There has been a resurgence in stouts and porters over the past few years.
Guinness is probably the most well known but dig a little deeper in you local off-licence and you may uncover some unusual and different stouts.
A favourite of mine is the well-known Mackesons Milk Stout. And it does actually contain milk (well kind of) – the lactose is the sugar extracted from milk.
Another recent sampled beverage was Holy Cowbell India Stout by Beavertown.
It came in a small decorated can but one of my tastiest finds this year is Guateamalan Coffee Extra porter from the Buxton Brewery.
Oh, and did I mention Fallen Brewing Chew Chew Salted Caramel Milk Stout?
Bottle in Heaton Moor is an amazing cave of beer, ales and stouts from far and wide but also a great provenance feel about the place with many of the brews travelling from local areas in South Manchester and the Pennines.
Bottle owner Corin Bland told me: “Stouts are back. We get many requests for stouts and they seem as popular as lager and bitter. We seem to want to discover different drinks
“Trying to pick a favourite is like asking a parent which is their favourite child this one and very much a moveable feast with the ever expanding array of great beers available.”
Corin’s top 10 stouts
- Magic Rock Bearded Lady (Pedro Ximinez barrel aged version)
- North Coast Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout
- Omnipollo Pecan Mud Stout
- Siren Bones of a Sailor III
- Buxton Living End Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout
- Founders Breakfast Stout
- Weird Beard Sadako
- Arbor/Moor Double Dark Alliance
- Santa Fe Brewing Imperial Java Stout
- Thornbridge Cocoa Wonderland