Menno Olivier Series 3 - Hazelnut Imperial Stout

Menno Olivier already had a fairly legendary reputation in European craft beer long before launching beer under his own name. As the founder and brewer behind De Molen in the Netherlands, he helped shape a huge chunk of modern European stout and barleywine culture before eventually heading south to Catalonia and starting again in Spain.

The current Menno Olivier project feels like a continuation of that same philosophy. Big beers, lots of flavour, absolutely no interest in subtlety for its own sake. Imperial stouts, barleywines and heavily barrel-aged releases dominate the range, often pushing comfortably into double-digit ABV territory without collapsing into complete chaos.

What makes the beers work is balance underneath all the intensity. Even the richest stouts usually carry enough bitterness, roast and structure to stop things becoming syrupy. You get dark chocolate, espresso, molasses, dried fruit, bourbon, spice and occasionally flavours that feel suspiciously close to dessert menus, but there’s proper brewing precision underneath it all.

The move to Catalonia also suits the project strangely well. Spain’s craft beer scene has become increasingly adventurous over the last decade, and the warmer climate somehow feels appropriate for beers that lean heavily into richness and barrel influence. There’s also a collaborative spirit running through the brewery, with plenty of releases involving other European brewers and experimental cask ageing.

Importantly, these are unapologetically “sit down and pay attention” beers. Not really built for mowing the lawn or session drinking. More the sort of thing opened slowly with friends while somebody inevitably says “just a small pour” before immediately asking for another.