I am planning to do a beer tasting party with a group of friends. This is the first time I would be hosting something like this. I am thinking of exploring different stout tastes first and I am looking for suggestions of beers that should definitely be on this list. Ideally, I would have 6-10 different stouts that differ enough in tasts to show a broad range of the different profiles of stouts. I live in Minnesota, so local Minnesotan brews are on the table as well. Thanks for the suggestions in advance.
It might be nice if you explained the history behind the name stout and served a porter to begin with. A milk stout might be nice as well, and I think you should do an Imperial Stout last. And, dare I say it, perhaps have some Guinness Draught on hand for comparison as it is probably the best known stout in the world. I'd probably also avoid anything that has an additive, like coffee, as that just muddies the waters.
I would look for examples of the different sub-types of stouts and try to have an example of each (probably approach in an order of intensity of flavor something like): English Porter English Stout American Stout Oatmeal Stout Milk/Sweet Stout Dry Irish Stout Foreign/Export Stout American Double/Imperial Stout Russian Imperial Stout
I agree with the posters above. How beer-experienced are your friends? Fortunately, there are many easily available stouts on the market that should make for a good tasting. Paste magazine usually has fun lists. I don’t agree with their ranking results, but I enjoy their tasting notes: https://www.pastemagazine.com/artic...-best-non-barrel-aged-imperial-stouts-bl.html Some other ideas of easy stuff to get: Guinness Left hand milk stout nitro Old Rasputin Bourbon county stout (should be easy enough to have someone float you one of these if you don’t have one handy) Surly Darkness (MN’s most famous stout?) and/or BA Darkness Happy gobble gobbbble gobbbbbbbbble! Edit: beyond styles, also consider additives and adjuncts to taste. Speedway Stout for coffee, Avery vanilla bean, etc.
The posters have great answers . You're in Minnesota and I follow the stout beer tasting. You mentioned this is your first beer tasting for friends. How many are into craft beer? I would do a "regular" craft beer tasting for your first tasting. Start with a lager. add an amber, ale,and end with a few stouts. I did not mention IPA,they may be a bit strong.
This is good advice. Stouts may be too robust to brand new craft drinkers. You don't want to lose them before they can ever get started. Don't forget to have some snacks on hand. Guys get hungry while knocking down beers. Pretzels and saltines help cleanse the palates. Also, find some snacks that compliment the beers you are sharing.
