Bursting Myths Surrounding Stouts

sure, why not. I feel the same way...stouts are epic! However, that said, I live in phoenix and find myself hankering for a light refreshing beer more often than a stout. I'll still crack a few stouts this summer...be sure of that!

 

Im with you. I drink stouts year round. Sometimes a big heavy one in the middle of summer doesnt do it for me, but a lighter one will for sure. I dont see how people can say stouts arent for all year but DIPA are. they are as heavy and sweet and cloying as any big stout.

 

In the summer people generally want lighter, more refreshing beers that are best when cold. Sours, IPAs, Lagers, etc. Stouts are thick and heavy, and best enjoyed warmer. Forgive me if that isn't really what I'm looking to pound on a hot summer day. I'll still drink them as after dinner dessert type beers, but they will be far from my go-to brew in the hotter seasons.

 

I love stouts 12 months of the year but a good imperial stout like Founders is much better in a winter night as opposed to a hot day. I grilled up a steak last night in low the 70s while drinking a porter and then one with dinner and it was fantastic.

 

High of 86 here today, Ill be drinking stouts when I get home. I dont care if its -20 or 120 Ill drink a stout anytime.

 

I'm in on stouts!

 

My thought is you shouldn't pigeonhole and compartmentalize certain styles of beer to be only drank during certain seasons. Drink what you like, when you like.

 

Myth? Crock? I'd say it is more of simply a "preference" of a lot of US beer drinkers. But, given that Nigeria is the largest market for Guinness (even larger than Ireland), there are 13 breweries in Africa brewing Guinness and the Caribbean is also a big market for Guinness (Jamaican-brewed Guinness Foreign Extra Stout was the closest FES to the US market after it disappeared from the US in the 1960s up until recently), not all beer drinkers agree with US beer geeks.

 

I agree with you, stouts are my by far my favorite...(my celler can testify to that).But I understand the reasoning that stouts are better in the colder seasons kinda like hot coco is as well,but I'm sure any hot coco fan as well as a stout fan will tell you any season is a good season to drink hot coco or a stout.......in my opinion beers don't have a certain season you have to drink them in.

 

Myth =/= Personal Preference. I probably like imperial stouts a little less than the next guy, but I wouldn't drink one in the middle of a hot day. I've got a few in the basement that outlasted the winter, so I might open one up if we get a cold, rainy spell.

 

I've been living a lie!

As soon as there's a 90F+ day in NYC this summer, I'm going to make a point of drinking a room temperature BA stout, and crush this myth that's ruled my life.

 

Just like white liquor in the summer and brown liquor in the winter has gone the way of the 8-track and whitewall tires, so why not drink stouts year round. Same goes for IPAs - I drink 'em year round as well.

 

Move to Western NY. We have 11 months of winter, you can enjoy stouts every month of the year.

 

3. What is meant by the term "cloying" in reference to beer?

distastefully sweet

 

Please, please, please! For the sake of all that is good and proper and holy, don't do it! You'll go blind and grow hair on the palms of your drinking hand! It's not a myth but a deity given truth!

Or not...

 

1. Sheaf Stout
2. Most any RIS
3. Sickeningly sweet.

 

As Jesskidden alluded to in his post, what each drinker enjoys is his/her personal preference. There is no right way on this IMHO. I like big stouts, barleywines, strong dark Belgian ales, etc. and have a decent stash of them but I wouldn't grab one to enjoy on a 90 degree day in the middle of a humid NJ summer. If I want high octane, I just drink cocktails. If I am just relaxing, I will pick up a lower ABV brew that tastes good on the colder side. This not a hard and fast rule and I will enjoy a stout from time to time as well in the summer but it is not the norm. These are just my preferences and everyone is entitled to his/her own.

Drink what you like whenever you like and don't worry about what others may think. Your hard earned money spent on your beer to be consumed for your enjoyment.

 

I'd say Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout is pretty light and refreshing.