Stouts - Hopped or Not ?

When we talk about hoppy stouts I think it is important to look at the hop profile before answering the question. There are those hoppy stouts with big citrus characteristics which contrast the bitterness of the roasted malt, those that have a bit more of a grassy bite that can accentuate the bitterness and yet others that are highly hopped but compliment the roasty, chocolaty flavor creating flavors reminiscent to coffee or dark chocolate. I believe that many people who claim not to like hoppy stouts would be rather fond of those hoppy stouts in which the hop flavor is complimentary instead of contrasting or accentuating.

 

For me, it's all about the balance. If you can get the right hop profile, you can have a hoppier stout and still recognize it as a stout. It's all about balance.

 

Go on...I'm listening.

 

Big and bold, that's how I roll. Can you have to many hops?

 

Less hoppy stouts for me too, please. Is Victory Storm King hoppy? I don't remember that when I've had it, but it's been a while.

 

I am a fan of all sorts of stouts.

 

Stouts are Beers so obviously should be heavily hopped.

 

I'm not into super sweet imp stouts (think Choklat) then again, I don't wanna think I'm drinkin a black ipa. Founders Imperial Stout, Plead the Fifth, and Chocolate Yeti are my personal favorites.

 

I like bitterness in a stout only from the roasted barley and malt - not from hops

 

I tend to like my stouts less bitter but if it is done well I can enjoy a really hopped up stout. That being said, the stouts with citrus characteristics really don't hit palate well. It clashes too much with the roasted aspects.

 

I tend to like Stouts thick and creamy with little or no hop bitterness. I prefer the bitterness to come from the roasted malts rather than hops.

 

Having said that boring beer thing, I do have a proper opinion on hoppy Stouts like Storm King. Actually not beers like it, but Storm King itself. Rather two opinions. Like and hate. Sometimes at different points in the same pint. (I once unwisely insisted on a full Imperial pint of Storm King in DBA at the start of an afternoon pub crawl. I was lucky to find my hotel.)

Hang on. I've got a bottle of Storm King. Seems like a good reason to drink it.

. . . . . .

OK. The enjoy by date is 2011. Still quite hoppy. Nice and bitter. A bit of the citrus thing going on, but not too crazy.

Definitely a like. At least one third down the glass. I'll let you know if my opinion changes after drinking more.

 

I dont mind a hoppy stout like Old Raspy, but I definitely like a nice balanced stout. I like it when the bitterness comes mostly from the malt, but a little pine/resin hop doesnt hurt anythig.

If its barrel-aged, it better have no hop bitterness. Had a BA Black Mamba Oatmeal Stout from Aviator, and I didnt like the medicinal hop stuff going on.

 

Mmm. Enjoyed that Storm king to the last drop. That's a yes to hoppy Stouts from me.

 

I think the answers to poll questions are creating bias. Change number 4 to "I don't care, I like them both!" and it would be the clear winner. Also, with the current poll, answers 2 and 3 are splitting like minded respondents.

Good god, I just read my post. I am arguing bias on a beer forum in the middle of the night? Too late, "Post Reply"

 

Sometimes I feel like a nut....sometimes I don't.

 

I prefer Old Rasputin to Storm King in terms of hoppy...though I prefer stouts less hop forward. I liked Victory's Smokin' Oats Stout better than Storm King when I had it on tap @ FatHeads.

 

I feel the same way about Storm King. My opinion flucuates greatly from bottle to bottle. I split a bottle last week shortly after drinking a Southern Tier Iniquity and thought it blew the Iniquity away. Hoppier to boot. Needless to say right now I'm totally digging it.


To answer the original question; I like them all, and it depends on the particulars.

 

If I could "like" this multiple times, I would.

 

It really depends on the type of stout. If I have an imperial stout and I know there will be a hop profile before I taste the stout I tend to age it for a year or two in an effort to lessen the hop profile and bring other flavors forward. I personally prefer sweet dark fruit, molasses, milk chocolate or vanilla notes more than bitter coffee or cocoa notes when it comes to imperial stouts. Other stouts, such as dry stouts, I am more tolerant of a hop or other bittering flavor.