Beer in the Time of Covid 19

Beer in the Time of Covid19

I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't begin this post without mentioning the elephant in the room: the rapidly spreading virus now known as Covid19. The Novel Corona Virus has been rebranded as Covid19. Corona Beer issued a cease and desist order to the world regarding the unregulated use of their trademarked name. I guess they were afraid people might confuse their beer with a deadly virus.  It was either that or change their name:

 

I have found that beer can play an important role in maintaining diligence during this pandemic. For example, I think you will find that a fine New England Style IPA will pair well with Hydroxychloroquine. The citrusy hoppy flavor creates a fine sort of counter-melody, if you will, to the somewhat bitter bass notes of this life-saving pill.

Now when it comes to Lysol, there are a couple of approaches, though both call for a good strong ale. I would suggest Arrogant Bastard from Stone, however an Imperial Stout could be substituted. I hate to waste an entire pint of these fine beers, so my preferred method is the old "shot-and-a-beer" approach. A quick shot of Lysol followed by a pint of The Bastard. I'd rather do this than create a "Lysol cocktail" and ruin the beer. The same can be said for bleach.

Or you could just get a can of Lysol Pilsner if
you prefer.

As a bonus, I've been able to line the walls of my house with empty beer cans thus effectively blocking the 5G signal that Bill Gates and Big Pharma, as well as the Deep State (and maybe China as well) have attached the virus to.

I've found that judicious placement of the cans can create an infinite variety of patterns and designs.

DISCLAIMER: The preceding is what we in the business call "satire" or perhaps actual "sarcasm" for the sole purpose of what we in the business call "humor" or "entertainment purposes only." Please do not actually ingest bleach, Lysol or Hydroxychloroquine not prescribed by an actual doctor. Thank you.

BELGIANS

Before the world stood still, we at BOTB were able to squeeze in a Beer Club meeting. We decided to take a look at Belgian beers. Interestingly, there really is no single Belgian Beer style. Belgians have never been restricted by some pesky Reinheitsgebot purity law restricting what can go into a beer in order for it to be called "beer." That Bavarian law adapted in 1516 limited ingredients used in beer to water, barley and hops. Yeast was added later as it was an unknown, naturally occurring ingredient. 

The Belgians did not adapt this law and subsequently became famous for introducing various spices, herbs and fruits into the brewing process. In that respect the Belgian brewing tradition could be said to be the template for the American craft beer revolution in that we are seeing here a kind of anything-goes approach to beer with brews that range from traditional to wildly experimental.  I have linked a really thorough article HERE that does a terrific job of explaining the Belgian beer tradition and what a Belgian style beer is and isn't. It's definitely worth the read. Thanks for the heads-up Herb.

We sampled 8 Belgian-style ales - 5 from US craft brewers and 3 produced in Belgium. Since our "mission" if you will (and I really hate that word) is in large part the promotion of craft beer in the US, our sampling skewed toward American craft brewers, but the three ales we choose from Belgium are iconic and we wondered how the American ales would stand up to these terrific brews. One of the beers is from a small, local brewery - Talking Cursive Brewing - and illustrates the out-of-the-box thinking that can define the Belgian brewing tradition.

And no, we did not include Blue Moon or Shock Top.

HOPPY TABLE BEER

ALLAGASH BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, ME, STYLE: Dry-hopped Belgian Style Ale; ABV: 4.8%; MALT: 2-Row Blend, Maris Otter, Maine-Grown Oats; HOPS: Chinook, Cascade, Comet, Aztecca; YEAST: House; SPICES: Coriander

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "While Hoppy Table Beer was inspired by the Belgian tradition of low-ABV, easily drinkable beers, it still occupies a hop-forward spot all its own. Brewed with our 2-row malt blend, Maris Otter malt and oats, the beer is then spiced with a subtle addition of coriander. We ferment it with our house yeast for classic Belgian citrus aromas. Hoppy Table Beer is hopped with Chinook, Cascade, Comet, and Azacca hops, then dry hopped with more Comet and Azacca. A mildly hoppy aroma full of grapefruit springs from this straw-colored, light-bodied ale. Flavors of pine and stone fruit balance the beer's clean, slightly bitter finish."

