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Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Stouts and Porters

Twins of the Beer World

Dry Stout

Dry stout is closely associated with Ireland in general, and Guinness in particular. These brews tend to be rich and dark with a definitive bitter note and a drying palate feel. They are classically paired with oysters, although any Irish stout drinker will tell you that a pint it is a meal in itself. Draught (draft) Irish stout is nitrogen-flushed to give it that tell-tale white creamy head that has made Guinness so recognizable. This process is also effected in cans and bottles with a nitrogen “widget.” The style is widely emulated throughout the world and is particularly popular with U.S. microbrewers and brewpubs, often as a more full bodied and dryer interpretation.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range Quality Band
96-100 points Platinum
90-95 points Gold
85-90 points Silver
80-84 points Bronze
Less than 80 Not Recommended
Legend
  • = Brewpub
  • ABV = Alcohol by volume
  • Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

91 Extra Stout, Jopen (Holland). 5.5% ABV (1/09)
Dark brown color with a fine, foamy head. Lovely aromas of oil-roasted nuts, chocolate fudge and clay follow through on a supple entry to a dry medium body with great depth and wonderful roasted espresso note. Finishes with a long, chocolate-covered espresso bean and charred nut fade. Powerfully delicious.

91 Dry Irish Stout, Moylan’s Brewing Co. (CA). 4.8% ABV (12/07)
Opaque black brown color with a tan head. Rich coffee, chocolate, bruised apple and wet cement aromas and flavors with along, baked apple, lemon curd, burnt sugar and nut fade.

90 Kujukuri Ocean Beer Stout, Kankiku Meijyo Co. (Japan). 5% ABV (12/09)
Deep brown black color. Aromas of dark bread crust, butter baked sweet potato and cocoa follow through on a round, supple entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with roasted nut, marinated okra and dried fruit notes. Finishes with a lightly tangy, dried citrus, burnt toast and mild earthy hop fade. Very tasty and nicely-balanced.

87 O’Hara’s Irish Stout, Carlow Brewing Co. (Ireland). 4.3% ABV (1/09)
Opaque brown black color with a foamy head. Cocoa, muddy barnyard haystack and mossy stone aromas follow through on a soft, brisk entry to a light-to-medium body with roasted nut and tangy dried orange peel notes. Finishes crisply with a cocoa and earth fade. A nice quaffer.

87 Dry Irish Stout, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 4.2% ABV (1/09)
Rich dark chocolate toffee, molasses and roasted root vegetable aromas follow through on a round entry to dry medium body with cocoa pudding and nutshell notes on the breezy finish.

84 Irish Stout, Beamish and Crawford Breweries (Ireland). 4.3% ABV (12/07)
Dark brown color with a lingering manila nitrogenated head. Subtle aromas of nuts, cocoa and cream. A brisk entry leads to a rather thin, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body of cocoa, clay and nuts. Finishes with a breezy nutty fade. A light session beer.

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