Stout Month 2011 - 17th Annual

Official descriptions are in normal text.
Previous year's opinions and impressions are italicized in orange. --Stefan
2010 opinions and impressions are italicized in green. --Stefan
2011 opinions and impressions are italicized in light blue. --Stefan

Smooth as silk. Sweet, creamy and dreamy. The Young's imparts chocolate like no other. A personal favourite. (Gratuitous British spelling)

Perfection. Quality. Always

Holy Coconut, Batman! This amazingly smooth stout smells just like a fresh coconut macaroon. The coconut on the tongue is a bit more subtle, and extremely pleasing. The combination of the coconut and vanilla perfectly complement the deep chocolate undertones and make this stout a delectable tropical treat without a single hint of the bitterness present in most stouts! I've always been a huge fan of the sweeter, dessert-style, stouts, and the Coconut Cream Stout is no exception. It delivers! With an uber-thick, but darker and grainier head than the Belgian Dip, Boggs' dreamy concoction was absolutely made for the Nitro Tap. The head is so persistent that it takes 3 pours to deliver this pint of perfection. Thank you, Adam Boggs, for this incredible brew! Now, if only there weren't so many other stouts to try, I could just stick to this one for the rest of the month...

Coconutty. Smooth. Sweet and Dry, with a clean finish. More Please!!!

The Belgian Dip Chocolate Stout continues to top the list year after year. I'm just a sucker for chocolatey, creamy, smooth stouts I guess. Full bodied, and full of chocolate, this stout goes especially well with a slice of the Mountain Sun's Carrot Cake!

I just can't get enough of this stout. Everytime it shows up on tap at any of the pubs, it is inevitably the first beer I order, even if it's in the middle of summer...

Is it possible that this beer (2006) is even stronger than last year? This unique stout is identifiable with one sniff! Full bodied, intense roastiness and maltiness, and yet the hops still sing in your mouth. The spicy and flowery scent perfectly enhance the thick and chewy fruitiness of this king of stouts. No, this CZAR of stouts! So intense and robust that you want to sip it with your eyes closed... This is indeed an astonishing monster, smashing the climbingboulder 3-star limit.

Deep, bitter, and smooth Vanilla with an initially thick, incredibly fine, but quickly dissipating head. The Stoked Oak is Oaky and Bourbony on the nose, with a distinct vanilla flavor reminiscent of Breckenridge Brewery's Vanilla Porter. Thick, hearty, and satisfying enough for the burly man, yet sweet and smooth enough for the ladies. The burnt, oaky and roasted tones develop even further as you drain your pint. On the nitro tap, this stout is as good as it gets!

An instant classic the moment it was released in 2007, this stout returns year after year, and there's a reason. Persistant head - oak and vanilla all over your nose and in your mouth - thick and rich, this stout delivers everything you could ask for, and at a low enough ABV that you can actually get an actual pint-sized glass of it.

This Stout has become my stout of choice anytime I'm in a quandary. Rich and hearty, with lovely vanilla aftertones and a pretty good kick at 7.2%. For all the oak-aged and/or vanilla adjunct beers that are becoming more and more popular, this one is the King of the Mountain. Sun.

Oaky, strong bourbon and vanilla sing in your mouth. The ABV of 6.8% seems relatively low for a stout this big and full. Intense, viscous stoked-oakish mouthfeel, but with a more bitter finish. This stout is sweet and carmely much more so than the dried fruit flavors common in the barrel-aged styles. Sip, swish, swallow and exhale through your nose before opening your mouth.... Mmmm, perfect!!!

The server told me this was a 10.2% Imperial, and thus I only got a half-pint. Research online indicates that my hunch of a few missing ABVs was correct. The thick brown head on this stout smells like freshly potted plants. I found it very smooth and quite mellow for an Imperial. Charred toffee and chocolate malt tones make this a very nice and supremely well balanced stout. Should be served in a pint glass though...

This immensely complex stout has a thin, dark brown head, and smells like freshly picked flowers planted in charcoal. It has a licorice and roasted raisiny mouthfeel, with an immediate, dark, malty alcohol warming of the throat and cheeks. Lingering, persistent "bitterness" that lacks a proper descriptive adjective - burnt, roasted, blackness... Imperialness. This Imperial Stout is a perfect finisher. Fondly nicknamed "The U-Sipper" - enjoy this beast s l o w l y !

