STOUTWHISPERER

Brew’s Views

The Stout Whisperer

Welcome to the wonderful world of Stouts!

My Instagram/Twitter nom-deplume is the Stoutwhisperer. Why? Because that’s all I drink. Stouts and the occasional Porter. In fact, the only time I drink a beer that I can see through is once a year during the summertime, when I perform my annual cleansing of my palate with an IPA — usually a Pliny the Elder or Heady Topper. Everything else is a Stout ... and what a wonderful world it is! Come along with me as I write about all things Stout!

Since this is the Carolina Brew Scene, I’ll probably keep most of my columns about local North Carolina Stouts. To be honest, that’s a large enough world to keep me busy on a full-time basis. From the mountains to the beaches and places in between, we are so fortunate to have a host of Stoutstanding brewers in North Carolina.

Personally, my tastes are varied and depend on my mood. I like to have my taste buds challenged so I tend to gravitate toward Stouts that are thick and viscous. I appreciate the creativity of using different adjuncts but I also realize how difficult it is to dial in a perfect straight down the middle Imperial Stout. Te impacts of barrel aging are also one of my interests, not only bourbon, but also rum, wine and even grappe (and whatever will be next). Since Stouts tend to gravitate toward higher alcohol content, I tend to have only one a day, savor it as it warms, and appreciate the flavors as they present themselves (or run away and hide).

Now one word to the readers ... I’ll be mentioning specific breweries and Stouts. If I don’t mention your favorite Stout, that doesn’t mean I don’t like it ... it may very well be that I haven’t had the good fortune of tasting your favorite dark beverage. One wonderful thing about Stouts is that there are more Stouts than days and something new is always rolling off of a line that is deserving of our attention.

One prime example is from Te Dreamcatcher’s Brewery in Waxhaw, just outside of Charlotte. To be honest, I had never heard of Waxhaw until I saw an Instagram post of Dreamcatcher’s and their Stout called “Wail of the Baen SIdhe.” Mrs. Stoutwhisperer and I took a drive out to Waxhaw to visit their taproom (a renovated firehouse — love the place!) and to pick up a couple of bottles of Wail. Turns out this is a great Stout! Tis is but one example of what I’m sure are numerous stories of local North Carolina breweries and their brewmasters turning out some quality Stouts.

In future columns, I’ll touch on various Stout topics — new releases, top North Carolina Stouts, popular adjuncts, bottles vs. cans, and I’ll also want to hear from you. Let me know what you want me to cover in the world of Stouts and I’ll be glad to oblige. Drop me a note at rick@stoutwhisperer.com and let me know you saw my column in Carolina Brew Scene.

Remember, every season is Stout season!

68 | Carolina Brew Scene | Fall 2018