COLOR: Cloudy straw

POUR: Guinness Class head with long lasting white lacing, well carbonated

AROMA: Clean linen

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Grapefruit, lemon, pepper, coriander with a hoppy, bitter bite at the end

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This!

COMMENTS: "Well carbonated, that's for sure; Pleasant; Tasty; Kind of a Pilsner-y taste there; Coriander is there, but subtle so it doesn't overpower; Yeah, it plays well with the other flavors; I like the bitter hoppiness that shows up at the end; Very drinkable beer."

WITBIER

HOEGAARDEN

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Hoegaarden Brewing, Hoegaarden, Belgium; STYLE: Belgian Witbier; ABV: 4.9%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "The original Belgian Wheat Beer. Almost 600 years ago in the
Belgian village of Hoegaarden, a band of monks experimented by adding oddball botanicals from halfway around the world to their traditional wheat beer. Our recipe, inspired by their creation, is a beer with a refreshing flavor and captivating aroma, unlike any in the world. Let the refreshing citrus and earthy coriander alleviate the stresses of modern living and whisk you to another place entirely. You might call it divine inspiration...we call it Hoegaarden."

COLOR: wheat

POUR: Near Guinness class head, white with plenty of lacing

AROMA: Spicy, coriander, yeast-y

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Coriander, orange peel with a nice spiciness, maybe a hint of lemon

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I could drink it

COMMENTS: "Nothing over-the-top; On a nice hot day, a good lawn-mowing beer; Clean and refreshing; I wouldn't run out and buy it, but it's not a bad change up from my usual fare; Good amount of carbonation."

DUBBEL KUBAL

TALKING CURSIVE

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Talking Cursive Brewing, Syracuse, NY; STYLE: Belgian Dubbel; ABV: 7%; IBUs: 22; HOPS: Challenger, Santiam, Mt. Hood, Amarillo; MALT: Pilsner, Munich 8, White Wheat, Abbey, Aromatic, Special B, Chocolate.

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Among the things that excited us about our location was the Cafe Kubal next door. We love the vibe, the coffee, and the people. Plus, a collaboration was kind of a no-brainer, right? Cafe Kubal's Midnight Oil Roast has wonderful notes of sweet roasted chestnuts, dates, figs, and thyme that mingle beautifully with the traditional dark fruit and malt flavors of our Belgian Dubbel."

COLOR: Mahogany

POUR: Slight head with a little lacing

AROMA: Sweet, caramel, coffee

BODY: Bit beyond Medium

TASTE: Coffee, toffee, caramel, dark fruit, fig

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This

COMMENTS: "Fletcher's Castoria; Caramelly, toffee sweet; Pretty color; I like it - against my better judgement; Got a nice coffee taste there with maybe a bit of cocoa?; It's got some hops to it, though the malty, coffee comes through the most; It does kind of blend a number of tastes together nicely, really."

RAGING BITCH

FLYING DOG BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Flying Dog Brewery; STYLE: Belgian IPA; ABV: 8.3%; IBUs: 60; HOPS: Warrior, Columbus, Amarillo; MALTS: Caramel; YEAST: Belgian (El Diablo)

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Two inflammatory words...one wild drink/ Nectar imprisoned in a bottle. An anything-but-delicate blend of sharp hoppiness and fruity aroma, this beer is a life-changing backyard knife-fight for your palate. Once you've had a Raging Bitch everything else pales in comparison. Fermented with a volcano-like Belgian yeast strain called 'El Diablo,' Raging Bitch earned its polarizing name from the aggressively active nature of the yeast - unleashed, untamed, unbridled...and in heat."

COLOR: Amber

POUR: Moderate head

AROMA: Floral, malty, bit of clove

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Malt, caramel, banana, clove, pine

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!

COMMENTS: "This is good!; I like it, my favorite so far; Belgian IPA - you know what? It works; Perfect intercourse between hops and wheat; Haven't had this in a while - got to get back to it; Pleasantly hoppy - full flavor; That combination of big hop flavor with the classic Belgian yeast is really a great marriage."

CINQ CENTS

CHIMAY

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Chimay Brewery, Scourmont Abbey in Chimay, Hainaut, Belgium; ABV: 8%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "The Chimay Cinq Cents, with its golden hue, offers a rare balance of mellowness and bitterness. It is a subtle combination of fresh hops and yeast. Chimay Cinq Cents is an authentic Trappist beer. That means that it is brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery under the supervision and responsibility of the monastic community, which is involved in the entire process of making and selling the ale.  The bulk of the revenue that this activity generates is used to finance social services and cover the community's needs."

