november beer

Traditionally, the colder it gets, the darker your beer is supposed to be. I gave out this information last year at this time, but there are always new beer lovers that need to know this!

In many colder climates, dark beers are served year-round. There is a certain something that dictates that the dark brews will taste good and take that nasty chill out of your bones.

Probably England would be a place to start. Long ago in the 1800's, "Porter" beer was a common drink among the masses. It was made using dark and roasted malts, and was often combined with another batch to alter the flavor. Porter was also one of the few beers that was regularly aged prior to comsumption, often over a year.

This Porter from Rogue, has been at the top of my dark beer list for a while. If you enjoy hearty, full-bodied wine, you will probably enjoy this. Porter and stout is made from roasted malt. That is where the coffee flavor comes from. This one has a nice creaminess to it, with a hint of sweetness. It is something that would accompany a nice pot roast on a winter's eve. I rate it at 3 out of 5 stars.

I first tasted this beer in the Sam Adams variety pack. It has been a favorite ever since then for me. The beer has a great dark color, with a minimal head on it. One of my favorite things about this beer is the smoky aroma it has...Not a stout or porter, but it is in that same dark beer class that would keep you warm on a cool evening! 4 out of 5 stars for me.

This stout is a proprietary recipe of my company: Oahu Brewcraft. I have brewed it to be as dark as any other stout on the market, but I have eliminated that bitter aftertaste that accompanies most of them. Some special secret ingredients help to give my stout a nice mouthfeel, and a silky, rich flavor. This one is great with a full breakfast too!