Name: Lakatan Langka Stout
Brewer: The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. (Philippines)
Style: Fruit Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 10%
Review Year: 2020
Tony Sindayen of the Antipolo-based The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. unveiled a very limited batch of the Lakatan Langka Stout, which as the name suggests, is an Imperial Stout (10% ABV) brewed with lakatan bananas, jackfruit (langka), and coconut.
This is the second Imperial Stout that features bananas we have tried this year. The first being Banana Drip from New York’s Finback Brewery release earlier this year.
Read More: Finback Brewery “Banana Drip” Imperial Stout
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Fruit Beer (29A) with the Imperial Stout (20C) as the base style in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
The Lakatan Langka Stout pours an opaque ruby brown beer with a thin espresso-like head. This Fruited Imperial Stout offers a very diverse aroma profile of partially-ripe bananas and jackfruit, with the latter becoming more evident as the beer warms. Luscious chocolates and faint notes of coconut syrup complemented the primary aromas.
This Imperial Stout stays true to style with its full body, smooth and velvety mouthfeel, and moderately-low carbonation. All the declared ingredients blend harmoniously: partially-ripe bananas, jackfruit, and some coconut (noted as something akin to nata de coco). Binding all these together is that dark roasty malt backbone. A moderately-low sweet impression is present but blends well with both the fruit and malt characters mentioned. This beer leaves the palate puckering and sticky just like eating lakatan bananas. Finally, flavors of chocolate, coffee, banana, and coconut juice provide this Imperial Stout with a very memorable close.
THE VERDICT
The Lakatan Langka Stout by The Marc’s & Tony Brewing Co. is another instant classic from the Antipolo-based brewery. First, the combination and ripeness of the fruits all blended effortlessly to create a very satisfying Fruited Imperial Stout. However, if you are not a fan of banana, jackfruit, and/or coconut, then this is not for you. Second, we think the roasty malt character is spot on. Third, the sweetness, which was likely accentuated by the fruit additions, felt natural and appropriate. Finally, for a beer that has 10% ABV, we think this was very enjoyable and drinkable.
We do hope Tony makes more of this consistently. The Lakatan Langka Stout is something we did not know we needed until it existed.
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