Dark beer tasting suggestions

You mention porter is already on your list and I think it might be educational to include a stout from the same brewery to discover the differences. I've never tried one after another like that, so I can't say what to expect. A good example of each to get would be Bell's Porter and their Kalamazoo Stout. Each should be easy to find, but there are other breweries that brew both without any special flavorings added (like coffee).

 

There is no end to dark beer season.

 

In all honesty I've always found Straight up Budweiser to be a good palet cleanser ... honestly.

 

Some less-strong good ones that are widely available:

Uinta Baba (Black Lager/Schwarzbier)
Ayinger Celebrator or Weihenstephaner Korbinian (Doppelbock)
Schneider Weisse Aventinus 6 (Weizenbock)
Samuel Smith Nutbrown Ale (English Brown)
Ayinger Dunkel (Munich Dunkel)
Dark Horse Black Ale (American Black Ale)
Founders Porter (Robust Porter)
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (American Porter)
Sierra Nevada Stout (American Stout)
Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin (Oatmeal Stout)
Guinness Foreign Extra Stout
North Coast Old #38 (Dry Irish Stout)
Westmalle Dubbel (Belgian Dubbel)
ODell 90 Shilling (Scottish Ale)
Great Divide Hibernation (Old Ale)

 

You know "seasonal drift" is getting really bad when it starts to affect year-round beers

 

Doing very different styles like black ipa and Scottish Ale in one tasting is a bit tough unless you’re just trying to get a feel for how different styles can be. It’s better if you can do a few that are more closely related.

A few different porters and stouts might be more interesting. Something like a Dry Irish Stout (Guinness Draught), American Porter (Anchor Porter), Oatmeal Stout (Samuel Smith), and American Stout (Kalamazoo Stout). Four or five beers should be enough. Too many more than that and you start to overload.

 

Celebrator Dopplebock
Weihenstephaner Dunkel
DFH Indian Brown
Köstritzer Schwarzbier
Bells Porter
Gonzo Imperial Porter


I'd also suggest some Dark Lagers as well, though I do not know any widely-distributed ones. I wish I could recommend some Black IPA's also that were widely-distributed.

 

As someone who drinks dark beers seasonally, eschewing them entirely during the summer, I can understand someone having an end to their personal 'dark beer season' (Zid's tongue-in-cheek reply not withstanding). But it sure as hell isn't in February! Unless you live in the southern hemisphere perhaps. But you're from Illinois...so I am truly baffled.

 

Agree! Drink it all year!

 

Free Will C.O.B.
Ellie’s Brown Ale
Great Lakes Alberta Clipper
Founders Dankwood
Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald
Deschutes Black Butte
Andescher Doppelbock Dunkel
Paulaner Salvatore
Aecht's Schlenkeria Oak Smoke

 

Not knowing your location in Illinois, I hope some of these may be available.
Satin Solitude- Central Waters
Robert the Bruce - 3 Floyds
Warp Speed - Lake Louie
Sounds like a good time regardless of the beer style.
Enjoy!

 

Founders porter, Sierra Nevada stout and Bells Kalamazoo stout are good widely distributed beers I drink together.

 

Odell cut throat porter came to mind first, followed by Kötst...uhhhh... schwarzbier.

 

Don’t drink them too cold, to be fair start them at 50 degrees more or less, but not much more. And I’d second goblin, Bud makes an easy enough palate cleanser, and oyster crackers. There’s a slew of dark beers out there so have fun.

 

Schwarzbier for sure. Not sure where you are in Illinois, but Metropolitan Magnetron and Sprecher Black Bavarian are two great U.S. brewed examples.

I'm also fond of Belgian Quads, big beers for sure, but I find them more approachable than Imperial Stouts or Barleywines. Rochefort 10 or St. Bernardus Abt 12 are about as good as it gets.

You can't go wrong with New Holland The Poet (Oatmeal Stout), Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald (Porter), and Deschutes Black Butte (Porter) and Obsidian (Stout).

 

Don't forget Brown Ales, they are in season.

Schwarzbier, great style but hard to find(in my area) except for Brooklyn Winter Lager.

Black Ales, I miss them.

I've been on a Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy kick lately with no end in sight.

Sorbet/Sherbet are traditional wine tasting palate cleansers, for beers maybe Rocky Road ice cream or just some plain bread.
3 maybe 4 beers in a tasting would be enough for me.

 

Can't you at least wait until after St. Patrick's Day?

Check out last year's Dry Irish Stout on line tasting for some possibillities.

 

Amen, brother.

 

Starkbierzeit runs from March 15 thru April 6 -- lotta dark beer flowing then.