I love a good dark beer in the winter - like it in the summer too.
This thing was titanic. Nap inducing. Astounding.
Better than Escape from Hog Island, which is going a long way in my book.
What are your favorite dark American beers?
-XC
Moose Drool a dark brown ale that is extremely smooth and easy to drink. It's brewed in Missoula MT, where I attended the University of Montana. We drank this beer often, it was a main-stay. Luke, I'm sure you've tried this beer before, right?
I definitely enjoyed Deschutes Black Butte Porter and Ninkasi Oatis stout when I was in the states, but I think I was just a fan-boy for any Oregonian beer. thenewgreen mentioned Moose Drool, and while it's not what would initially come to mind as far as dark beers go, it's a damn good ale. Very drinkable, yet still satisfying.
Yeah, it looks dark but it definitely doesn't drink like the typical dark ale and definitely not a stout, but Moose Drool is a pretty good beer by my estimation. -Could be more nostalgia than anything. I used to drink the Black Butte Porter quite a bit too. Great beer.
Perhaps a bit more than just nostalgia. I thought it was quite nice, and more than a few of my American friends have listed it among their favourite beers. I found it fairly similar to White Rabbit Dark Ale, for the Aussies playing along.
Wow. Ten FIDY, very exciting! I've enjoyed Dale's Pale and the Old Chubb Scotch Ale from Oskar Blues heartily so far, and the imperial stout may just be my favorite style of beer. I stand with halinc in holding Dragon's Milk as the current title holder, although I've never tried it side by side with its nearest contender, the K.(entucky)B.(ourbon?)S.(tout) from Founders. My Michigan biases are undeniable and also well justified. If you know what I mean, well then, you know what I mean. There was one magical evening of planeshifting with imperial pints of imperial stouts by Brooklyn Brewery at Dr. Dremo's in Arlington, VA. The Dunhill's may have carried the evening though. Or the first time viewing of Easy Rider. Not really sure. wasoxygen, care to weigh in?
I took a trip to Scotland a few months back, ostensibly to do a whisky drinking tour. And while I drank a lot of amazing whisky, I was blown away by the beer culture there. I hadn't had too many Scotch ales in my life, but each bar I went into had several on draft, the vast majority of which I had never encountered. It was like paradise. I'm not sure there's anything more pleasant than quality cask ales, the kind that need to be pulled slow from the hand pump tap. It's brilliant. Anyone who loves drinking should go to Scotland. Best spirits and amazing beer, too (I hesitate to say best beer, because I've spent a bit of time in Munich, too, and well, nothing can compare to that).
That was an only-time viewing of "Easy Rider" for me. And a very enjoyable evening it was at Dr. Dremo's, formerly d.b.a. Bardo Rodeo. That place opened in 1993 in a former Oldsmobile dealership, and claimed to be the largest brewpub in the nation, at 22,000 square feet. It closed in 2008 to make room for another hipster-infested condo. The founder, who also co-opened the place that would be known as Iota, which we were unable to enter because you forgot your ID (or left it in the wallet that was stolen from your car?), then left for Australia. City Paper reports that the he has returned and is reopening Bardo Rodeo in Northeast. cliffelam, I gather that you will be in town in the next couple weeks. I would count it a sorely-missed opportunity if I do not buy you a good dark beer during your stay. I work in Foggy Bottom and live in a hipster-infested condo in Falls Church. I also have an appointment downtown on October 27 and reckon I will be thirsty after.
Awesome. I am headed down to Naples, FL on Monday and will be back in two weeks, so it is possible we will miss each other. We don't have any great beer in Durham, but we have a lot of good beer and a few pubs. Tylers is a neat place - locally owned, great location in the American Tobacco campus, and much of their food is from the kitchen instead of Sodexho. They carry 40+ beers on tap and countless bottles. Do make your way to Sams Quick Stop over by 9th street. You'll be glad you went in. Hope we are in town the same time. -XC
My current favorite is Dragon's Milk, a stout aged in bourbon barrels with a lot going on in the flavor department. It's pricey but worth it.
Brevard?! I go down there all the time (well, to Hendersonville, which is right next door). I've never noticed it, but if I see it next time I'm there, I'm definitely going to pick some up. Generally, I think microbrews tend to overdo it on stouts. Almost like many of them are overly flavored and they stop tasting like beer. But a good one is a thing to cherish. I've had an American made stout called Old Rasputin that I thought was amazing. I think it's from California. Would highly recommend if you see it anywhere.
I have had Rasputin and you can buy it at Sams Blue Light Quik Stop in Durham. That may be the best beer shop I know, though I have seen larger ones, these guys have great stuff. Agree with you on the over-the-top tastes - like those crazy hoppy beers that are all zing and alcohol..... -C
Old Rasputin is one of the best beers I've had to date. It's made (I think) near Fort Bragg in CA. Definitely pick that up if you see it.