Stouts are one of craft brewing’s biggest mysteries. For those who don’t frequent the aisles of specialty shops, stouts often become synonymous with Guinness. But beyond the macro-brewed, oily-black goodness of a Guinness Draught, there’s a whole new world of stouts waiting to test your palate. Ranging from the super-roasty to the chocolaty and rich, stouts run an amazing gamut. For this week’s brew review I sampled some readily available stouts that stretch this beer’s boundaries.
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Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
Wells and Young Ltd. – Bedford, UK
5.2% ABV
From the sweet/milk stout category, I picked Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, which is available at most specialty stores in either 550 ml bottles or tall-nitro cans.
Those who like stouts for their residual sweetness and smooth drinking will love Young’s offering. A deep dark brew capped with a mocha colored head, this beer wafts chocolate on top of chocolate on top of roasted barley: not surprising given the beer’s name. The drinking follows suit with strong chocolate notes backed up by a real English ale quality. The roasted barley seeps through with hints of fruitiness, probably a result of an English-style yeast. Drinkability with this stout is not a problem as it is as smooth as it is chocolaty.
Results: A-
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Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery – North Yorkshire, UK
5.0% ABV
Known for their unbelievable smoothness imparted by the use of oats in the brewing process, oatmeal stouts are common place at many-a-brew pub. And while Samuel Smith’s brew comes from England, it’s a fitting introduction to the style and available at most specialty stores.
A handsome dark brew with a light tan head, Sammy Smith’s brew offers oatmeal and malt to the nose and a smooth and fulfilling blend of oatmeal, malt and chocolate to the taste buds. This beer got better with time: a definite session ale. And while oats and malt may take center-stage, hints of coffee and chocolate make themselves known as the brew warms and settles. This is the type of brew you take a swig of and it feels so good you don’t want to swallow.
Results: A-
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Cadillac Mountain Stout
Bar Harbor Brewing Company – Bar Harbor, ME
6.7% ABV
Born out of the American stout tradition, Cadillac Mountain stout is a drier, more sharply flavored rendition of the black frothy goodness. Pouring an almost perfect black and topped with a tan cap of head, this beer smells like a stout. Roasted grains, chocolate and vanilla all foreshadow the complex and well-balanced flavor to come. To the mouth, the Caddy offers a veritable buffet of flavors. But, like any blue hair will tell you, the key to buffets is balance. Too much mashed potato and you won’t savor the prime rib; too many cokes and you won’t have room for soft-serve with jimmies. This beer’s got the right balance and won’t spoil your appetite. Blending the soft richness of chocolate, vanilla and caramel, this brew brings a malt-hop bitterness that counterbalances any attempts at making this a sweet stout. The finish is dry and terse, which beckons more drinking, but at 6.7%, this isn’t a beer to be taken lightly.
Results: A+
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