Paste Magazine Blind Stout Tasting

Glad to see Moo Hoo made the top 10!!!

 

Nothing too inflammatory. Was not terribly impressed by Mean Old Tom though.

 

I'm surprised by a few of the stouts not in the test (Sierra Nevada, Brooklyn Dry Irish) but otherwise it was a good test. It's interesting that over 1/3 of the top 20 were Oatmeal Stouts, a style that does not get posted about often on this board.

 

I've only had about half of the top 20, but glad to see Good People's Coffee Oatmeal on there. Was lucky enough to receive one as an extra in a trade and it was incredible.

 

Nothing from Colorado made it into the top 20. We need to up our (sub 8%) stout game.

 

Summit Oatmeal Stout is not bottled, tap only.

 

Allagash Black is a stout fermented with their yeast strain, which is of Belgian origin. No rules anywhere saying you can't brew a stout with Belgian yeast. It's still a stout... but also literally a "Belgian Strong Dark Ale" which can describe a spectrum of beers, including a stout. I think it's pretty cool that they included it in the tasting for something a little different.

 

And for the obligatory "my local beer is just as good" post
I know at least two local breweries who would make these lists constantly. Marble Oatmeal stout, just as good as FW Velvet Merlin. La Cumbre's Malpais stout reminds me of Modern Times Black House with its burnt roastiness (different styles between the two).

Is this Paste user submitted, brewery submitted, staff submitted?

SN Stout, and their seasonal Coffee Stout are great to their style offerings. I'm guessing no submission from them?


Glad to see Obsidian and Barney Flats make the list. They are on BAs list, and beers I recommend to any newcomer to try before going balls deep with imperial stouts. Ipswitch Oatmeal Stout is good too. FW Merlin is great, but top 5? Not imho. Those are about the only 4 of the top 20 I have personally tried.

 

A blind tasting is only as good as the beers in it. I would like to see a blind done on the top stouts rated here.

 

Here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4/40051/ Also, Stouts are not in Belgian Strong Dark Ale category.

 

I agree, but that isn't the best stout in WNC much less top 20. Good for Highland Brewing though.

 

True enough

 

I like the fact that they gave the lower alcohol stouts a chance to shine. Most of these lists are dominated by the big boys.

 

From the article: "There was a limit of two entries per brewery."

My personal interpretation of the above is that breweries submit the beers to Paste Magazine; that is what an "entry" means to me.

Cheers!

 

We charge you more so that we can buy stuff from our friends and neighbors that charge us more. Artisan life indeed.

Charge whatever you'd like, I just don't feel compelled to pay a premium for their beers.

 

While I can see why it wouldn't make this list, I really like SA Cream Stout. Pretty tasty, and inexpensive.

 

now I regret passing on Old Tom a few days ago

 

It's probably still on the same shelf.

 

I doubt it here where they are new and the hype is huge

 

Allagash Black is a damn fine beer.

Flying Fish's Exit 1 Oyster Stout is a good one that wasn't included in this. What a fine beer.