Bridge Road B2 Bomber 'Mach9'

The recognisable combination of complex dark malts, fruity Belgian yeast characters and big punchy hops remain, however Bridge Road Brewers have turned the dials up this year with the introduction of vanilla bean and lactose. Drawing on the 14 years of experience and experimentation, they've included an extra dimension to the Mach 9.0, using small amounts of vanilla and lactose to complement the huge richness of the B2. This year's iteration has also been beefed up and smoothed out with the addition of lactose and vanilla. The big, smooth malt profile and the use of new world hops provide the base for this 12% Belgian Dark Ale. Fruity yeast-derived esters and vanilla balance beautifully with the tropical fruit and resinous hop aromas. The mid-palate is big, chocolatey and smooth with hints of candied fruit. The alcohol warms the palate to finish with a pronounced bitterness. The beer will open up more as it warms in the glass and whilst bitterness and some other hop components will fade over time, this beer is excellent for cellaring.