Black Iris Rise and Shine Review

I picked up my pint of Black Iris Rise and Shine in the Six Barrels, which is one of the top Nottingham Pubs. As Black Iris is a Nottingham based brewery I don't think I could have found a more appropriate place to drink it. They've just celebrated their 10th birthday with 4 10% beers but I've decided to go for the rather more manageable 5.2% Rise and Shine in this case. The beer is marketed as a coffee milk stout, so it really should go some way to waking me up. Rise and Shine pours only slightly off jet black with a nice creamy tan head that lasts seriously well.

Not surprisingly Rise and Shine has a coffee aroma, a little like a latte, so that's nicely on message. The beers body is thick and creamy, while the taste is predominantly coffee based, but not enough to really make it feel like you're getting a caffeine fix. I have to say as someone that doesn't drink coffee I don't really mind that the taste isn't too strong, but I think the real coffee fans amongst you might find it a little bland. That said though I really enjoyed my Black Iris Rise and Shine, and am more than happy to give it 8 out of 10.