Stout

[Bill Hayes]

It's winter in Melbourne where I live and that says one thing - Time for stout! My bottle shop which sells over 300 different types of beer at any given time has just had a shipment in from the USA. Lots of IPA's, porters and pale ales but also a fare few stouts. I'm tending towards the Russian Imperial Stouts at the moment. The favourites so far are Old Rasputin then Lagunitas. Any of our American friends or anyone else recommend a good stout? It'll save me from trying all the stouts in the shop - although I've already tried about 7 in the last two weeks.

[tmc123]

If you like stout then you might be a fan of porter, not many local brewieres make decent porter imo other than JS but by the sounds of it you got a nice selection at your local. Nothing beats a good hearty darkie to get you through winter when the scotch is out.

[marty922]

I'm a fan of Sail & Anchor's Jack Tar. 10% and 640ml bottles.

[Ken Gargett]

If you like stout then you might be a fan of porter, not many local brewieres make decent porter imo other than JS but by the sounds of it you got a nice selection at your local. Nothing beats a good hearty darkie to get you through winter when the scotch is out.

my understanding is that these days, the only difference between stout and porter, real or imagined, is that there is more roasted barley used in brewing stout than in porter, which may have none. but i really believe that it is almost more a situation of an interchangable name.

all that said, the best i have had in ages - indeed the best collection of craft beers i have seen in ages - is from the holgate brewery in macedon. get hold of the holgate temptress porter. has a touch of chocolate coming through. an absolute cracker. stunning stuff.

[Ken Gargett]

If you like stout then you might be a fan of porter, not many local brewieres make decent porter imo other than JS but by the sounds of it you got a nice selection at your local. Nothing beats a good hearty darkie to get you through winter when the scotch is out.

for anyone in brizzy, get across to tony harper at craft wine store. he has heaps of these things. amazing range of craft beers from all around the world, including the holgates.

[kiwicrusaders]

I can highly recommend the Green Flash Double Stout.

[Bill Hayes]

Thanks guys, I'll give a few of those a crack if I can find them. I have tried Holgate before Ken but only their Ales from memory and they were very good. Will have to keep an eye out for the porter and if they do an Imperial Stout as well. Cheers.

[Habana Mike]

If you can find, try Obsidian Stout from Deschutes Brewery, Mad River's Steelhead Extra, Bell's Kalamazoo, Firestone Walker Parabola or Alesmith Speedway - all excellent models of the style.

I'd send ya some of the Dry Imperial Stout I brewed for St Paddy's day this year but I keg not bottle....

[Bill Hayes]

If you can find, try Obsidian Stout from Deschutes Brewery, Mad River's Steelhead Extra, Bell's Kalamazoo, Firestone Walker Parabola or Alesmith Speedway - all excellent models of the style.

I'd send ya some of the Dry Imperial Stout I brewed for St Paddy's day this year but I keg not bottle....

Thanks, the Obsidian was one of the first stouts I tried from the latest shipment at my bottle shop. It was pretty good, although I think the Old Rasputin was still my favourite. But, of course, they've run out of stock. That only gives me the chance to try some more stouts...and that's gotta be good!

[Dave O)))]

I'm a fan of Sail & Anchor's Jack Tar. 10% and 640ml bottles.

I have heard this one is good. Will pick one up this weekend.

[Arnehaj]

Have Some diffrent from US brewings.

Hade this one last night

Yeti oak aged imperial stout.

The have more and i real like them!

[marty922]

Another to try, but not US, is Youngs Double Chocolate Stout.

[bassman]

Bell's Expedition Stout from Michigan is my favorite. Strong (10.5%), smooth, rich & malty.

[SpeedGeek]

Another to try, but not US, is Youngs Double Chocolate Stout.

Young's Double Choc. is a nice treat, along with the Blackwater series by Southern Tier (Choklat, Mokah, Creme Brulee). Might be a bit too sweet with a cigar though.

[Lanejsl]

I can highly recommend the Green Flash Double Stout.

I concur with this recommendation.

[Wil]

Have you tried Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout?

http://www.aclandcellars.com.au/beer/samuel-smith-imperial-stout-beer

[Bill Hayes]

I re-tried Samuel Smiths Imp Stout today. I love the Sam Smiths Oatmeal Stout but I reckon there are better Imperials. I might post a list of some of the stouts I try in a few weeks with my rating just to spark up some debate.

[Arnehaj]

Hi agen,

Flying Dog Gonzo is a great Imperial Stout.

[bassman]

Young's Double Choc. is a nice treat, along with the Blackwater series by Southern Tier (Choklat, Mokah, Creme Brulee). Might be a bit too sweet with a cigar though.

IMHO, that Southern Tier Choklat is way too sweet. Another excellent one is Founder's Breakfast Stout.

[Bill Hayes]

I quite like this Stout - Courage Russian Imperial. Quite strong but full of punchy toasty flavour. It may have knocked off Lagunitas for second place.

[westg]

Bill try Raging Bull from Margaret River. You can only order on line from Bootleg Brewery. A little pricey and $20 delivery. I first tried it at Jamie Oliver's here in Perth they had it on tap . So nice and 7.2% alcohol. I picked up two cartons yesterday because I don't live all that far from there Bootleg that is. So rich and creamy with the cold weather and cigars a great combination.

[Bill Hayes]

Thanks westg, I'll keep an eye out for it and add it to the 'to do' list. Yesterday I tried Black sheep Russian Imperial which was pretty nice and not quite as 'big' in flavour than some of the other Imperials that are 10% and more but really nice and refined and a little more chocolatey. I also re-visited Green Flash Russian Imperial since a few recommended it and I realised I underrated it last time. And Ken, I found the Holgate Temptress Porter and tried that one first. I don't usually go in for porters. They tend to be a touch sweet for me. For me they seem to be a bit of a compromise - halfway between an ale and a stout and seem to make me feel a touch unsatisfied or a tad sickly. But as Ken mentioned the Stout/Porter lines seem to be a bit blurred at the moment with so many craft beers etc. So, I really enjoyed the Holgate. It was more like a chocolate stout and a good start to an evening session watching AFL and our pathetic cricket team. Luckily, I feel asleep on the couch and missed most of the batting collapse. Will try and drink a few more stouts tonight if the missus allows it. I think two nights in a row of me sitting on the couch, taking over the TV and wearing a 'onesie' may be pushing it.

[ptrthgr8]

I'm only an occasional stout drinker, but this past spring I really enjoyed Empyrean's Fallen Angel. It's a seasonal (only available February-April) and it's called a sweet stout:

http://www.empyreanbrewingco.com/beers.html#seasonal

I really enjoyed it on tap the most (as I do with most beer), but even the couple of six packs (bottles) I picked up were really tasty. It didn't strike me a overly sweet (not sugary sweet like, say, an apple cider could be). The chocolaty notes were there, but I'd say more akin to milk chocolate as opposed to the dark chocolate I get from most stouts. It definitely had a different taste than other stouts I've tried and I'll certainly put it on my list for next season.

Cheers,

~ Greg ~

[kevinfj]

This

[Upnorth3]

I like the mill street irish whiskey cask stout A LOT. But it was limited edition and I don't know if you can still find it. If you do definitely give it a try.