1. Tsingtao Stout
The topic of this article is Tsingtao Stout, a stout-style dark beer released by the brewery commonly known as Tsingtao or Qingdao. While the basic version of the beer is the most famous, recently various styles have been sold. Pure Draft, Weiss Beer, Stout, and other styles of beer are available.
The subject of today’s discussion, the Stout, can be identified as a dark beer simply by the look of the can, which has a black background. The top part has gold lettering saying “Dark And Intense Stout,” indicating it is a rich dark beer.
Below that, the Huilange Pagoda, a symbol of Tsingtao, is depicted along with the word “Tsingtao” in English and “Premium Stout Dark&Intense” written beneath it. “A Bold Velvety Stout Balance In Taste” is written with a background illustration of hops.
The alcohol content is about 4.8%, and looking at the ingredients list, it includes roasted malt and black malt, and even rice, which suggests an attempt to maintain Tsingtao’s characteristic dryness.
2. Stout Style
A type of dark beer, Stout is made with darkly roasted malt. It originated around the 1720s in and around London, England. It was originally called “porter” and referred to as “stout porter.” Eventually, “porter” was dropped, and it simply became known as stout.
The word “stout” originally meant “brave,” but from the 14th century on, it came to mean “strong.” It was used as an adjective to describe a strong style of porter, hence “stout porter.” Over time, “porter” fell away, and the name settled on “stout.”
3. Tasting Notes
As expected, the color is black (though a light black), and it has a rich, malty aroma similar to that found in Guinness stouts.
The carbonation is also quite present, but the texture of the foam is lighter compared to Guinness, which uses nitrogen to create its foam, making the texture of the two beers different.
A slight sweetness and acidity are felt, followed by the characteristic richness of a stout. It tastes somewhat like dark chocolate and roasted coffee. However, compared to Guinness, which is what comes to mind when thinking of dark beer, it felt lighter, leaving something to be desired.
4. Product Information
Product Name: Tsingtao Stout
Volume: 500ml
Type of Food: Beer
Alcohol: 4.8%
Origin: China
Ingredients: Purified water, barley malt, roasted malt, rice, wheat malt, black malt, hops (contains wheat)
Manufacturer: Tsingtao Brewery Co. LTD
5. Overall Review
Tsingtao Stout feels like an easy-to-drink style of dark beer. Guinness, a representative dark beer, has a unique charm that attracts people. However, for those who find such beers too intense, Tsingtao Stout might be a lighter and more suitable option.
The inclusion of rice seems to weaken the flavor than expected. The word “Intense” raised expectations, but it felt somewhat less intense than anticipated. Also, the significant presence of carbonation suggests it pairs well with Chinese cuisine.
If you’re looking for a dark beer to pair with Chinese food, Tsingtao Stout might be just right.