01/09/2021
PERFECT BEERS FOR A RAINY DAY:
When the temperatures start dropping and the rain start falling, you start looking for ways to get warm and keep cozy. The holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year, but when you realize cold weather is the perfect time to enjoy your favorite full-bodied stout or smooth brown ale, it makes a long, cold winter that much easier to face.
Stout: More Than Guinness
Originating in the early 18th century, stouts were defined as very strong porters, and even called “stout porters.” Perhaps the image conjured up most often when you think of a stout beer is a glass of Guinness, the smooth and dark Irish stout. Today, there are a handful of unique varieties of stout, including:
Oatmeal Stout
Brewed with oatmeal (hence the name), this variety of stout tends to be a bit smoother, a bit sweeter, and has a more full-bodied flavor. You might find instances where a brewery allows these beers to ferment in bourbon or whiskey barrels, which gives them an even more unique flair.
Milk Stout
You might guess from its name (and you’d be right) that this is a sweeter beer, thanks to its residual unfermented sugars left over from the milk, but it retains the roasted flavor beautifully.
Imperial Stout
Loaded with hops, and with an incredibly strong with ABV of 8+%, this variety can have bitter or fruity flavors. Originally brewed for the Russian court of Catherine II, it’s sometimes referred to as “Russian Imperial Stout.”
Irish Stout
With a much lower alcohol content than most other types of stouts (usually less than 6%), these are lighter, and easier to drink while still maintaining the classic roasted flavor. Popular varieties of Irish stout include Murphy’s, Beamish, and of course, Guinness.
Relax, and let the Beer Flow!
Whatever your particular flavor preference, you’ll be sure to find a stout or dark ale to suit your palate. There’s a stout out there for everyone: chocolate, coffee, and fruit-infused. With a range of light and darker beers currently on tap at Easy Monkey Taphouse, you’ll find something perfect for this time of the year.