Dark Purpose is a first from Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) in that this is a beer brewed around an artwork. RHBC are well known for their arty labels that wrap their cans of beer but this is the first time a beer has been brewed in honour of a label.
Niall Cook, the Master Brewer at RHBC says, “We collaborated with Nathan Sanan from East London who is famous for his graffiti art.”
The focal point of the label is a Spotted Eagle Owl descending on a dark night with its talons out and eyes clearly focused on some unseen prey.
An inscription on the labeling quotes Nathan: “A reminder that the ominous could be around the corner. Efficiently apply your energy for positive outcomes. Rise, improve, repeat.”
What makes Dark Purpose so tasty?
The darkness of the labeling and the menace of the owl is matched by the deep, dark colour of the brew and the mysterious complexity of its flavor.
Niall says, “We purposefully created a milk stout dark ale to compliment the label using Chocolate Malt. We also added Cocao Nibs for color and flavor, lactose for body and sweetness and Madagascar Vanilla Pods for aroma and flavor. The result is desert beer with plenty of character.”
On tap Dark Purpose is poured through a nitro tap which makes the beer creamy and elevates the experience of the malt.
This is another of RHBC’s brews with the unusual instruction to “Shake Like Hell, Pour Fast and Pour at Height”. This is because the cans have also been given a nitro feel. By shaking the can it knocks the CO2 and nitro bubbles out of suspension and gives the same creamy feel as the nitro tap.
In my experience this is good advice as the brew is flat if not shaken.
This brew is simply delicious and needs your undivided attention when taking a snifter. It has relatively high alcohol content of 6.7% ABV which the nitro can accentuate! Find a dark spot on your veranda at the end of a busy day and take a deep draught. Nathan’s “Rise, improve, repeat” make so much sense.
Order your Dark Pupose Stout online here or visit their tap room off Alabaster Street, Baakens Valley, Gqeberha.
