I was genuinely unaware that the brewers of Red Stripe produced other kinds of beer. In fact, when I picked this up, I didn't even notice that it was the same brewery. There is no missive on the side of the bottle explaining what exactly a Dragon Stout is, or why this is called Fire. I suppose it is left up to the imagination of the person who is intending to buy it, or it's left to the purchaser of the product to determine what the secret meaning behind it is. Is it going to have cinnamon? Is it going to have chili peppers? Habaneros? I'm about to find out.
It pours like you would expect a stout, and it is black with red highlights. The tan head settles to a single island in the center with a strong ring around the sides. The aroma does not have any of the fire that I prepared myself for, but I often find that capsaicin lingers in the background during a sniff, and it comes out with force when you try to consume it. Once again, I feel like I'm in the dark with regard to what this beer is all about, and only a sip is going to tell me.First sip reveals almost no spiciness. I don't even taste any cinnamon. Nevertheless, it is a flavorful beverage with brown sugar, toffee, cocoa, vanilla, and a whole host of dark fruits. This is really complicated, and I know I usually say that a sip isn't enough to know anything about the beer, but this beer is already pretty good. But a gulp will tease this out, and I certainly hope it's at least as good in a gulp. I fear I may be wrong, and it wouldn't be the first time.
Tip-in is sweet brown sugar, molasses, toffee, and cherries with a kind of odd vanilla frosting. The middle brings more dark fruit like raisins and plums, but the center of the beer remains the same as minimal carbonation alights across the top of the mouth. The finish is more down to earth with the bread malt showing through with smoke and sweetness heading into the trail off.
Bottom Line: I don't know why have never heard of this stout before, but it's really good.
4.25/5