The Poet, Oatmeal Stout

The Poet, Oatmeal Stout  : I am always taken with the creaminess of oatmeal stouts. The Poet has to be one of my favorites. With Sam Smith's Oatmeal stout as my go to, The Poet had some big shoes to fill.

The Poet has this rich creaminess that is hard to come by. It's been described as 'roasty' and 'soft to mouth' and I would say both of these are quite accurate. There's no harshness to this stout. It's smooth from beginning to end. Indulgent. A wonderful beer to enjoy during cold weather. Also a great stout to sit and share with friends. (One that you can sip, casually, at a variety of temperatures, without feeling bloated.)

The hint of chocolate does not come on too strong, but carries a richness and sweetness when combined with the creaminess of the oatmeal. Thus is definitely an indulgent beer without going too far.

Also the raven on the label makes a nice conversation piece. If you and you're friends are into literature, this would be a good beer to bring to the party.

Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout

Winner of the Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival Gold Medal, there's not much I can say about this beer that hasn't already been said. But as it's become a dear beer to me, and is a mainstay of my regular beer drinking, I felt I needed to contribute.

Bold, tough, and full of flavor. Bitter finish. Old Rasputin is that tasty beer that you can sit and while the night away drinking, but it still reminds you that it's there without being harsh.

Kind of like that favorite female friend that you know not to make angry.

Old Rasputin describes itself as having a 'warming' finish, and I can definitely see that. You taste the bitterness of the hops toward the end. Not a beer I would describe as 'hoppy' by any means, like an IPA, but that there is a strong hint of hop in the overall robust flavor.

This would be great with a nice hearty steak slathered in onions and mushrooms. Roast beef with au jus. These sort of dark, savory meal combinations pair well with the nearly sinister flavor of Old Rasputin.

A must have for Stout Lovers everywhere.