Month: October 2015

The Busy Season

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October 19, 2015

Today’s post will be rather brief.  This is becoming the busy season for Stout releases.  We’ve just seen the annual release of Founder’s Breakfast Stout and many of the local breweries are hopping on the Stout release train – Lonerider with “Pistols at Dawn”, Fullsteam with IGOR, Son of IGOR, and Señor IGOR, and Burial with their tasty Skillet Donut Stout.  I’m also seeing some great new releases in the coming days/weeks – Oskar Blues will be releasing a BA version of TENFIDY in 16oz. cans.  The BA TENFIDY looks to be a very limited release, mostly out of their Colorado brewing outpost.  All indications are that the NC brewery will not see any…..but things can always change.  OB will also be releasing “Death by Coconut” porter in November; thankfully, this will see a much wider distribution!  Wicked Weed will be having their Dark Arts bottle release this coming weekend in Asheville, NC.  Those fortunate enough to have bought tickets will get a combo of Dark Arts plus Dark Arts w/Espresso!

If you want to share a release of a favorite Stout, drop me a note from the Comments page and I’ll make sure I include it in my next post!  Thanks!

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Why Stouts?

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October 15, 20152015-04-19_194851108_6F439_iOS

Welcome to the Stoutwhisperer….a blog devoted primarily to the world of Stout beers, sometimes Porters, and every so often a dalliance into other beer types.  Why Stout beers you ask?  Well, aside from the fact that Stouts are the best beer type known to man (sorry, it’s my blog), there is a physiological reasons for me at least.  I seem to be able to drink Stouts (within reason) without much effect, whereas other beer types seem to give me the dreaded morning after headache.   So Stout beer it is!

I also like big, bold tastes – give me notes of coffee, chocolate, and toffee and I’m a happy guy.   Throw the fruit and spice layers in – cherry, coconut, cinnamon, and all the variations of coffee types.  Finally add the layer of barrel aged variants, and things go to another level. Let’s put it this way….when you’ve had a really good stout, it stays with you for a long time.

I started with the training wheels, I sampled Guinness Stout (and sampled again..and again).  That led me to branch out and try other Stouts…which has given me the love to concentrate on this one type of beer.  I like to stray every now and then (Heady Topper, Pliny the Elder come to mind), but I always come back to my beloved Stouts.

What will I write about?  The entire process – brewing to drinking and all things in between.  Special releases to off the shelf treasures.  Reviews and interviews.  Glassware and labels.  The art and science of Stouts. Stout vs. Porter.  Cellaring and aging Stouts. Truth be told, there are enough topics to keep me writing for quite some time!  Lastly, I hope to interact with those who read these words and choose to contribute your own thoughts and ideas on Stouts.

So welcome…..pour a glass/snifter/chalice of your favorite stout and give my blog a read.  If you are so inclined, feel free to share your thoughts on the Comments page.  I welcome your participation!