I've recently developed a taste for craft beers. I don't drink often (maybe one beer a week), and there are a lot to choose from, so I thought it might be interesting to discuss the different types, breweries, and rate them.
My tastes lean more towards porters and stouts. Last week, I had one called Lump of Coal, from the UK. It was given to me as a gift, and I found it to be surprisingly good! It was very dark and very strong on the coffee flavor, with just a hint of chocolate. It's a seasonal beer, though, so I don't think I'll find it again until the winter. I would give it 4 out of 5 stars.
Tonight, I tried Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout, also from the UK. This one was the opposite of Lump of Coal; this was more like chocolate milk, with a hint of beer! I'm not sure how much I liked it; I think you'd have to be in the mood for something very sweet, which I wasn't. I would give it 2 out of 5 stars, but I think I'd try it again under different circumstances, now that I know what to expect. This beer is available at Lowes on 421 in Wilkesboro, $4.49 for a 1-pint bottle.
My go-to beer lately is Duclaw's Sweet Baby Jesus, a chocolate peanut butter porter from Baltimore, MD. I absolutely love this beer, and it pairs great with any type of chocolate brownie or cake! But it's fine alone, too. It has a strong coffee flavor, with a peanut butter finish and just a hint of chocolate. I definitely give this beer 5 out of 5 stars, and you can buy a 6-pack at Lowes on 421 for $9.99. You can also buy one individually at Prime Thai in Elkin to go with your dinner; it pairs well with the Gai Bangkok (a chicken meal with peanut butter, cabbage, and other veggies).
For a regular porter, I've enjoyed
People's Porter, from Foothills Brewing in Winston Salem. I would say that it is medium bodied with a even mix of espresso and beer; not too strong on either flavor. I'm not sure about food pairings, but so far it goes well after dinner while watching a movie
I would give it 4 out of 5 stars, and it seems to be available at all of the local grocery stores I've tried.
I've tried several of the Dragon's Milk beers, from New Holland Brewing in Holland, MI. These beers have a bourbon mix, so they're considerable stronger. I've tried the Bourbon Barrel Stout and the Dragon's Milk Reserved (with vanilla and chai spices). Honestly, I want to like them more than I do. I think it's the overpowering oak flavor (which I have never liked in wine or liquor, either), but I tend to get very tired of them before I actually finish a bottle. So I have to give these 2 out of 5 stars, as well. I've found several flavors at Lowes on 421, and you can also buy the Bourbon Barrel Stout at 6th & Main in Wilkesboro.
Last but not least, there's a newer porter called Thrilla in Vanilla Porter, by Double Barley Brewing in Smithfield, NC. I've only recently had a chance to taste it, and so far I think it might top my list! It had a strong coffee and chocolate flavor, but a vanilla finish that cut out the bitterness. I don't know how to rate it yet, but it's available at Dooley's Tavern in Wilkesboro. I found a 1-pint bottle at Lowes today, but it was $10 for a single bottle so I tried the $4.50 chocolate stout instead.
Please feel free to add your own reviews, as well as feedback on mine! You don't have to limit yourself to porters and stouts, of course, and please be kind when giving feedback to others that have posted reviews.
(I'm going to copy this to some of the surrounding counties, too, so please note that while I am in Wilkesboro, other reviewers may not be)
