Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout: 7.5 – This is my favorite budget stout. Nothing I know of has as much taste and flavor for a big beer stout that costs as little as this does. I highly recommend picking this up as even regardless of the price it is a damn good stout.
Google Shop Average: Bear Republic Big Bear Black Stout $6
Website: http://bearrepublic.com/
Ommegang Fire and Blood: 6.5 – Finally a Game of Thrones beer that actually has substance. The chili and spice her really give this beer a unique taste, but it doesn’t make it too powerful like say a Dogfish Head beer might. You still get a nice beer with your spice, and while it pains me as a fan to prefer the Targaryen beer – I do.
Editor’s Note – Stock image as I tasted this while at Boston’s Tavern at The End of the World
Google Shop Average: Ommegang Fire and Blood $20
Website: http://www.ommegang.com/
Editor’s Note: Apologies for lack of Wine/Spirit review this past weekend – PAX East destroyed me, and I was not able to get an article ready.
Ommegang Take the Black Stout: 5.0 – Much like it’s Blonde Ale made for the Game of Thrones promotion – this stout can be summed up in a single word – inoffensive. While it’s certainly not a bad stout, from Ommegang you are a little disappointed that they couldn’t do something better. Rather than risk a stout which some may like while others hate they took a general approach to appeal to masses – which while I understand, doesn’t leave me pleased about it.
Google Shop Average: Ommegang Take the Black Stout $20
Website: http://www.ommegang.com/
Samuel Adams Cream Stout: 7.0 – To be fair I can only vaguely recall one other ‘cream’ stout that I’ve had, but as far as stout’s go this is supremely drinkable and enjoyable. While it may lack some of the more well developed stout tastes that you get from the bigger beers, this is just a great beer to crack open and enjoy.
Google Shop Average: Samuel Adams Cream Stout $9 for 6-Pack
Website: http://www.samueladams.com/
Samuel Adams Black Lager: 5.0 – I was hoping for a Guinness situation here as their black lager is fantastic (and I will often prefer it to the standard/imperial stouts); however this is middling at best – if anything this is a sign that others should do more black lagers to beat ol’ sam.
Google Shop Average: Samuel Adams Black Lager $8 for 6-Pack
Website: http://www.samueladams.com/
Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale: 5.0 – Of Berkshire’s beers this is likely my least favorite. Their scotch ale is great, and Lee and I are fans of their coffeehouse porter, and the very drinkable Steel Rail. However this winter style ale just lacks a great taste in flavor or drinkability.
Google Shop Average: Berkshire Cabin Fever Ale $5
Berkshire Scotch Ale: 7.0 – This is a really good scotch ale, and for the price it’s fairly unmatched, while obviously it’s not as good as current or vintage Smuttynose scotch ale, it’s certainly the best scotch ale that you could like get on-tap.
Google Shop Average: Berkshire Scotch Ale $5
Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale: 7.5 – Now the trouble here is that Shipyard already makes Pumpkinhead which in my mind is about as good as you can reasonably get for a goto pumpkin beer. The smashed pumpkin though goes for a larger taste and spice flavor, and it doesn’t disappoint, it sadly loses a bit of that easy-drinking that Pumpkinhead excels at.
Google Shop Average: Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale $8
Website: http://www.shipyard.com/
Jack’s Abby Pumpkin Crop Lager: 4.5 – While the lager backing certainly gave this a different feel than other pumpkin beers (which are typically ales) it’s overall a rather luckluster beer, and rather disappointing coming from the Abby (who we are huge fans of, especially with Smoke and Dagger.), but it’s an experiment and one that’s not-not worth a try.
Google Shop Average: Jack’s Abby Pumpkin Crop Lager $(Likely out of stock)
Website: http://jacksabbybrewing.com/