Pours with no head and a green, sour oak nose. Initial impressions are of sweet toffee and a hint of vanilla. The barrel aging wonderfully mellows the bluntness of the nihilist, and adds a warm, lingering finish to an already great beer. Given the choice between regular and barrel aged versions of this stout, I'd take the barrel every time.

The Nihilist is served up with a thick head, and if I didn't know better, I would have guessed the alcohol content to be in the 7% range. Dry and roasty, perhaps it is the lack of sweetness that masks the punch of this Stout. A pleasantly lingering burnt finish left me craving another one.

Viscous, thin head with a caramelly sweet nose, the Nihilist is strong, bitter, burnt, robust and earthy.

A very persistant head for a non-Nitro pour, this stout has coffee on the nose, tongue, throat, ears, and toes. So much coffee that I almost forgot it was a beer! Move over Java Porter, now there's something meatier...

The 2011 rendition is a beautiful, beautiful brew. Thick, raisiny sweet, and smoother than a 20 year port, The Meph actually compares favorably with a port, even though it's in a class all by itself. The rich, spiced rum and carmel texture complemented by the lovely nose hides the 16.8% lurking inside like a jack-in-a-box waiting to jump out and surprise you. So good, you'll want to have another, which is, perhaps, ill-advised. Just be sure to snooze in your car for a few hours before driving home... I did.

This stout was a wonderful surprise from the unknown. Perfectly balanced roastiness and dry finish, with a bursting pallete of stouty flavors - I would have named this a 7.5% stout, but at only 6.0%, geeez, have another!

After hosting a Christmas Ale party earlier this year, I didn't have high hopes for the new pumpkin stout - brewers just seem to be overloading their beers with so much spice, that they are no longer enjoyable. Well, not the case for the Dark Harvest! The pumpkin does indeed shine through, followed by a deep roast character, and then trace hints of the spices. Just enough to give you the warm sensation of a slice of pumpkin pie. All in all, a delicious stout.

This has been a much neglected stout in my repertoire, and after having it again for the first time in over a year, I liked it so much I ordered another pint! This is a rich stout that gives an III (Imperial Initial Impresssion), but without the bite of too much hops. Full-bodied, roasty, rich and mellow all at the same time. It gains an additional climbingboulder star this year! (2006)

Big, bold and earthy. Powerful in character and chewy in body. The Yonder Mountain Stout is a manly man's stout. Dark and rich notes of Anise balance the slightly hoppy bitterness. Bitter in the mouth, yet finishes dry and crisp leaving a pleasantly sweet aftertaste on the lips! Oh yeah, and this is one of the few stouts that you can get a growler of to enjoy at the office, er... I mean, at home...

New to the very comprehensive Mountain Sun Stout line-up in 2009, this stout plays with the best of them. Burnt and earthy, but not as overpowering as the Thunderhead or Yonder Mountain, this is a good intro Stout if you don't want something quite so chewy, but still bursting with roasty richness. Did I mention they sell growlers? :-)

The Korova has been on tap regularly at the Mountain Sun for many years now - and there's a reason! Smoother and creamier than a GUINNESS, but still with a traditional mellow flavor. This beer is pleasing on the palate both going down the hatch and afterwards on the tongue. One pint may just not be enough...

This year's Cherry Dip (2008) had unusually palatable sour cherry notes. Very nice, but it's nearly impossible to improve upon the perfection that is the Belgian Dip Chocolate Stout!

Yummmmmmy! This years batch came out perfect. A delightful balance of cherry and chocolate.

Raisins! Dates! Cherries! Oh My!! This incredibly unique stout is lightly carbonated, with tangy sour notes reminescent of a dessert wine. It is by far the fruitiest stout I have ever had the pleasure of drinking, almost to the point of being overpowering. However, I felt it was a refreshing change from the dry and oaky stouts that are the norm this year.

I was thinking a few weeks ago that this would be quite a worthy addition to Stout Month, and... Voila! It's now on tap!!! Heavy and thick like 10w40, this is a highly viscous stout that sticks to the sides of your glass and your mouth! Chocolatey with a long lingering bitterness. Oakey, woody, and earthy, the burnt and roasted flavor is fulfilling with just a sip. In the mood for 1 and only 1 stout? Better get this one. Without a doubt, 3 climbingboulder stars.