COLOR: Buckwheat honey

POUR: Near Guinness class

AROMA: Grassy, hay, floral

BODY: Medium

TASTE: A little sour to open, then horehound, molasses, toffee

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!

COMMENTS: "Fills the mouth!; I know horehound, and this ain't it ... hey, wait, I got some there at the end. Okay, never mind; Really complex beer; Puts a smile on my face; Got that typical banana taste when you think of Belgian, but subtle; Little bit of pine, some citrus; Really nice beer."

ST BERNARDUS TRIPEL

ABBEY ALE

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: St. Bernardus, Watou, Belgium; STYLE: Tripel / Top Fermentation; ABV: 8%; IBUs: 25

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "ST. Bernardus Tripel is a traditional abbey beer that follows the classic tripel style. In the Watou region a tripel is often referred to as a 'Bernadetje'. A fine tribute that pays homage to Bernadette, the youngest daughter of Evariste Deconinck, the man to whom the monks of Abbaye Sainte Marie du Mont des Caats sold their Belgian property in 1934."

COLOR: Cloudy Blond

POUR: Near Guinness class lively, grainy head

AROMA: Spicy, banana, floral

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Clove, coriander, spicy, orange peel, banana, malt

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough!

COMMENTS: "I like this a touch better than the Chimay; I like the Cinq Cents a little bit better, myself; These Belgians are okay - who knew? Well carbonated; It's another really full flavor, complex beer; Yeah, you get that interesting mix of clove, malt, citrus, banana, bread, caramel - not to mention the Belgian yeast taste and a bit of alcohol."

UNHOLY

COPPERTAIL BREWING CO.

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa, FL; STYLE: Trippel; ABV: 9.2%; HOPS: American West Coast Hops

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Blasphemy in a glass. Unholy. Our take on a traditional Belgian style Trippel, but with American hops. Big, bold and dangerously drinkable...This Trippel is traditionally brewed with a hoppy twist."

COLOR: Golden

POUR: Decent Head

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Dank, hoppy, spicy, pine, grapefruit, citrus

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Can't Get Enough

COMMENTS: "Like a Belgian IPA really; Good stuff; Perfect coupling of water and hops; Resin, spicy, dank, and, yes, complex; The alcohol doesn't hit you in the face, just kind of sits there nicely underneath; More IPA than classic Belgian, I guess. Which is okay by me."

TRIPEL BELGIAN GOLDEN ALE

ALLAGASH BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, ME; STYLE: Belgian Tripel; ABV: 9%; MALT: Allagash 2-Row Malted Barely Blend, Local Pale Malt; HOPS: Nugget, Hallertau

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "This golden ale carries notes of passion fruit and honey in the aroma. a suggestion of biscuit is found in the beer's varied palate. Brewed with our 2-Row barley blend, hopped with Nugget and Hallertau, then fermented on our house yeast, Tripel offers up a complex, yet dry finish."

COLOR: Golden

POUR: Decent Head

AROMA: Sweet, banana, Belgian yeast, and a touch of anise

BODY: Medium, very smooth beer

TASTE: Spicy, with hints of clove, lemon, bread, banana and some hop bitterness

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Between I Could Drink This and Can't Get Enough!

COMMENTS: "Nice mix of sweet and spice; A bit cloying for me; Another big one where you don't really taste the alcohol; Really smooth and surprisingly drinkable for such a big beer; I feel like this is another one where no single taste dominates and everything sort of works together; I would definitely seek this out."

THE RESULTS

We kind of ended in a 2-2 tie if you will - 2 American craft beers and 2 Belgians each earned a resounding "Can't Get Enough!" St. Bernardus Abbey Ale and Chimay Cinq Cents were our two favorite Belgians from Belgium, while Coppertail's Unholy and Flying Dog's Raging Bitch took pride of place with the US craft brews. No surprise that they were both essentially Belgian IPAs. However all the beers were very tasty could very well find a spot in my fridge.

Stay safe -
Slante,
The BOTB Guys

We're Baaaack!

