The Dark Beer thread

[cjolley]

I don't drink much beer, but when I do it is almost always Negra Modelo

But while we were on our Cruise I desided to branch out and asked the bar tender for something dark besides NM. (I prefer dark beer)

He came up with Guinness Extra Stout and I really liked it.
Kinda tastes like beer mixed with coffee.

I thought to myself: "Where can I get more recomendations about beer?"

Naturally MURC came to mind.

So, whats the scoop, dark beer wise?

TIA

[Sasq]

Guinness Extra Stout is defiently an excelent choice.

Back home we have a saying (bad scottish accent) 'ach I'm hungry, think i'll have a Stout' we are of course refering to Coopers Stout

Sadly getting bottled outside of the Southern part of Oz is difficult, however there is always Homebrew which I can even find here.

[Gurm]

I hardly know where to begin... you're such an - for lack of a better word - infant. Untainted, pliable... hmm.

Well, you aren't going to get much smoother than a Guiness. Seriously. If you don't mind things a little more dangerous, you could delve into the world of other stouts or porters. Dark Lagers might make you happy (for example Sam Adams' Winter Lager, or Black Lager).

If you want to stray a little lighter but stay in the same vein as Guinness, try Boddington's. Same smooth nitrogenated feel (same type of cans, with the auto-nitrogenator), but in an ale instead of a stout.

You have to try a few things, and see what strikes your fancy.

[Jon P. Inghram]

I love regular Guinness Draught, but the Extra Stout tasted like fermented tires.

[cjolley]

...same type of cans...

Cans?
Bottles only and drunk from a glass please.


So I took your advice and tried some Porter.
Flat, watery and darker than the Extra Stout.
I liked it, but not as much as the Guinness.

Let the exploration continue!

[Gurm]

Cans?
Bottles only and drunk from a glass please.


So I took your advice and tried some Porter.
Flat, watery and darker than the Extra Stout.
I liked it, but not as much as the Guinness.

Let the exploration continue!

Flat, watery porter? What brand? They vary widely, and very few are... watery or flat.

And my bad - didn't see that you said extra stout.

[gt40]

Don't know if it's availble down there, but I've become partial to Sleeman Original Dark , and also their Fine Porter

[KeiFront]

Cjolley, do you generally prefer dark roasted flavored beers (stout, porter) or also dark ales?

[Fluff]

There is always Leffe Brown

http://www.inbev.com/brands/2__3__0__globalspecialtybrands.cfm

Wow there is a website called www.ratebeer.com

Their favourite dark beer is from WI by a brewing co called Calumet.

http://www.ratebeer.com/Ratings/Beer/Beer-Ratings.asp?BeerID=7239

[Wombat]

Cans?
Bottles only and drunk from a glass please.

No, actually. Guiness is a definite exception. Their cans contain a nitrogen pack. Open the can, pour the entire thing into a pint glass, and you're pretty well off.


Another fun beer is New Belgium 1554 Black Ale. Dark, tasty, though intentionally not as heavy as a stout.

[Helevitia]

I second what Wombat said.

[cjolley]

Cjolley, do you generally prefer dark roasted flavored beers (stout, porter) or also dark ales?

Good question.
But as I like the Negra Modelo and the Extra Stout, I guess either (or both).
You guys recomend them and I'll give em' a try.

[gt40]

I guess Sleeman is available in the US, here through only a few distributers

[KeiFront]

I'm only gonna recommend belgian beers, hey I'm living in belgium a beer geek's paradise so I hope you don't mind. And only dark/brown ales.

Trappists:
Westvleteren 12, it's as good as they say but very hard to find even in Belgium, ok I know a few local pubs in the neighborhood that have it but you always pay a little price premium. So if your local shop has a bottle of it it's a must buy .

Rochefort, the best trappist there is (except for Westvleteren ), it has a really good aftertaste.

In general all trappist are good; Westmalle, Westvleteren, Chimay, Rochefort, Orval, Achelse Kluis.

Ales:
Leffe Brown (Double), is also really good, woman overhere like to sweeten it a bit with sirup (groseille). You can get it in every pub overhere altough I prefer the Leffe Tripel or the Radieuse (more bitternes).

Kasteelbier, very dark beer but also really sweet (at least to my taste).

Gulden Draak, a nice fruity malty taste also a really dark beer.

I gonna stop now, because I could go on and on .

[GNEP]

Can't beat a lovely pint of hand-pulled Tetley's. Lovely and creamy and mmmmm nice. But it doesn't travel well or keep well so only drink it in a pub in Yorkshire that serves a lot of it and keep their pipes clean