Thick head and a nose full of charcoal. This stout is rich, heavy and bitter, but not too burnt with just a hint of oak. The dark licorice finish lingers on and on and on.

This stout poured with a super-thick head. Dark and roasty with a lingering bitter aftertaste. Full-bodied mouthfeel, yet mellowed substantially by being on the Nitro Tap. Not often that a stout with the full-body of an Imperial makes in on Nitro.

Inky black velvet! Raisins on the nose, and even more in the mouth - this stout is loaded with sweetness resonating of prunes and currants with no Imperial bitterness! Is it really 10.3% ABV? Malty, not roasty, it reminds me of the Cusquena Malta from Peru. I felt the Backdraft had a completely different character this year than last. With so much caramel and raisiny notes, an 8 oz. glass is just the right size for this unique stout.

Carbonated Oatmeal! Light, yet heavy and flavorful and crisp and powerful.

Awesome Oakeyness. Normally I find the 10 Fidy a bit harsh, but the barrel aging has done a great job of mellowing the harshness. This stout has a wonderful finish of caramel and toffee on the tongue. It pours with virtually no head, but a surprising amount of carbonation.

Of all the stouts I've ever tried, I've never, ever been so torn between what by all other measures should be a 3-star stout, but what I completely disliked! And my dislike is purely from a personal experience, completely unrelated to beer. This stout pours nicely, with a super creamy head, and smacks you in the face with fresh papaya. Unfortunately for me, a visit to South America a few years ago had completely destroyed anything that remotely smells like pukey-papaya. I almost gag. But for the rest of you out there, I'm sure this will be quiet enjoyable...

This stout made an appearance in 2004, but has gone missing during subsequent Stout Months until this year. I remembered it being initially sweet with a smooth chocolatey mouthfeel and no bitter aftertast, and very lightly fermented. This year, the sweetness has gone missing, and in my opinion, the stout is worse off for it. Still would like to try it on the Nitro Tap someday

Not on the Nitro Tap, this stout poured with a very thin head giving a faint whif of thin mints. Lots-o-burnt, deep oaky notes with a pleasant and non-overpowering mouthfeel. I missed the chocolate, but got a hint of mint after swallowing. Certainly not the Mint Chocolate Dessert Stout I was expecting. I have to admit feeling a little let down compared to Adam Boggs' prior creations...

This stout is all about the mint this year! A very unusual stout, that is wonderful to try, but I just prefer the darker, oaky, woody, vanillas in a stout that the light mint.

Trickster, indeed! If you closed your eyes and took a whiff of this one, the strong floral hoppiness would cause visions of a pale, golden IPA to dance in your head. Open your eyes and... Whoa! It's a stout?! After a few swallows, the only sign that it is a stout (aside from a tiny hint of burnt/roasty character) is the dark color. Hops and bitters prevail in this brew. For a stout, I'd say it only merits one star, but for uniqueness, and to appease the diehard hopheads, I'll give it two.

This stout draws you in with a faint and comforting GUINNESS-esque aroma. The first taste leaves a distinctly burnt, but smooth, first impression. As the comparatively thinner head dissipates, further swallows offer up hints of coffee and barley. Ye Old School Stout is fairly bursting with flavor compared to it's Dry Irish Brethren. A hearty and solid stout for sure. A thicker, more persistent head would easily bump this stout to 3 stars.

While this stout doesn't smell like wine, the barrel aging process has imparted a very distinct grape, wine, and almost vinegary flavor that mellows the strong, burnt earthiness of the classic Thunderhead Stout. Very, very unique and worth a taste for sure, but I prefer the original Thunder.

Pours with a lovely thick head, smells of earth and burnt charcoal. Full, full mouthfeel and a crisp, dry finish. Zero hops to speak of, so I can't claim this is a well balanced stout. It was also a bit too carbonated for my liking, and I enjoyed it more after stirring it up to rekindle the head and relieve the fizziness.

Pours with very thin head, this highly-carbonated and very watery beer is nuttier than squirrel shit. It even smells kind of like cashew or almond butter.

Kicked the glass before mine was poured!! :-(

Sounds great!! More info please?!