Two After-Dinner Stouts.

I've been tired the last couple of nights - almost too tired to drink (the operative word being "almost"). Not wanting to spend too much time on pre-bedtime drinks, I didn't open any wine, but had some stouts instead (both by the Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood New York, USA, both purchased directly from Jim Araneta's Global Beer Exchange).

As I understand, stouts are dark beers made from, among other things, barely and various types of malt. The subject stouts are flavored, as their names clearly imply.
Wednesday night, the 12th January 2011, I had some...

Southern Tier Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout - Roasted malt, very dark caramel, vanilla bean, bit of cream and a lightish dose of dark chocolate. Creamy, lush, rich, smooth. Dark caramel (think of a very dark, slightly burnt version of the syrup of leche flan) and dark chocolate towards the back, which turns slightly bitterish at the finish, with a vague citrus note that trails with the caramel. This is quite sweet, especially mid-palate. Definitely a dessert on its own.

My two older boys had some as well.

The next night, Thursday, the 13th January 2011, I just had to try another from the batch of beers I ordered, so I chose the...


Southern Tier Mokah Imperial Stout - Deeply roasted malt, roasted coffee beans and dark, unsweetened chocolate with slight caramel notes past mid-mouth. Rich, luxurious, dense, creamily-textured, very smooth. Mouth-filling. Though we liked the Imperial Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout well enough, my boys and I all preferred this one. My eldest said he'd like to try the former with some crème brûlée though.

NB: Both bottles are special and/or seasonal releases and come in large 650ml bottles that cost P750/bottle).

Tonight, I believe I'll open some of the Southern Tier Jahva Imperial Coffee Stout - and that will be another story.