I was on the road most of the day. And there was a ten mile back up on this single lane road that took two hours to dive through. Turns out it was a craft beer festival and looking back I should have just went to it because when I finally made it to my second stop, I found out they were already closed. Too bad it would have put me twelve miles farther away or I would have done a U-turn.

But ironicly, I have been doing a little taste testing of my own here lately having several beer and wine super stores nearby. So I decided to go shopping for beer already having several things in mind 'the Korbinian' and mostly to pick up a few wild cards in the small offerings of chocolate stouts out there. I had a Youngs Double Chocolate and allthough it had a rough afterfollowing taste of cold dirty creek water, the first chocolate note was very good and interesting and complex. I would have never known how dam good that would have been, it works and was driven to explore this out.

On the weekends I like to have an occational rich Porter or Stout with dinner but other than that rarely.
I seem to like the heavy flavorful dark Stouts with the oaty bready flavors. I dont care for Pilsners or Pale Ales its like biting into a sharp lemon peel.

Well, I have done well with my pickings and have three solid winners I'm sticking with for now. Mind you these go really good with food and after food.
So here are my favorites so far if you can find them:

Wiehenstaphaner - Korbinian
It is classed a dopplebock or " doublebock " but it tastes like a rich complex stout to me. This Korbinian is exceptional. I didn't care for their other offering I tried so be warned. Says here in find print on the back - Weihenstepan since 1040- the world's oldest brewery. Brewed in Freising Germany and brewed under the purity law of 1516, 7.5% Alc/vol. This is one of those big bottles 1 pint .9 fl oz I dont know if its also offered in a smaller bottle but I dont think so. BTW its got a pretty cool label too, german crests and bishop sanctifing.

Bison - Chocolate Stout
Says its USDA organic. Rich and roasty and cocoa powder added to the mash. 2005 Silver Medal Winner at the Great American Beer Festival for Foreign Style Stout. 5% Alc/vol. These do come in 12 oz bottles. Brewed in Ukiah, California but seem to want to point out on the front it was estabished in Berkeley CA but who cares.

Otter Creek - Stovepipe Porter
Dark roasted malts and American hops, topped with a thick mocha head. Hands down you will be impressed. Brewed in Middlebury Vermont. These also come in 12 oz bottles. There is no listing for Alc content but seems like it should be around the 4-5%.

The last two interchange very well, I started with the Bison and finished with the Otter Creek.


Aaron