Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers

Today’s Stouts and Porters

Stoutly Going Where No Beer Has Gone Before

Sweet Stout

Sweet stouts have a distinctive sweetness to the palate and often show chocolate and caramel flavors. They are sometimes known as milk or cream stouts. These beers obtain their characters by using chocolate malts and lactic (milk) sugars in the brewing process.

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

92 San Quentin’s Breakout Stout, Marin Brewing Co. (CA). 7% ABV (1/10)
Opaque brown black color. Chocolate-covered espresso bean and faint dried fig aromas follow through on a soft, supple entry to a dryish medium-to-full body with chewy roasted grain and nut notes and a long, tangy latte and mild citrus marmalade on toast-accented fade. A beautifully composed and easy drinking stout that will work great at the table.

92 Cream Stout, St. Peter’s Brewery (England). 5.9% ABV (1/11)
Rich chocolate maple nut fudge, dried pear and faint salmon teriyaki aromas and flavors with supple dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a crème caramel and mossy hop-accented finish. Very flavorful and sessionable.

91 Lion Stout, Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC (Sri Lanka). 8% ABV (1/10)
Muddy brown color with a fine, frothy tan head. Rich toffee and mocha aromas follow through on a round, supple entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with cascading layers of dried fruits and nuts. Finishes with a long, cocoa-dusted coffee bean and tangy fruit peel fade. A delicious and satisfying stout.

90 Spetsnaz Stout, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 6.4% ABV (1/11)
Black brown color. Aromas of stewed rhubarb, cocoa and toasted nuts with a round, dryish medium-to-full body and a crisp, rye bread toast and peppercorn-accented finish. A refreshing food beer; pair with fish and chips.

90 Mobay Stout, John Harvard’s Brew House, Framingham (MA). 7% ABV (1/09)
Dark brown color. Charred pecan, cocoa powder and roasted vegetable aromas follow through on a smooth supple entry to a dryish medium body with a chocolate crème brûlée note and a long dried fruit, pepper and nut-accented finish. A rich, drinkable stout. Tasty!

88 Samuel Adams Cream Stout, The Boston Beer Co. (MA). 4.9% ABV (1/11)
Interesting aromas of toasted coconut, dried apple and banana nut toast with a round, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a crisp, fruit and grain mélange on the finish

88 McCleary’s Stout, Bastone Brewery (MI). 5.5% ABV (1/09)
Opaque brown black color with a lacy taupe head. Sweet, creamy mocha candy aromas follow through on a round, frothy entry to a dryish medium body with good roasted grain and coffee bean character. Finishes with a balanced nutshell-like astringency and a hint of dried fruits.

87 Steel Toe Stout, Ska Brewing Co. (CO). 5.4% ABV (1/11)
Aromas of chocolate pudding, dark roasted nuts and a hint of teriyaki turkey jerky with a supple, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a melon sorbet, caramelized pear and light pepper snap on the finish. A solid, flavorful sipper.

85 Spetsnaz Sweet Stout, Grumpy Troll Brewery (WI). 5.8% ABV (1/09)
Dark brown color with a high rocky tan head. Singed chocolate, dark rye toast and leafy earth aromas with a soft, satiny entry leads to a dryish medium body with a touch of cream and charred nut on the breezy fade. A nice quaffer.

84 Buffalo Sweat Cream Stout, Tallgrass Brewing Company (KS). 5% ABV (1/11)
Dark brown black color. Aromas of candy apples and toasty rice Chex s’mores with a supple, fruity-yet-dry light-to-medium body and a spicy apple sauce, carrot, iced coffee and honeyed wafer finish. Interesting.

Add Your Comments