Stout tasting advice

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by hogansct, Feb 27, 2013.

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  1. hogansct

    hogansct Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Rhode Island

    So I'm thinking about having a stout tasting this weekend. It'll probably be around 8 people or so and they are all porter/stout drinkers. I was looking for some advice on the tasting order of the following beers. Also if anyone thinks that I should omit (or add) something from the list. Also, this being my first attempt at a beer tasting, any general words of advice would be greatly appreciated!
    1. Founders Breakfast Stout
    2. Founders Imperial Stout
    3. Narwhal Imperial Stout
    4. Imperial Stout Trooper
    5. Ten Fidy
    6. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
    7. Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
    8. Bourbon County Brand Stout
    9. Bourbon Country Brand Coffee Stout
    10. Cherry Rye Bourbon Country Brand Stout
    I also considered picking up some of the following stouts, just to compliment/improve the selection. Maybe it would just be going overboard. Again, any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
    1. Samuel Smith Imperial Stout
    2. Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout
    3. Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
    4. Sierra Nevada Stout
    5. Old Rasputin RIS
     
    #1 hogansct, Feb 27, 2013
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  2. jtg5678

    jtg5678 Zealot (596) Nov 27, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    I think you've got a fantastic list. My only suggestion would be perhaps to throw in a couple "sessionable" stouts, seeing as you have a bunch of imperials.
     
    #2 jtg5678, Feb 28, 2013
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  3. siddhartha

    siddhartha Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2012 Colorado

    Great list indeed. Love the founders breakfast. An all time fav, wish I got it here in CO. Old rasp is really nice. I didn't like Sierra Nevada all that much, but ten is already a lot. I like your order. I would def do the two bourbons last. Enjoy!!
     
    #3 siddhartha, Feb 28, 2013
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  4. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    Great list. If I was doing something of that caliber I would have Bell's Expedition.
     
    #4 fredmugs, Feb 28, 2013
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  5. Skunkdrool

    Skunkdrool Savant (1,160) Jul 31, 2010 California
    Trader

    If you can get it, add Parabola to the list. And I agree with the above, toss in a session stout or 2 so you have something to drink while you're drinking. :wink:
     
    #5 Skunkdrool, Feb 28, 2013
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  6. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Should get one of those new Samuel Smith Organic Chocolate Stouts and add that to the mix. Great foreign stout.
     
    #6 BottleCaps80, Feb 28, 2013
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  7. loafinaround

    loafinaround Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2011 New York

    damn. I gotta check to make sure you didn't steal my stash.

    (don't have 3 or 4 though..., and 7 will be acquired soon)
     
    #7 loafinaround, Feb 28, 2013
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  8. eatabagofbooger

    eatabagofbooger Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2009 Oregon

    I'd say it depends on what your shooting for with the tasting. For me, there are two types of tastings. If you're just looking to have a bunch of friends over and try a bunch of awesome beers that you think you'll all enjoy, then I'd say you have a great list and you shouldn't worry about the order-just let the bottles get opened when people want to drink the beer. I'd also say that a couple of smaller stouts for variety might not go awry. If, on the other hand, you're looking to do more of a compare and contrast sort of thing, or even a blind tasting, I'd be sure to put similar stuff together, and maybe even break this up into two tastings (barrel-aged and non-barrel-aged).
     
    #8 eatabagofbooger, Feb 28, 2013
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  9. Jugs_McGhee

    Jugs_McGhee Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,140) Aug 15, 2010 Texas
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    8 people, eh? Here's tasting advice: have enough for everyone. Seriously. I keep hearing about these tastings with teeny tiny serving sizes that hardly offer enough volume to decide what you think about a beer, let alone to discuss it with others.

    I hope you're not splitting 1 bottle of each of those eight ways.

    In any case, remember to have fun.
     
    #9 Jugs_McGhee, Feb 28, 2013
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  10. lucasj82

    lucasj82 Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2009 Indiana

    Dark Horse Tres blueberry Stout
    Left Hand Milk Stout
    Rogue Chocolate Stout
    Bell's Kalamazoo Stout
    Bell's Special Double Cream Stout
     
    #10 lucasj82, Feb 28, 2013
  11. acevenom

    acevenom Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2011 Louisiana

    I would recommend Guinness Foreign Extra Stout. More people need to try this one.
     
    #11 acevenom, Feb 28, 2013
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  12. kell50

    kell50 Pooh-Bah (2,334) Jul 25, 2007 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah

    Let your stouts warm up slightly before drinking!!

    HUGE advice right here!
     
    #12 kell50, Feb 28, 2013
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  13. scud

    scud Zealot (570) Sep 22, 2010 Indiana
    Trader

    From my experience I wouldn't start with the BA brews. Going from those to less intense stouts just make everything else seem underwhelming...pretty awesome list though, cheers!
     
    #13 scud, Feb 28, 2013
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  14. WBD

    WBD Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2013 South Carolina

    How about food.

    May I suggest a roasted chicken dish and a smoked pork dish.
     
    #14 WBD, Feb 28, 2013
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  15. fps_dean

    fps_dean Initiate (0) Feb 3, 2013 Massachusetts

    You have a good list. I would suggest adding the following three, if you can find them which are some of my very favorite stouts.

    Southern Tier 2x Stout
    Left Hand Brewing Fade to Black Ale #1 (which is a stout, and quite possibly my favorite stout too).
    Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout

    If you need a food to go with them, I love pita crackers and Brie, or cherries or deserts with cherries (cherry pie, cherry cheesecake) with milk stouts.
     
    #15 fps_dean, Feb 28, 2013
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  16. hogansct

    hogansct Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Rhode Island

    Thanks everyone for the suggestions and advice! To answer a couple questions, it is just for fun. I'm just having some close friends and family over to try great beers. Wish I could get Parabola or Bell's around here but alas not. I'll probably get the Ipswich and Samuel Smith oatmeal for some lower abv variety. I had forgotten about the Samuel smith organic chocolate though, I may have to get that also.
     
    #16 hogansct, Feb 28, 2013
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  17. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,096) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Food, food, food. All those big imperial stouts are going to get you guys wasted if you don't have some food in the stomach. Everything on the list looks fantastic- wish I could attend just to drink some Cherry Rye BCBS- thats the only thing on the list I haven't gotten to try yet.
     
    #17 Stevedore, Feb 28, 2013
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  18. hogansct

    hogansct Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Rhode Island

    I definitely agree. Haven't put much thought into the food element as of yet but I will come up with something respectable.
     
    #18 hogansct, Feb 28, 2013
  19. hogansct

    hogansct Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2011 Rhode Island

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    #19 hogansct, Mar 5, 2013
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  20. Cubatobaco

    Cubatobaco Pooh-Bah (2,057) Jan 27, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just have fun!

    I did a 5 Stout blind tasting not too long ago and my palate was done after 4 of them. Keep notes! You'll be surprised at the outcome.

    I wish I could be BCBS in my area. :slight_frown:
     
    #20 Cubatobaco, Mar 5, 2013
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