BACK TO TELL YOU WHAT ALES US

Back a few years ago, when we first started writing this blog, the BOTB Guys tried to meet once a month and taste and review seven (or so) beers that fit some predetermined style - IPA, Stout, Porter, Brown Ale, Blonde, Bitter, Oktoberfest, etc. In the early days we were not all fluent in all styles - in part because the beer scene in the U.S. was still dominated by the mega-brews such as Budweiser, which meant cheaply produced lager and light lager.

But soon we began to learn which ones we were drawn to and which ones we weren't crazy about, such as Sours and overly fruity beers. We also avoided the mega-brews like Bud and Bud Light and pretty much any beer with "Light" or "Lite" as part of its name. It made little sense to spend time drinking seven beers we all disliked. As a result we began coming up with "beer themes."  The theme might be a particular seasonal or a beer with a funny name. It sort of allowed us the freedom to choose a beer that would be enjoyable. Because, seriously, otherwise what would be the point?
Not that every beer we try gets our stamp of approval.

* Just as a reminder: we judge the beers on pour, color, aroma, mouth-feel and taste. We then give it an Overall rating based on a sliding scale from "Leave It On The Shelf" to "I Could Drink That!" to "Can't Get Enough!"  *

In the intervening years, craft beer has exploded - much to our delight. Styles have morphed into sub-styles. IPAs, our personal fave, have split into West Coast, East Coast, No Coast, Grapefruit, Belgian, English, Black, White, Red, Double, Triple, Imperial, and Session. Stouts and Porters and Browns and Ambers and Blondes all have their plethora of sub-genres from traditional to out-there crazy taste combos. The American Craft Beer scene has become a fun wild-west show of styles and flavors. 

However, with 7 Beer Guys and 7 wives, finding a monthly date for a meeting has become more and more difficult due to various family commitments and travel. Particularly travel. We've had a few meetings since the last blog, but often haven't reviewed the beers, just enjoyed them. Meanwhile we've also enjoyed beers from outside the U.S. on various treks beyond our borders.

Below are some highlights from a recent Viking River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam:

A couple of beers in one of Budapest's Ruin Bars

Budapest craft beer

The original Lowen Brau on the right, brewed in Passau, Germany - way better
beer than the Lowenbrau that was once brewed here - a case of buying the
name and making another meh lager at a premium price.

Kolsch beer from Cologne.

A Dunkel served on the ship.

Found this little beauty in Germany. A brewery called Steam Brau

In Bamberg, Germany, the home of Rauchbier. Good stuff.

Okay, it wasn't all beer, but this is a beer blog and we sailed through the heart of bier country.

We did also saw sights like these as well: 

An actual windMILL. Strangely, no toxic fumes and no dead birds.

This entire family lived in one of those windmills, by the way.

Amsterdam - loosely translated I think it means "city of bikes and houseboats."

Just because.

Alright, so much for the travel brochure. Suffice it to say, regarding beer there is a world of difference between a German lager and the mega-brew lagers that dominated the States for years. 

This month, we decided that revisiting Stouts as a style would be a fun diversion from our usual hoppy brews. We thought it would be good to start with the original Stout - Guinness - and then sort of compare and contrast some Stouts we have not previously reviewed. 

We did have a few"palate cleansers" so to speak. It was important to get our minimum daily requirement of hops. Though we didn't review them, we merely enjoyed. So a quick shout-out to:

 Hopshire Farms Haze in the Hollow New England IPA. It's a terrific hop bomb loaded with Citra, Mosaic, Centennial and Galaxy hops. 

Zero Gravity 40 Theives Double IPA - A big (8%) Juicy Double IPA brewed with Cita, Nelson and Azacca hops. Both of these I'm sure will get a closer examination at a future date.

Woodland Farms 15 Miles Pale Ale - A real tasty old school Pale Ale.

GUINNESS STOUT - (original)

GUINNESS BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Originally - St. James Gate Brewery (Grudlann Gheata Naomh Seamuis) - Guinness Brewing, St. James Gate, Dublin, Ireland, stateside - Halethorpe, MD; STYLE: Stout; ABV: 4.2%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Rich and creamy. Distinctively black. Velvety in its finish. This iconic beer is defined by harmony. Sip after sip, sweet counters bitter as the malt arrives on cue to compliment a base of roasted barley. Just as the unmistakable white head sits flush atop the dark beer, so do the flavors counter and combine perfectly."

