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The Sip #69 Little Creatures Return of the Dread

Long-time beer drinker and The Sip editor Ross Lewis puts some of Australia's top drops to the test.

Catch up with other beers on The Sip Archive

Dread is back from the dead.

It took some deep reflection over winter nights at the Little Creatures brewery for the operation to return an old favourite to the beer stable.

The Dreadnought hasn’t been on the Little Creatures list for a few years.

But it has returned as the brewery steps into the realm of season releases.

So since the nights are getting darker earlier it was appropriate for head brewer Russell Gosling to consider a drop that also reflected the time of year.

Return of the Dread will be available on tap and in packages for the next three months. It is a Domestic Extra Stout that will tickle taste buds and warm bellies.

Seeing it in a glass gladdens the heart. There is nothing better before for the first sip of a dark brew to see that tan foam protecting the black liquid. After all, this has six speciality roasted malts underpinning the drink.

With Return of the Dread the consumer also has the nostrils soothed by the plum, chocolate biscuit and vanilla aroma.

The coffee and ash element in the taste coupled with the flavour generated by the Fuggles hops gives the drinker a sense of sitting back in a comfortable chair, adorned in smoker’s jacket enjoying a late night favourite.

This is smooth but at 70 IBU this has a bitter finish – as expected.

Gosling admitted there had been considerable internal pressure to bring Return of the Dread back to life.

“This is a much-loved style amongst Little Creatures and as each winter passed since the release of that original single batch the brewers would indulge in some collective (somewhat tearful) reminiscing,” Gosling said

“This year, we said enough is enough; it’s time of Return of the Dread.”

Little Creatures intend to make seasonal beers a regular feature of their production and will release a summer edition later in the year.

The Sip Snip
Return of the Dread
Brewer: Little Creatures
Style: Export Stout
Alcohol content: 7.2%
Standard drinks: 1.9
Bitterness: 70IBU
Bottles: 330ml bottle
Estimated calories: 216 per litre
The Sip Tip (rating): Straight to the pool room.

Average price: $18 per four pack.