Alewerks Intentional Stout

Intentional Stout is a fine stout. Beeradvocate classifies it as an American Stout.

Brewer's notes: Strikingly bold and irresistibly delicious, Intentional Stout is a no-gimmick American Stout with dark fruit and toasted bread notes. A natural richness is balanced by a generous addition of American hops. A roasty finish leaves the palate with the taste of dark chocolate and cocoa.

Tasting notes
20260115: Intentional is a solid stout. The taste has chocolate and some licorice. It reminded me of Kalamazoo Stout. I am happy to drink more and may occasionally buy some for my cellar. 

Rating: = 3.5 glasses

Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout

Brewer's Notes:
Brewed with well water (the original well, sunk in 1758, is still in use with the hard water is drawn from 85 feet underground), the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and organic cocoa impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavours and a delightful finish – this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate

My review:
Bittersweet chocolate dominates. Too sweet and too much chocolate IMO. Sort of a bittersweet chocolate milkshake.

Rating = 2 glasses

Bell's Kalamazoo Stout

Brewer's Notes: Named after the city where it all began, Kalamazoo Stout is one of our most classic recipes. This smooth, full-bodied stout offers a blend of aromas and flavors of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee, balanced with a significant hop presence.

BeerAdvocate

March 31, 2021
The beer is growing on me. It has flavor but is not "imperial". I thought about upgrading the rating to 4 but think occasional purchases are not in the future.

Rating = 3 glasses

March 28, 2021
A second bottle splits the difference between "Eh" and "I like it!" I was not tempted to grab a bottle out of the fridge when I wanted something dark and did not want a second bottle last night. 

Rating = 3 glasses

March 16, 2021
Kalamazoo Stout is good and interesting. I can't tell if I really like it or if it is "Eh". I have 5 more bottles for research. It is thin with a big charcoal bite. Perhaps the bite is licorice and not black malt. The label reports that it is brewed with brewer's licorice. 

Rating = 4 glasses pending further research. 

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

Had a bottle at Happy Hour at Cafe Catura. The grilled shrimp tacos were boffo. The beer was not. It does not hit my sweet spot. A review from April 2008 gave the beer 2 glasses and said, "OK. A little cream, a little chocolate, and a little smokey bite but a little thin. Better @ room temp. May rate a 3." The beer is crafted well and I am moving the rating to 3.

Cappuccino Stout

Brewer: Lagunitas

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (1003) Cask ale @ Mekong. Very nice stout, with nice dose of coffee. Rates at least 5. Let's split the difference and go 3 to 4. (0810) A bottle in Harrisonburg. Coffee! A little one dimensional and a tiche thin.

Rating: 4 glasses.

Shakespeare Stout

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (1001) Ditto. as previous review. Nice smokey bite at end.

Comments: Downgraded from 6 glasses; it doesn't seem as "full" or "thick" as I remember it.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 3 August 2009.)

Rating: 5 glasses.

Shakespeare Stout

Beer: Shakespeare Stout

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (0909) Coffee, chocolate, and hops. A little thin. Downgraded from 7 glasses w/ misgivings but was comparing it with Old Ruffian and Hanssens Oude Gueuze that I had also had that weekend. Click here for a previous review.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 3 August 2009.)

Rating: 6 glasses.

Chocolate Stout

Beer: Chocolate Stout

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (1010) On draft @ World Market. Chocolate milkshake. Sweeter than I remembered. Went great w/ chocolate gananche pie. (0908) Shared bottle w/ GS. CHOCOLATE! Dark bitter chocolate taste predominates (0706) Downgraded to 5 glasses in new rating based on Shakespeare. (0601) Yummy. Chocolate taste with rich smokey flavor. Enough edge to sip but smooth enough to gulp.

Top 100: 29 December 2005, 10 March 2007, and 25 September 2009.

Previous ratings: 6 glasses

Rating: 5 glasses

Oak Barrel Stout

Beer: Oak Barrel Stout
Brewer: Old Dominion
Style: Stout
Tasting notes: (0908) A bottle @ Avalon.Thin w/ an odd off sour taste. May have been a bad bottle. My recollection for a bottle years ago @ CAH as being a thin, OK, w/ a sweet vanilla oaky flavor.
Rating: 1 glass

Rogue Shakespeare Stout

Beer: Shakespeare Stout

Brewer: Rogue

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (0908) Shared bottle w/ Knapps. Yummy, Chocolate and coffee and hops bite. Complex, balanced, tasty, sippable and gulpable. Upgraded from 6 glasses and would like to compare w/ Siberian night. (0702) A bottle at Williams. Very nice. Downgraded to 6/8 after having Bell's Expedition. (0610) Shared a bomber with Valeries. Wonderfully complex and balanced. Present but not overbearing burnt charcoal blends to dark malt with chocolate and coffee and a touch of caramel and then melts to mild hop bitterness.Good to sip and fine to drink.

Top 100: 29 December 2005 and 10 March 2007. (Not on 3 August 2009.)

Rating: 7 glasses

Sierra Nevada Stout

Beer: Stout

Brewer: Sierra Nevada

Style: Stout

Tasting notes: (5) Delightful again. A hoppy stout with smoke. (4) Delightful. Smoky w/ a blast of nw hops. (3) The more I drink it, the more I like it. The best "everyday" stout? (2) Very nice. (1) An American Stout with a little more hops. The first stout I really liked. Best at room temperature.

Comments: Sierra Nevada puts an American twist on the British classic. The beer has a good dose of Northwest hops.

Recommendation: Recommended without reservation