Been out of the trade game for a bit. Lookin for a pastry stout or two to trade for. Anyone had anything good lately? Thanks y’all
Yes, I have. Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Milk Stout, from Braxton Brewing, Covington, KY. Also Cocoa Mint Milk Stout, from SingleSpeed Brewing, Waterloo, IA. I'm all in on the English Sweet/Milk Stouts.
Imperial Evil Pastry Stout Factory Strikes Back by Weldwerks Brewing Co was a delicious chocolate peanut butter stout. Best I’ve had to date. Just gifted a two-pack to a friend. You may have trouble finding it. I think it was only brewed once. Starriest Night (hazelnut version basically) by the same guys was also awesome.
BCBS Mon Cheri, 3 Sheeps BBA The Wolf, Prairie Screenshot, Fair State FSB: 2019 Pt 1, and Prairie Basic Becky. That's just this month, so far.
In Chicago: Benthic and Vanilla Benthic are excellent. I'm no Half Acre fanboy, but both are worthy beers.
Everybody talks about Abraxis from Perennial Ales. Try their Number 17. It's brewed with mint leaves and cacao. I thought it was better than abraxis.
Weldwerks has some pastry stouts that are tasty. I'm a fan of modern times though. Modem tones may be the best beer I have had in a looong time.
Pipeworks and Hubbard's Cave have been absolutely ruling this style recently. Almost nothing else I've had comes close. For Pipeworks, try Fluffo Sando or Baked & Layered. For HC, try French Toast or Salted Caramel (or any of the Pot de Cremes).
I’m not a big fan of the style but do know Omnipollo makes a bunch of them both individually and in collaboration with other breweries. You might want to start there.
I've currently been digging anything with maple syrup--CBS, Saranac Varick St Breakfast Stout, Dragon's Milk Maple Oak, etc.--but generally I don't like the super sweet stouts very often. The best imperial stout I've had so far this year has been Black Chocolate from Brooklyn.
While they're both pioneers of the concept, I still feel like the Bruery and Cigar City both produce some of the best examples out there. Both have fairly large bottle clubs (aka. more bottles in the wild) and plenty of retail options, too. As far as sought after/rare examples go, I'd say the stuff coming from Weldwerks is probably the best I've had. In particular the PB Medianoche is pretty great for what it is.
Picked up a Milk Stout from "Left Hand Brewing Co.". A little out of my usual tastes, but, I liked it. Coffee and Malty--not too sweet.
uhhhh... Southern Tier. They were making dessert-beer concoctions (e.g. Creme Brulee Stout, Choklat, Mokah, Pumking) before The Bruery or Cigar City existed, and now Southern Tier is totally overlooked. Funny how trends work. EDIT: In fairness to you, I don't think Southern Tier distributed to Colorado then, so I understand if you missed them.
Nope, I was a aware of them. Pumking used to be a "hype" beer at one time. You can be a pioneer without being first...can't you?
I wouldn't call it pioneering, so much as popularizing, but maybe that's splitting hairs? There was more to Southern Tier than Pumking too. Rogue, and specifically the Voodoo donut series, probably deserves some credit [or condemnation] for elevating the pastry beer too, but beer nerds shitting all over Rogue goes back even further.
actually dictionary definition of the word pioneer: develop or be the first to use or apply (a new method, area of knowledge, or activity).
Also a definition from the dictionary: "a person who is among the first to research and develop a new area of knowledge or activity." I'd also say that the stuff CC and the Bruery made their names from were quite a bit bolder than anything Southern Tier was doing. Thinking back, wouldn't Dixie be THE original pioneer in this area? White Chocolate Moose was around back in the 90's.
Had full size candy bar, double purple lemur, and chaos grid: the final course recently. All outstanding w/ full size candy bar being the sweetest of sweet
Pioneering, popularizing, and perfecting are all different things. I'm afraid I cant recommend southern tier based on my personal opinion of their beers. They may be a pioneer, but the diacetyl tire fire that is creme brulee is simply disgusting. Being the first doesn't indicate they are the best. Or even the average for that matter. Edit: IIRC momi hiwa was around before the pastry stout fad. An argument could be made for Avery as a pioneer and popularizing agent. Rumpkin was a sweet ass beer as well, but not a stout.
Angry Chair and Hidden Springs are always solid, we love our sugar water here in Florida. Had Suggestion of Mass: Mocha Latte from Modern Times recently and really liked it $4$ from American Solera is ridiculous, super viscous bourbon brownie batter
I was very happy with Westbrook's Maple Bourbon BA CocoNaughty, had it after MT Ultra Coconut and it held it's own. Also if you're into peanut butter stouts at all Modern Times' Fellowship of Xul was probably the best peanut butter stout I've ever had.