COLOR: Obsidian

POUR: Well, Guinness Class, of course

AROMA: Malty, bit of chocolate

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Sweet, malty with strong hints of coffee and chocolate

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This!

COMMENTS: "Forgot how good it is; Take it for granted until you have one every now and again; I remember when it was about the only non-fizzy yellow beer you could buy - if you could find it here; A good beer to start on when comparing stouts; It always tastes the same, you can count on it."

GUNNER'S DAUGHTER

MAST LANDING BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Mast Landing, Westbrook, ME; STYLE: Milk Stout; ABV: 5.5%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Our beautifully aromatic and balanced milk stout with delicious notes of peanut butter, coffee and dark chocolate."

COLOR: Black - perhaps even a bit darker than Guinness

POUR: Close to Guinness Class

AROMA: Dark chocolate

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Chocolate - milk chocolate, quite sweet with a bit of a nutty undertaste - though peanut butter didn't seem that dominant. Mostly sweet milk chocolate.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I could drink this. 

COMMENTS: "Sweet - maybe a little bitter taste would work for me here; Candy bar in a can; A touch sweeter than I like; Nice after-taste; Little bit of malt, I don't really taste the peanut butter, which is fine by me; Throw a little vanilla ice cream in there and you'd have an interesting float."

SPONGE CANDY STOUT

RESURGENCE BREWING CO.

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Resurgence Brewing Co., Buffalo, NY; STYLE: American Stout; ABV: 5.5%

COLOR: Black

POUR: Near Guinness Class though somewhat less, nice lacing

AROMA: Mild sweet aroma, a little bit of cocoa in there

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Burnt sugar, candy, toffee, a little roastiness, sweet, but not overly so

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This! 

COMMENTS: "Somewhat of a watery mouth-feel; A bit more carbonated than the others so far; Sweet and candy taste - not surprising; Not a cloying sweetness, which is surprising based on the name; Grows on you; If you're looking for a unique New York stout - this does it!"

AUTOCRAT COFFEE STOUT

NARRAGANSETT BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Narragansett Brewing, Pawtucket, RI; STYLE: Coffee Stout; ABV: 5.5%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Autocrat Coffee Milk Stout is officially BACK and one swallow will tell you; this is a seasonal beer you do not want to miss! This beer is a unique collaboration between two iconic Rhode Island companies. A custom blend of Narragansett's bittersweet milk Stout with dark, delicious Autocrat Coffee makes for a delightful beer that is more Rhode Island than Roger Williams himself."

COLOR: Black

POUR: Between Decent and Guinness Class - dissipates quickly with light tan lacing

AROMA: Light roasted malt, some coffee in there but it doesn't jump out at the nose

BODY: "Fluid feel on the tongue as opposed to creamy; A little bitter early; A good morning beer!; 'Autocrat - good to the last drip!' A good mowing beer; A swallow will tell you; Fairly light bodied, with some nice malt in there with the coffee."

TASTE: Dark, bold cold coffee, chocolate

OVERALL IMPRESSION: Between "I Could Drink This!" and "Can't Get Enough!"

COMMENTS: "Fluid feel on the tongue as opposed to creamy; A little bitter early; A good mowing drink; 'Autocrat - good to the last drip'; A swallow will tell you."

BARNEY FLATS OATMEAL STOUT

ANDERSON VALLEY BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Anderson Valley Brewing Company, Boonville, CA; STYLE: Oatmeal Stout; ABV: 5.7%; IBU: 14; MALT: Pale two-Row, Crystal, Roasted Barley, Munich, Chocolate, Oats; HOPS: Columbus, Northern Brewer

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "The deep ebony color, voluptuous mahogany head and bold, roasty flavors in our Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout are what serious beer drinkers expect from this style. Aromas of freshly baked bread, espresso, and dried cherries meld seamlessly with rich toffee flavors and a creamy mouth feel to create an unparalleled drinking experience."

COLOR: Black

POUR: A bit beyond Decent

AROMA: Subtle caramel, malt, a little chocolate

BODY: A bit beyond Medium

TASTE: Sweet toffee, little bit of bitterness, some dark chocolate in there, nice balance of flavors

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: I Could Drink This!

COMMENTS: "Taste sticks on the roof of the mouth; Subtle coffee, chocolate and sweet; That's good!: A bubble off plumb compared to the others tonight."

