This isn’t to say Stouts are only for cold weather, but they DO represent something big and warming to be drunk in front of a fire, and as we head towards our YBN’s Top 19 x 2 Spring roll out in the next week, we see this as a fond adieu, not to stout, but to the fire in the hearth for a few months…. hopefully.

The same friend who recently brought over a bottle of Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter for me to talk to him about (I drank it!! Nya ha ha), came over with a four pack containing 4 different stouts. Three of us shared, talked  and, much as I love the sound of my fingers hitting keys, here are our notes in the form of bullet points, in order of tasting:

Black Rat Imperial Stout from Cellar Rats Brewery – nice start, not so nice finish
-Malty, sweet nose
-Good Bitter Component
-Sweet mid tongue
-Gritty, leaving a not so good feel on the back of the tongue
-Last sip was almost vinegary

Blackhawk Select from Mendocino Brewing – not good
-Sour malty nose
-A little bitter but sitting on top of a flat taste, with almost no flavor notes, the ones detectable, also sour
-From Chef Joe “ Excellent spillability.”

Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery – pretty good
-Nose a little soy saucy
-Big Chocolate, to be sure
-High ABV well integrated. Nice balance

Milk Stout from Left Hand – best of the bunch
-High drinkability
-Great lacing
-Milk and mild sweetness THEN delicious chocolate milk.