One of the greatest breakfast cereals of all time - or at least one of the most iconic - should be a dream combination for brewing with, and in Sling It Out, Seven Brothers have really nailed it.
Taking advantage of a partnership with Kellog's, Sling It Out is made upcycled Coco-Pops to create a chocolate stout that is as nostalgic as it is delicious.
I'm not quite sure how you can upcycle a Coco-Pop, but if it means they can provide brews like this one then i'm more than happy to stay in the dark about it.
Despite expectations, it's not actually that chocolatey at first. The nose is very much a rich, malty scent and same with the pour, which is a thick texture that creates a light, frothy head.
Whilst chocolate is there if you really try hard, it's more in the taste where the Coco-Poppy goodness appears. Initially, you get a very good stout with the rich, roasty flavour; but as the taste develops there's the unmistakable sugary sweetness of the chocolate.
All this makes for a good, innovative brew; but what REALLY sets this one apart is the aftertaste. It's exactly the sensation you have after you've eaten too many bowls of Coco-Pops. That kind-of-dry, kind-of-sticky sweetness that you get in your mouth after it's been coated with too much chocolate. It's a real nostalgia trip, especially if you drink it in your pyjamas.
It's an interesting design, that's for sure. The main colour is the immediately obvious yellow, synonymous with the box of Coco-Pops, but sitting on the front is a big red 7, which is being caressed by waves of what I assume to be chocolatey milk.
That, with the flecks of brown to imitate Coco-Pops and the white band around the can with the name of the beer, make it a very eye-catching and unusual can design. If it were square, you could be forgiven for thinking it was a knock-off brand of Coco-Pops.
You have to go to Seven Brothers themselves to get this one, but it's a steal at just £3.50 for a 440ml can. Even better value if you buy more than one, with a pack of 24 coming in at just £2.98 each.
