Extra, Extra! Read All About It! - Margot Loves Stout

As we have explored the expanding world of craft beer (going back to the early boom in the mid 1990’s) Margot’s interest in what we were finding has waxed and waned like the cycles of the moon. In college she drank beer like everybody else, but none of us drank anything worthy of a review. More recently Margot has taken an interest in the darker styles we have been trying, and has decided that she is a stout girl. This affirmation doesn’t bother me at all since I too love stout and can envision many days ahead where we both get to enjoy stouts wherever we go.

In honor of Margot taking on the title of “Resident Stout Expert” we bought three different selections (all of which Margot had never had, one I had tried before) to taste, review and share with you.

Rogue Chocolate Stout
(reviewed by Margot)

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle. Dark as night. Profound dark chocolate and espresso aromas. Very thick and creamy, finishing with the bitterness typical of high % cacao dark chocolate. Hints of vanilla almost like the steamed milk or cream in a mocha. The finish is clean and of medium length, making for an easy drinker. Most of the chocolate sensation is coming from the aroma, deeper breaths while drinking it accentuated the perception of the chocolate flavor.

Oskar Blues Ten Fidy Imperial Stout
(reviewed by Jason)

I first had this beer at the American Craft Beer Fest in Boston a few weeks back. In that post I listed this beer in my Bad Ass section, cause it is potent (10.5% ABV) and from a 12 oz. can! I picked up aromas of coconut almost immediately (something I am finding I enjoy in juiced up stouts) and as I drank it I couldn’t help but think of flavored coffee. There is an easily perceptible sweetness in this beer, but not the sweet tooth kind so it doesn’t diminish the enjoyment. The roasted flavors and acidity carry through a medium finish. I couldn’t sit down to drink multiple of these at once, but savoring it with dessert like a port wine easily comes to mind.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout
(reviewed by Margot)

Poured from an 18.7 oz. bottle. Aromas of brown bread and coffee beans. A noticeable bitterness in the taste that translates into a bit of sour in the after taste much like caraway seeds in rye bread. Flavors of baking chocolate and overall a similar profile to barleywines I have tried and not like before. I would have enjoyed this more if it was a bit sweeter and with more pronounced mocha like flavors.

Well, there are three stouts for you to go find and enjoy, that is if stout is your thing. We have a local brewery in NH named White Birch that makes a series of barrel aged stouts (that are only available in limited situations) that never fail to please. Margot hasn’t been lucky enough to try all of them yet, but it would seem like we need to arrange that so we can share more of her “expertise”! We visited White Birch this past weekend and will be sharing our tasting notes, interviews with the staff and pictures this coming week.

Cheers!

Margot & Jason