Sixpoint Diesel Stout
Nice and hoppy, balanced malts to match, delicious. Recommended.
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
Poured into giant pint glass I stole from Applebees a few years ago. This is a classy blog for classy people. Bought at Jonathan Ron Liquors in Wall, NJ, where I used to work as a summer job in college. The prices are really cheap and they were kind enough to have hired me, so please support them if you’re in the area.
Scent is very, very coffee. Even through my nose, which is stuffy from the recent inclimate weather. Not just coffee like a mocha porter, but intense coffee. I swear it woke me up a little. Pavlov in action. Can’t smell the 9.26% ABV. Just coffee.
This is a GREAT, full-bodied stout. The alcohol is tremendously well hidden. When compared to a beer that’s 10.5%ABV like Old Rasputin or Ten Fidy, which does a great job of masking the alcohol, this is immensely more drinkable. This is a coffee stout. The chocolate that is usually powerful in these stouts is much more subtle. It’s roasted, a little vanilla, but this taste of fantastic coffee—not your burnt Starbucks crap. The chocolate and vanilla are minor, there’s also a bit of a fruitiness to it.
I really, really enjoyed this beer. Immensely drinkable, highly recommended. Think I could justify to my boss drinking it every morning instead of coffee?
This beer is classified on the label and on ratebeer.com as merely a stout. I’m not sure where one draws the distinction between a standard stout and an imperial stout. Can anyone enlighten me?
Flying Fish Route 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout
I’d heard it was mild but I withheld judgement until I finally had the chance to try it. It’s good, subtle. Pours like a standard stout, tastes like a standard stout. Very coffee, a bit of chocolate, there’s a funky finish to it. And then a second after you finish, there’s a bit of saltiness—there’s the oysters.
The oysters are placed in a grain bag and steeped with the wart for a few moments, just enough to give off the salty finish. It’s nothing over the top great, just a very solid beer with an interesting finish. Not too expensive, either. Recommended.
(photo via)
Bell’s Cherry Stout
If I wanted a lambic I’d have ordered a lambic. Not enjoyable at all. The only beer made by Bell’s I’ve been disappointed with.
Lost Coast Eight-Ball Stout
Drank in small juice glass due to lack of options, poured from bottle, little head.
Smells coffee, vanilla, caramel. Very smokey taste, vanilla aftertaste, there’s a bit of Coca-Cola in there. Sweet and malty, no hop character, very drinkable. The dominance given to vanilla is quite surprising—it’s right up there with the smokey coffee overtones that are expected. A good example of the style, yet the style is fairly unexciting. Very accessible, enjoyable, and a solid upgrade from Guinness.
