while this style hardly lends itself to binge drinking, the Australian excise system penalises beers at higher alcohol strength. Beers of this strength see in excess of $17 per carton taken in excise.

This limited-edition brew will be only available on tap at the James Squire Brew Bars in Sydney (King St Wharf), Melbourne (Russell St & Docklands), Perth (Murray St) & Hobart (Salamanca Square) and at a few quality craft beer hotels nationally from week starting August 23rd 2010.

Food Matching Suggestions: the rich warming flavours will match up nicely with a range of foods including, strongly flavoured meat dishes (eg. smoked venison), and similarly smoked cheese, and for a dessert delight try the Noir with a rich dark chocolate pudding.

www.malt-shovel.com.au

Noir Stout availability (From 25 August):

ACT

National University, Canberra Edgars Inn, Ainslie Phoenix, Canberra All Bar Nun, O’Connor

NSW

James Squire Brewhouse, King Street Wharf Marlborough Hotel, Newtown Northern Star Hotel, Hamilton Carrington Hotel, Katoomba Local Tap House, Darlinghurst Sydney Uniniversity, Hermans Bar Arc@UNSW, Roundhouse Souths Leagues Club, Merewether The Beach Club, Collaroy

QLD

Norman Hotel, Buranda Grand Central Hotel, Ann St City Belvedere Hotel, Woody Point Full Moon Hotel, Shorncliffe Archive Beer Boutique & Bistro, West End Spotted Cow , Toowoomba

SA

Wheatsheaf , Thebarton The Edinburgh, Mitcham Holdfast Hotel, Glenelg The Lion Hotel, North Adelaide The Elephant, Adelaide The Hwy, Plympton Colonist Tavern, Norwood The Wellington, North Adelaide

TAS

New Sydney Hotel, Hobart Squires Bounty, Hobart Cock N Bull, Launceston Molly Malones, Devonport

VIC

The Portland Hotel, Melbourne James Squire Brewhouse and Restaurant, Docklands Young and Jacksons, Melbourne Imperial on Bourke, Melbourne Local taphouse, St Kilda Rifle brigade, Bendigo Cargo Lounge, Traralgon Steampacket, Williamstown

WA

The Malt Market, Dunsborough The Norfolk, Fremantle The Grosvenor, East Perth The Generous Squire, Perth