Dogwood Stout

Dogwood Brewing Co.
Atlanta, GA

Available: GA, TN, NC
Dogwood Brewing Co., founded in 1996, brews a wide variety of ales and lagers from a range of brewing traditions.

Alcohol by weight: 4
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 35
Gravity: 1052

Beautiful color with a fine-sounding head. The roasty aromatics proclaim this a beer of rich roasted malt and depth. This stout is one fine beer. I like it, so I’m passing on my very own secret accompaniment any fine stout. Cut yourself a slice of good bread, top it with a little butter, and a good gob of creamy peanut butter. Don’t be stingy. But wait, I’m not done—top that with a healthy dusting of red cayenne pepper. Don’t skimp. Enjoy it with the stout. You can thank me later.
- Fred Eckhardt

I took my glass to the window, but the light still wouldn’t punch through. This is serious, then. The nose shows it, too—a heady swirl of dark chocolate and Italian roast coffee. Behind a thin whack of hops, the palate is fairly light, with a nice roast bite leading to a dry, silky center showing off complex roast flavors. The finish and aftertaste are attractively coffee-ish. A very tasty beer with great roast structure. Try it with barbecue or baked ham.
- Garrett Oliver

Deep black, almost opaque, with a medium-brown, creamy crown. The aroma is just what I would expect from a stout. Lots of roasted coffee aroma, a hint of chocolate, no fruitiness, and barely noticeable hops. The foam lingers on the glass as I drink. Very nice flavor. If this was intended to be a dry stout, it is right on the money. Creamy mouthfeel, with a long-lasting, clean and roasty finish. This stout is both quenching and satisfying with the appropriate austere quality that I seek in this style.
- K. Florian Klemp

Fred Eckhardt
Fred Eckhardt lives, writes about and drinks beer in Portland, OR. He is the author of The Essentials of Beer and Sake (USA).

Garrett Oliver
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.

K. Florian Klemp
K. Florian Klemp is a research analyst at Duke University in Durham, NC, and an award-winning homebrewer. Michael Jackson returns next issue.