Thwaites Very Nutty Black

Thwaites’ Nutty Black began life as Thwaites’ Dark Mild and a simple name change breathed life into this little beauty – Thwaites enjoyed a 90% increase in sales, as a result.

This caused a little sadness within some of the CAMRA circles, because of the name change, but that which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. I understand that maintaining tradition is important to most people, but surely ensuring the survival of an ale ranks first, and any re-branding that can take real ale through these troubled times where thirty-nine pubs close, every week, is surely a good thing?

Thwaites’ Nutty Black weighs in at 3.3% abv, but I am reviewing its bigger hitting brother, Thwaites’ Very Nutty Black, Export Strength which is 3.9% abv. Bottle conditioned, and currently a bargain at £1.49 at Morrisons. Although now there are none left in the Loughborough store. Sorry.

So what’s the beer like?

Well, I love it, which is why I bought all of Morrison’s stock. It’s as dark as you’d imagine a beer that is a reborn mild would be. Some have described the Nutty Black as a pleasant, butbland mild, but the extra strength in the Very Nutty Black gives it a little more bite. Still, it is not the heaviest or most flavoursome ale that you will drink, but that is a strength, in my book, as it puts this beer in to the “session ale” category.

You can drink loads of it!

There are certain beers that were placed on this earth to lead a man on the righteous path to real ale, and this is one of them. I was a lager drinker for years, until a knowledgeable gentleman showed me the way. Harvest Pale he used to entice me from the fizzy side, and I never went back. Still, there is a lot more to beer life than pale ales, and this is one of those “bridging beers” that can take a non-believer to the magical world of stouts, porters and winter warmers.

Thanks to Mark Jackman for the reivew! You can read more by Mark at his blog. If you would like to get involved and write a review please email realale@real-ale-reviews.com or message us on Twitter at twitter.com/realalereviews