Firestone Walker - Velvet Merkin

This was pretty tasty. Super silky. Tons of vanilla flavors from the barrel aging. Doesn't really standout with any ridiculous character but it's super drinkable. Don't think I'd get another bottle but wouldn't turn down a drink. 

Ninkasi - Oatis Oatmeal Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Super tasty. Really smooth and drinkable. Nice roasted malt and chocolate flavors. Recommended. 

Sam Adams - Chocolate Bock

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Its chocolaty, but its thin and a little off. The chocolate does taste pretty good for what it is but I wouldn't go out of my way to get this. 

Stone - Mint Chocolate Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This definitely tasted like a mint stout with a good amount of chocolate. Enjoyable enough. 

Williamsberg Alewerks - Cafe Royale

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Really smooth barrel aged stout. Vanilla, bourbon and oak really stand out. Slightly bitter on the finish. Not heavy, pretty light for a stout. I was expecting the coffee to come through a little more. Good enough for the price. 

DuClaw - HERO Chocolate Chipotle Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I really love spicy stouts. There's something that just really works. (See Great Divide's Chocolate Yeti and the recent Stone Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers)

The peppers are front and center in the beer, but its not ridiculously over-powering. Chocolate still comes through and there's a bitterness to the finish.

I'd recommend it. 

Maine Beer Co. - Mean Old Tom

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

For a beer that boasts "aged on vanilla beans" there is hardly a hint of vanilla. The finish is overly harsh and bitter with an almost ashy taste. Very disappointing after the other solid beers from these guys.

I would not recommend this, or if you do happen upon a bottle, sit on it for a year or so to mellow out the bitterness. 

Sierra Nevada - Oatmeal Stout (Best of Beer Camp)

Part of the Best of Beer Camp mix pack (not pictured)

Pretty enjoyable.Smooth is the best way to describe it. Not bitter. Nice level of chocolate flavor.

3 out of 5 (It's a good beer, I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again though)

DC Brau - Barrel Aged Beers

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I had these at Meridian Pint, part of a DC beer week event. There were about 6 DC Brau barrel aged beers on tap. Some of them were ridiculous (a barrel aged session IPA?) that I didn't bother to try.

Stone of Arbroath (Barrel Aged) - On the left
Some slight fruitiness comes through. Eh.

Hells Bottom (Barrel Aged) - On the right
The non barrel aged version is far superior. It gets a little lost with the whiskey/etc. Some roasted flavor. Eh.

Boatswain Chocolate Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was drinkable. I purchased another beer at the same time (an IPA? or something else) that was terrible. I could not finish it. It tasted like cheap malt liquor (OE).

Williamsburg Alewerks - Coffeehouse Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Thin for a stout. Mostly coffee flavors coming through. Not too bitter. Pretty easy drinking. Its okay, nothing mind blowing, not bad though either.

Sam Adams - Black & Brew/Old Fezziwig

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was pretty thin and tasted like a shot of coffee was just poured in a beer. Pretty watery tasting.

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Better than the coffee stout...

Bell's - Cherry Stout (2010)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

Thanks to my super detailed notes from my last tasting, I have an excellent comparison point for over a year of aging (don't be fooled by the date of the post). Based on the batch number of 9993, this was bottled on October 28, 2010.

The cherry taste is still really strong in this, providing a fair amount of tartness. The roasted malt is almost secondary at this point. Its fine, but nothing I'd go out of my way to get (or age again).

Dogfish Head - Chicory Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This was surprisingly "mild" for a stout proclaiming it has coffee and chicory in it. Thinner body. More in line with a porter these days than a stout, but whatever. Its a fine beer that I wouldn't go out of my way to get again.

Sixpoint - Diesel

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

This is a very different stout. The piney(?) hop aroma and taste are pretty prevalent. Its easy drinking though which is nice. It drinks almost like an only slightly bitter black IPA vs. a stout. I might pick up another 4 pack if the mood struck me.

Samuel Adams - The Vixen (Chocolate Chili Bock)

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

It's certainly chocolatey. I was hoping for at least a hint of heat (sort of like the Great Divide Chocolate Yeti). It improved a lot as it warmed up.


Bonus Mandy Thoughts:
[In the middle of a losing streak from card games]
This beer tastes like "loss" to me. It probably tastes like victory to you. But the tides may be turning!!!

Baying Hound - Long Snout Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

 This was not enjoyable. There was a severe off taste to it that reminded me of rubbing alcohol. It only got worse as it warmed up. Sad.

DuClaw - Oak Aged Double Black Lightning

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

I ran across two barrel aged offerings from DuClaw and decided to pick them up in an effort to drink local.

This is actually really good. I think its based off of their normal black IPA, but it tastes more like a subtlety piney stout than a super piney/citrusy/whatever IPA. There are notes of vanilla from the barrel aging. I'd recommend it.

Stone Collaboration - Cherry Chocolate Stout

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

You can sort of smell the cherries.

Ooo. I think I like it. Its not tart. Medium sweetness. The chocolate & cherries are detectable, but don't completely dominate the taste. I thought it was enjoyable.

DuClaw Naked Fish

From Joe Drinks Dinner and Stuff

It really does taste like raspberries. That's actually a good thing. Its not a hint of raspberries, its a shit ton.

A pretty tasty dessert beer.