# 32: HEMEL & AARDE
Brouwerij de Molen - Holland (Est. 2004)
10.3% ABV - Dark (Imperial Stout)
IBU's - 96.9
IBU's - 96.9
Ingredients:
Malts: Munich, Cara, Brown, Chocolate, Roasted and Peated Malt from Bruichladdich Distillery
Hops: Premiant and Sladek
Tasting Notes
E: Thick black, tar like with a small beige head with nice tight bubbles.
N: On the nose there is a smoky, peaty aroma with a lovely hint of coffee and dark chocolate.
P: Smoked malty characteristics envelope early on followed by a sweet dried fruit flavour, towards the end hints of liquorice and dark chocolate take over.
M: Sweetness develops into smoky peaty flavours with a lingering dark chocolate bitterness and a subtle dryness.
Other comments: Hemel & Aarde or Heaven and Earth to give it its English name is brewed out of the De Molen brewery in the west of the Netherlands between Amsterdam and Rotterdam. De Molen meaning "The Mill" has a history dating back to 1697. The mill functioned as a grist mill, suffered a fire in the mid 1800's and was purchased by the town council in 1974. In 2004 the De Molen brewery was founded and so was a range of up to 40 fantastically creative and diverse beers. Hemel & Aarde uses peated malt from the Bruichladdich Distillery in this brew and this provides an intense smoky peaty flavour that lingers with intent.
Food Pairings: A beer that is bold in flavour needs a food that can stand up to it, so look no further than a big bold Stilton or Blue Cheese. Allow the earthy robust flavours of the cheese cut through that peaty sweet characters in the malts. Alternatively you can go with Oysters, where the deep roasted maltiness and creamy finish heightens bivalves, briny and salty flavours.
SCORE: 4.0/5
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