NITRO MILK STOUT

LEFT HAND BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, Colorado; STYLE: Milk Stout Nitro; ABV: 6%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Super smooth with soft roastiness and mocha flavors."

COLOR: Black

POUR: Decent effervescent head

AROMA: Not a strong aroma, a bit of chocolate

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Sweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malt

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Between "I could drink this!" and "Can't Get Enough!"

COMMENTS: "Creamy mouth feel, but not thick; Fullest mouth feel so far; Really good milk stout; Smooth, easy to drink; Effervescent pour; Nice smooth creaminess; Real nice beer." 

SYMPHONY OF STARS OATMEAL STOUT

FOUR QUARTERS BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski, VT; STYLE: Oatmeal Stout; ABV: 6%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Flavors of instant coffee, rye bread, dark chocolate, round oatey mouthfeel - something you'd take outside to the porch with the Sunday paper ever so conspicuously just to show your neighbors how cultured you really are...The name is a nod to astronomy, where they use radio telescopes to 'hear' radio waves from all sorts of celestial objects."

COLOR: Black

POUR: Guinness Class with a lasting head

AROMA: Slight malty, bready aroma

BODY: A bit beyond medium

TASTE: Toward the sweet, with malt, bread, coffee, and some dark chocolate

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Between "I could Drink this" and "Can't Get Enough!"

COMMENTS: "Mustache filling head; Carbonated, more so than some of the others; Very tasty; Subtle aroma; Nice to great after-taste; Balanced between burnt-bitter and sweet; Great label and name; Really good stout - just what you want in an Oatmeal Stout." 

ANTWERPEN STOUT

GUINNESS BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: Guinness Brewery, Baltimore, MD; STYLE: Special Export Stout; ABV: 8%

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "This 8% ABV stout has long been a secret pleasure among beer connoisseurs and indeed our Brewers, who value the mouth watering intensity of its roasted malt, smoked wood and dark chocolate notes, not to mention its excellent and seemingly endless finish. Since 1944 we have been exclusively exporting this same special stout from Ireland into Belgium through the vibrant port of Antwerp. This is the first time we're making it available for general release in America."

COLOR: Black with red highlights

POUR: Guinness Class - big, full

AROMA: Malty, a bit smokey

BODY: Medium

TASTE: Dark chocolate, smokey malt, some coffee, sweet but with a nice bitterness as well

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Between "I Could Drink This!" and "Can't Get Enough!" 

COMMENTS: "Red-headed step child of Guinness; Really good!; Kind of like Chinese sweet and sour only sweet and bitter; The alcohol comes through but doesn't overpower; Really complex taste, a lot going on - chocolate, coffee, smoked malt; Very tasty beer."

OLD RASPUTIN

NORTH COAST BREWING

THE BEER FACTS: BREWER: North Coast Brewing, Fort Bragg, CA; STYLE: Russian Imperial Stout; ABV: 9%; IBUs: 75; 2018 World Beer Championships Gold Medal winner; North Coast Brewing was honored as 2019 Best for the World Environment by B Lab.

WHAT THE BREWER SAYS: "Produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish. The Old Rasuptin image is a drawing of Rasputin with a phrase in Russian encircling it - A sincere friend is not born instantly."

COLOR: Black

POUR: Guinness Class

AROMA: Sweet, coffee, chocolate

BODY: Between Medium and Full

TASTE: Sweet taste of dark chocolate, coffee, roasted malt, dark fruits, bit of alcohol

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS: Near "Can't Get Enough!"

COMMENTS: "A quality brewed brew, for sure; Does not taste like a 9% - 'Danger Will Robinson!'; It's like 'You Can't Get Enough!' but you can get enough - a conundrum for sure; Really delicious beer; Nice winter evening with Tolstoy kind of beer." 

CONCLUSIONS

As with any particular style, there are similarities across the board. With a stout that means the presence of coffee, chocolate, and roasted malt in varying degrees. Some have a bit more hops, some are higher in alcohol, some accent the coffee, some the chocolate. You get the idea. So, bottom line, I'd say our favorite was North Coast's Old Rasputin. Maybe Antwerpin came in second. From there, it was a case of personal choice for each guy. All in all a good bunch of Stouts. 

Slante,

The BOTB Guys