Oct 31 2007 Corner News column - Some Like It Black
Our second weekly craft beer column in the Auburn Corner News. The thumbnail to the right links to an image, or click here for a .pdf. The original text is copied below. The end product that appeared in the paper is a little bit different than the original.
Some like it black
by John Little
I felt like my last beer article was lame, so this time I want to let you know what’s really on my mind. It starts with a segment from Family Guy.
Lois: [dressed in a school girl uniform bending over with hands on knees] Oh! I need a spanking. I’ve been a bad, bad girl.
Peter: [lying in bed naked] I’m a level 35 paladin with 18 charisma and 97 hit-points. I can use my helm of disintegration and do one d4 damage as my half mage elf wields his +5 holy avenger.
Lois: Paladins can’t use the helm of disintegration.
Peter: Oh, ok. Then I’m a black guy.
Here’s something else that’s on my mind. Alabama’s prohibition on the sale of beer over 6% abv sucks. Craving an Old Rasputin, Bell’s Expedition, Avery’s Czar or Stone, Rogue or Samuel Smith Imperial Stout? Forget buying one in Alabama. You’re out-of-luck. You’re not mature enough to handle buying these. That’s been decided by our state legislators. They’re ok with you buying a case of piss water Bud/Miller/Coors megaswill, but you’ll need to drive to Atlanta to purchase a single bottle of Russian Imperial Stout, a beer that was historically brewed in England and exported to the Baltic States and Russia. … even if you want just one… even if you want to enjoy it in your living room… even if you won’t be driving anywhere for the next 3 days. Alabama’s legislature knows what’s best for you.
Richly complex, the Russian Imperial Stout is an intensely flavored, big, dark ale… the biggest stout in a family of 6, towering over dry, sweet, oatmeal, foreign and american stouts. It tends to have an aroma reminiscent of coffee, dark chocolate and the dark fruity esters of plums, prunes and raisins. It can range in color from very dark reddish-brown to jet black. It has an aggressive roasted malt, dark fruit and possibly caramelly flavor. It usually provides a warming sensation, perfect on a cold, winter evening, and its strength is undeniable. This beer ages very well withsome flavors becoming more subdued over time and some aged, vinous or port-like qualities developing.
If stouts appeal to you, a limited commercial variety of the dry, oatmeal and sweet stout styles can typically be found in Alabama if you look hard enough. Well, the famous dry stout, Guiness (3.5% abv), can usually be found at most grocery stores. Look for Mackeson’s XXX (sweet) Stout and Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout at the Village Mart at Southside, Buffalo’s and the Mellow Mushroom. You can also sample a locally brewed stout that is probably best classified as a foreign extra stout due to its higher gravity (5.5% abv) at the Olde Auburn Ale House.
Or, if you’re truly adventurous and can’t stand to be limited to what may or may not be on the shelf for sale, brew your own. There are plenty of respectable, mature gourmet beer lovers in the Auburn/Opelika area who appreciate well-made craft beer like wine connoisseurs appreciate Napa Valley. They’ve learned to brew their own excellent Russian Imperial Stouts at home instead of being forced to drive to Atlanta and back. Ask for more information at auburnbrewclub.org.
Filed under: Books and Magazines, Commercial Beer, In the News