My latest Planet S column is out (you can read it here) and in honour of the ever-shortening daylight hours, I decided to focus on dark beer. But I didn’t want to do the usual winter-y sit by the fire beer. I wanted to open up pale beer drinkers to some of the possibilities of dark beer. In other words, dispel the myth that all dark beer taste like Guinness. I know most of you know that already, but it seems a lesson I must repeat every time I do a tasting.
So my goals were simple in this piece. Offer up some ideas for dark beer that explore the range of dark beer flavours. I begin with the rather pedestrian, but well-made Warsteiner Dark. I quickly move onto Paddock Wood’s mainstay Black Cat Lager. I toss in a recommendation of two for heartier dark beer and then tease the Saskatchewan readers with a dark style not found in Saskatchewan (yet).
As the column is written for a Saskatchewan magazine, I couldn’t toss out some other great dark beer simply because they aren’t available in that province. However, I think the beer selected, regardless of where you live, offer the uninitiated a nice introduction to the dark side of beer.
Feel free to give it a read, and/or to post YOUR favourite dark beer. I am always curious what others most appreciate.
December 5, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Two dark favourites right now are the re-tooled Peche Mortel(more carbonation, milder coffee flavour & I seem to pick up a lactic vanilla latte note)& Alley Kat’s Three Bears Oatmeal Stout.
December 5, 2011 at 10:22 AM
Hopworks Cascadian Dark Ale! and 2010’s Brooklyn Brewery’s Chocalate Stout
December 5, 2011 at 10:38 AM
Same brewery – OLA DUBH. amazing!
December 5, 2011 at 11:17 AM
Was going to say you forgot to mention Sam Smith Imperial Stout, which is very approachable (for an imperial stout that is). Been available at the SLGA for years… but then I checked their online inventory, and see it is no longer available.
Bushwakker Pickard’s Oatmeal Cream Stout just went on tap a few weeks ago. It is superb, one of the best beers the Wakker makes, very creamy and smooth. Wish they made it year round.
Great call on the Paddock Wood Black Cat. I wish they pushed it as their regular draft offering instead of the 606. When I have found it on tap (a few places in Stoon used to carry it, not sure anymore), it was incredible. I have done side by side tastings with it and Kostritzer, and the Black Cat has always won easily.
December 6, 2011 at 8:53 PM
For what it’s worth, Willow Park frequently carries 21st Amendment’s Back in Black which is a decent example of the Black IPA style.
December 7, 2011 at 6:00 PM
Mark — We launched our draft with Black Cat back in 2007, and it remains an option for any bar that wants it. I think the U of S pub, Louis has it on tap, but that might be it. But 606 has exploded in popularity.
December 12, 2011 at 12:03 PM
My favorite stout is Young’s Double Chocolate, if you haven’t tried it and have access to it you should.