White Birch Birchwood Smoked Stout: 6.5 – To be fair this score is based on other smoked stouts, and sadly it’s pretty much average comparatively, and yet there’s one aspect that makes it better – in that because it’s not bourbon barrel aged it doesn’t make it sickeningly sweet.
Google Shop Average: White Birch Birchwood Smoked Stout $10
Website: http://www.whitebirchbrewing.com/
Shipyard Mint Chocolate Stout: 5.5 – I admit I was rather excited by this due to Shipyard’s record of flavored beers (Pumpkinhead comes to mind); however the taste here is sadly just not enough mint. You get those chocolate flavors, and the stout is still there, and then like a whisper the mint is at the end, and it’s just a bit too weak.
Google Shop Average: Shipyard Mint Chocolate Stout $9
Website: http://www.shipyard.com/
Bruery Tart of Darkness: 1.5 – It’s a stout, wait no it’s not. They decided to put spices and age the beer in barrels, and I have to wonder if they just had a large bad batches of beer, and are trying to pass it off as a ‘sour stout’ which are words that just seem like they shouldn’t be in the same sentence. I enjoy tart things, but even for tart this beer is just awful. Bruery is a fantastic company, and we enjoy many of their beers, but not this.
Google Shop Average: Bruery Tart of Darkness $24
Website: http://www.thebruery.com
Ahh finally onto a stout – now while this stout is in no way better than Guinness or Allagash draft it does beat Guinness bottles (again these are all on Draft and Guinness Draft may be one of the better things in this world.) However their selection is very solid and enjoyable.
Shipyard Blue Fin Stout: 7.4/10 – Its ends like a nice vanilla ice cream float, but overall it’s nicely balanced and flavorful. An all around good stout. We can’t begin to accurately describe the head on this beer, most heads are liquidly and to an extent half and half kinda creamy. It’s almost whipped here though and is nearly as thick as ice cream, which combos quite nicely with the rest of the stout.
Google Shop Average: (Prices at Brew Haus for Draught) – $5.50
Website: http://www.shipyard.com/
Allagash Black Belgian Stout: 8.8/10 – Just really really good. I <3 BEER. It’s dark and creamy, but still flavorful. Considering it’s cheaper than the other two it’s surprising how great this is, even among other stouts. This is what you want from beer, big flavor, a creamy head, and dark richness. We couldn’t be happier.
Google Shop Average: Black Belgian Stout $9 (All 750mL)
Website: http://www.allagash.com/
Then we come to a fairly well known (at least in New England) beer-maker and their spin on a stout, and while Shipyard’s Blue Fin Stout from beats it – it’s not bad.
We decided to review some stouts at our Beercation and first up was Out of Bounds stout, and while it’s certainly not an awful stout – it’s really not worth your time to go out and try it.
FUS ROH BEER! Seriously though I was in a wine store having picked up some nice wines, and the beer that we’ll review in the coming weeks, but there was a lack of stouts. Except for this one, and considering my recently acquired sword I felt like enough of a nerdbag to pick this up.
Then we’re in the Irish Isles with the beer that’s become synonymous with class, distinction, and brilliance. I am of course talking about Guinness. Guinness is fantastic and getting it on draft is one of the best simplest pleasures life can offer you. I think all of us can agree regardless of the scores: Guinness isn’t the best beer in the world, but it’s one the best beer you can get in any bar worth a damn, and not be turned away because they don’t have it.
Next we head the England, but it’s not really England. It’s actually New Hampshire – but the lager is made English style, so that’s close enough. I know – I asked William the IVth why when told to get beers for a review Around the World he choose a New Hampshire beer, but he responded basically that he does what he does, and then he does it. SO, anyway this tasted very much like it came from across the pond, and is actually quite good.
