Guest Video Review by Jeff Lyons
I was just talking to a good friend, the one and only Red Rooster, the other day about Nepenthe Shire Stout from Candia Road Brewing Company in Manchester, New Hampshire. He had been to the brewery a few years ago, but the bottle of this beer I got recently was the first taste of it that I managed to have. As old New Englanders ourselves, we’re quite familiar with many of the long time brewers from that region. As to the newer, smaller brewers, however, Red mentioned that we can thank the Youtube reviews of Jeff Lyons for keeping us abreast.
That’s certainly true, and you can see an example of the above in Jeff’s guest video review of this beer. Candia Road is certainly a small New Hampshire brewer I would not have known about if not for Jeff. My bottle of The Shire Stout tells me that The Nepenthe Ale House is a subsidiary of Candia Road Brewing Company. I do love the old timey feel of the Nepenthe labels.
Candia Road says of their brewery on their website:
As owners of Candia Road Convenience in Manchester , NH, the brothers of the The Neel and Titone families were in a unique position to capitalize on the growing popularity of micro and crated brews as the 20th century drew to a close. The brothers were dubbed "drinking consultants" and that reputation grew throughout southern NH and much of northern New England.
My bomber bottle of The Shire Stout says this is an “American Dark Ale”. In my estimation, it’s a strong stout (7.3% alcohol by volume) but not an imperial stout. The beer is bottle conditioned, and the label advertises their beer as “post-modern takes on an ancient-tradition”.
Nepenthe Shire Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head formation and a big roasty nose loaded with licorice and toffee. Taking a sip, I get a full rich mouthfeel, some creamy dark roasty malts up front and definite caramel/toffee flavors a lot like a Toffifay Candy bar. There’s licorice and chocolate and creamy chocolate pudding and light roast and ever so subtle coffee here. But the beer does not seem at all its 7.3% alcohol content. The finish isn’t really all that hoppy to me, but it has that roasty bitterness perfect to balance it out.
I could drink this forever! I’m glad I found you, Candia Road, and I hope to do so again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler