Thornbridge - Little by Little

The brewery began life in the eponymous Thornbridge Hall in the Derbyshire Peak District and predates (2005) the so-called craft beer explosion, so likes to call itself the original craft beer brewer. Little by Little is a milk stout. Being a stout means it's all about the grains rather than the hops: just the one hop variety (Magnum) whilst there's five types of grain - Maris Otter, Munich, Black, Wheat and Crystal. The beer is sweetened with milk sugar, so it's not a vegan option. It pours a rich dark espresso brown topped with a thick caramel coloured head. The aroma is lightly coffeeish and the taste is similarly of coffee but not overpowering the roasted malts. A creamy mouthfeel and a dry finish make this an excellent stout.

4/5