It's pretty much winter now. You should have a stout. Here are the best ones.
Last weekend we all had the pleasure of turning back time. Well, for an hour at least. But for me that extra hour was nullified by the fact that I had to spend a significant portion of time literally turning back clocks. Watches, alarm clocks, microwaves, stoves, work vehicles, personal vehicles, etc, etc. Now that bit of unpleasantness is all over, and we can all bask in the glory of pitch-blackedness at 5:00pm, that shitty thin layer of frost on your car windows every goddamn morning, and eventually, yes, fuck; winter. Fret not though my dear friends, because cold weather means that the breweries have packed up their hops and wheat and are now releasing an array of exciting stouts. Sweet, sweet, glorious stouts.
In this glorious season, stout virgins, rookies and intermediates alike may be overwhelmed by choice, baffled by styles, and falsely seduced by really good or really poor packaging. For these reasons I have endeavoured to make a list of this year's stouts that you should buy, and a couple that you should stay away from.
All of these are available at your friendly, neighbourhood LCBO, or the one that's not in your neighbourhood, in which case you'll just have to get in your car. If you don't live in Ontario, well, enjoy looking at this list and not being able to find most of the beers.
And here's a handy list of stout types:
Dry, Irish stout: Typically very dark, with a bitter and roasty flavour profile, and more subtle than other stout styles. Many are creamy, with a low ABV.
Oatmeal stout: These can pretty much run the gamut for flavour, but most are subtly flavoured, and should be characterized by a smoother, velvety mouth-feel than other styles.
Milk stout: These tend to be a bit sweeter and creamier than other styles because of the addition of lactose. Many milk stouts are flavoured but this isn't a requirement.
Imperial stout: Be prepared to have your socks knocked off. Imperial stouts are characterized by a stupidly high ABV, adding a liquor-like quality to the flavour profile. Imperial stouts are highly flavourful, and definitely will not be categorized as "easy-drinking."
In this glorious season, stout virgins, rookies and intermediates alike may be overwhelmed by choice, baffled by styles, and falsely seduced by really good or really poor packaging. For these reasons I have endeavoured to make a list of this year's stouts that you should buy, and a couple that you should stay away from.
All of these are available at your friendly, neighbourhood LCBO, or the one that's not in your neighbourhood, in which case you'll just have to get in your car. If you don't live in Ontario, well, enjoy looking at this list and not being able to find most of the beers.
And here's a handy list of stout types:
Dry, Irish stout: Typically very dark, with a bitter and roasty flavour profile, and more subtle than other stout styles. Many are creamy, with a low ABV.
Oatmeal stout: These can pretty much run the gamut for flavour, but most are subtly flavoured, and should be characterized by a smoother, velvety mouth-feel than other styles.
Milk stout: These tend to be a bit sweeter and creamier than other styles because of the addition of lactose. Many milk stouts are flavoured but this isn't a requirement.
Imperial stout: Be prepared to have your socks knocked off. Imperial stouts are characterized by a stupidly high ABV, adding a liquor-like quality to the flavour profile. Imperial stouts are highly flavourful, and definitely will not be categorized as "easy-drinking."
Top ontario stouts
1. Skinny Dippin' Stout - Sawdust City Brewing Co.
2. French Press Vanilla Stout - Double Trouble Brewing Co.
3. St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
4. Shinnicked Stout - Muskoka Brewery
5. Black Coal Stout - Railway City Brewing Co.
6. The Tom Green Beer! - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.
7. Bolshevik Bastard - Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
2. French Press Vanilla Stout - Double Trouble Brewing Co.
3. St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
4. Shinnicked Stout - Muskoka Brewery
5. Black Coal Stout - Railway City Brewing Co.
6. The Tom Green Beer! - Beau's All Natural Brewing Co.
7. Bolshevik Bastard - Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
top stouts from the rest of the world
1. Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
2. Young's Double Chocolate Stout
3. Guinness Extra Stout (NOT Guinness Draught)
4. Mackeson Milk Stout
2. Young's Double Chocolate Stout
3. Guinness Extra Stout (NOT Guinness Draught)
4. Mackeson Milk Stout
well worth the drive to the brewery
1. Bad Moon Rye Stout - Stalwart Brewing Co.
2. Fortitude - Tooth & Nail Brewing Co.
3. Perfectum - Nita Beer Co.
2. Fortitude - Tooth & Nail Brewing Co.
3. Perfectum - Nita Beer Co.
