Stout is a sexy-ass style of beer. It can be so many things: smooth and creamy, big and bold, crisp and sharp, sweet and chocolatey, bitter and spicy, boozey and beautiful. It can compliment smoked meats, play off of dessert, stand in AS dessert and even pair beautifully with oysters. It’s a wonderful medium through which brewers can express themselves and show off a bit. And since International Stout Day is upon us, we wanted to help you celebrate by giving you a quick education on stouts and then, some of our own personal favorites.
The stouts we know and love today can generally be traced back to the stronger, weightier porters of 18th and 19th century England and Ireland. These particular porters that had more alcohol and substance to them were known as “stout porters” or more simply “stouts.” They were the same recipe as a typical porter, just stronger.
Thanks to technological advances, changing consumer tastes and brilliant marketing, stouts surpassed plain porters in popularity and became one of the most popular beer styles in the world. After the invention of patented black malt, Irish brewers — including Arthur Guinness — would fully embrace the smokey flavors, dry taste and black color of the new malt while English brewers continued to use a blend of pale, brown and black. Thus, there was a choice between an English stout porter and an Irish stout porter.
The world would fully embrace this new style of stout and over time styles would shift while new styles would be invented. Some versions would be sweeter, some would knock you on your ass with alcohol, some would be brewed with oysters. No matter the makeup, stouts became an entire style of their own and an important part of the beer world. And that’s why we celebrate International Stout Day, which is November 3, 2016.
We can get more into the history of stout later. For now, we have stout porn featuring the favorites of some of Flying Saucer’s most brilliant minds.
Speaking of, make your plans to celebrate International Stout Day at your local Saucer. See what they have planned by checking them out and giving them a follow on social media.
International Stout Day Expertise
Erik Hodgeman – Flying Saucer Charlotte GM
BEER: Goose Island Rare Bourbon County Stout Brand
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “I’ll be enjoying Goose Island Bourbon County Stout’s Rare Offering while enjoying the Cubs in the World Series.”
Josh Vonk – Flying Saucer Sugar Land Manager
BEER: Southern Star Buried Hatchet Imperial Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “My choice for International Stout Day is Southern Star Buried Hatchet Imperial Stout. It was my first introduction to stouts in the craft beer world. I used to sell it to Guinness drinkers with a money back guarantee and never paid for one. It’s easy drinking and not overly aggressive for an Imperial with milk chocolate and vanilla notes throughout and a lingering creamy finish.”
This is not Josh.
Jonathan Mitchell – Flying Saucer Charlotte Manager
BEER: New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk; Blue Mountain Dark Hollow; Brooklyn Black Ops (it’s hard to pick just one)
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “There are so many great stouts out there it’s hard to choose. New Holland Dragon’s Milk was my first love when it comes to Bourbon barrel aged stouts. Also, I still remember the first time I had a Blue Mountain Dark Hollow and it’s full body that seemed to hover just over my tongue. That said, if I had to choose one I would have to say Brooklyn Black Ops. It’s the perfect combination of what I look for in a stout: full body with a bit of a bite from months aging in bourbon barrels; hints of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla; and a Champagne yeast that really balances out the heaviness of it all. Warning: the ABV will knock you on your ass if you’re not careful. I love a beer that surprises yet challenges. I want more but should I?”
Josh Hamilton – Flying Saucer Raleigh GM
BEER: Lonerider Pistols at Dawn
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “My stout pick is Lonerider Pistols at Dawn. A beautifully crafted beer from Raleigh, NC at 9% with cocoa nibs and coffee. If you haven’t heard of this brewery yet, you will.”
Jason Davenport – Flying Saucer Little Rock GM
BEER: Oskar Blues Ten Fidy
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “Oskar Blues Ten Fidy. Nothing says ‘International Stout Day’ like a Russian Imperial Stout made in Colorado. And few do it better than our friends at Oskar Blues.”
Kirk Caliendo – Flying Saucer Memphis GM
BEER: Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “As a native New Yorker, this stout brings back the nostalgia of a commute to Manhattan and hoping your vehicle did not break down in Williamsburg as you sat in traffic. Driving from Queens to ‘the City’ was usually a slow-moving journey while holding a cup of the best coffee you could find from a street vendor in a blue and white paper cup. As you reached the ‘Willie B’ (Williamsburg Bridge), you could only hope the traffic moved a bit quicker, the coffee tasted a bit better and that this part of Brooklyn had more to offer than Peter Luger Steakhouse. Now all grown up, Williamsburg makes SOHO look less accommodating, Juan Valdez would be proud of the local joe — and it all seems to have been built around Brooklyn Brewery headed by Garrett Oliver. I have never met a beer from them I did not like or appreciate for the style and representation.
Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Stout pours black as midnight with a creamy tan head. As it settles the overall color browns just a bit. The body is full with dark chocolate and mocha flavors that lead you to the coffee and then show back up again after.”
Jamison Hammerton – Lake Flying Saucer
BEER: Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “This beer is a favorite stout because they use chocolate from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory based out of Colorado and it’s perfect in the cooler months— especially lakeside!
Aroma of caramelized sugar, cocoa powder and alcohol. Has a medium mouthfeel, taste of rich dark chocolate and dark fruit. Very minimal carbonation with a boozy finish.”
Miranda Michaels – Flying Saucer Nashville Beer Goddess
BEER: Highland Black Mocha Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “Highland Black Mocha Stout is my pick for Stout Day. The perfect blend of roasted barley and sweet chocolate malts make it deep and complex while maintaining its well-rounded smoothness. Its deep, roasty flavors give way to a dry bitter chocolate finish.”
Ryan Cimperman – Flying Saucer St. Louis GM
BEER: Perennial Abraxas
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “With fall moving along kindly it is officially stout time! With all of the heavy hitters out there, Abraxas was an easy choice for us here in St. Louis. Since 2011, our good friends at Perennial, have been mastering this wonderful Imperial Stout. Their approach is simple: great and complex ingredients and small batches that have allowed them turn out a top 50 beer in the world. With the first taste you can really feel the vanilla beans, cacao nibs and cinnamon but it finishes with a very surprising bite with the ancho chili peppers. Here in St. Louis, it is by far our favorite local beer and for good reason. This up-and-coming brewery has certainly put their foot in the door as one of America’s best small batch breweries.”
Charles Porretto – Flying Saucer Art Director
BEER: Prairie Pirate Bomb; Prairie Apple Brandy Noir; Founders KBS
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “I’m just going to give you the holy trinity of stouts. It’s gospel. Disagree with me and consider yourself excommunicated. I’d push loved ones off a cliff for those, and you can quote me on that.”
Brad Reynolds – Flying Saucer Addison Manager
BEER: Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “A beer that goes right along with my favorite meal of the day — breakfast! The KBS was the first stout to make me appreciate the style and continue to explore it further. I also look forward to trying the new batch every year as they continue to change the flavor in each one. Coffee, substantial amounts of chocolate and, of course, the subtle amount of bourbon. At 12% ABV, served in a coffee mug — what’s not to love?!”
Kelsey Kostelnik – Flying Saucer Houston
BEER: Alesmith Speedway Stout
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “AleSmith Speedway has a creamy mouthfeel with an abundance of bakers chocolate and espresso. I enjoy sipping on one after a long day of listening to my GM talk about whatever Netflix or HBO show he is into that week. The fall season is just when the flavor profiles of a stout and the temperature outside go hand in hand. One of the greatest beers available and a recent addition to the ever-growing Texas beer scene. If you see it on a shelf, be sure and grab it.”
Kady Price – Flying Saucer Addison Beer Goddess
BEER: Southern Tier Choklat
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “Adult chocolate milk — about shortest and best description you can have. Thick, creamy and full of chocolate tones. Amazing to have while a sweet dessert. Alcohol content is at 10%, yet you never realize it until you’re a couple in — so, be careful!”
Bobby Jones – Flying Saucer Fort Worth Manager
BEER: Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout.
WHY YOU’RE DRINKING: “I chose this stout over others for the simple fact that it was my ‘gateway’ stout. It was the first stout I had tried and loved, mostly due to the fact it didn’t taste like beer but more like a malt or shake. The chocolate does not overshadow the roasted coffee flavor and malty finish. I know it sounds corny, but not everyone starts off loving beer. It took me a while to acquire the love of beer and this was one of the great stouts in the world. With all the great stouts in the world, from Prairie Artisan Ales’ Bomb! to North Coast Old Rasputin, I always find myself going back to one of the beers that got me started.”
