Beer Around Town

Stouts. Lost in the Pac NW, a where’s Waldo in our wilderness if IPAs, after thought for each new brewery to spring to life, but a favorite of mine for sure. Only Deschutes Obsidian comes to mind for a local bottled stout available in six packs, and thankfully it is fricken delicious. Over the last year or so Hopworks released their Survival Stout in bombers adding another excellent local stout offering, and on my recent trip into Belmont Station I stumbled across two new selections, from two new breweries, so seems others are thinking the same thing.

First up Pale Horse Brewing, Salem’s new upstart has 22oz bottles of their Stout. Akin to a dry Irish stout this weighs in at a bit over 4% alcohol. Pours dark ebony with soft ruby highlights at the edges when held up the the light. Atop sits a quickly fading khaki head, not much in the way of head stability or  lacing. Big roasted malt nose with hints of burnt chocolate and black coffee. Upon first sip you realize the body is almost non-existent, but to be fair, par for the style. Have you had Guinness not on nitro? watery and thin. The roastiness comes off a touch harsh on this, like astringent coffee and almost a touch metallic in the finish, maybe slight altering off the water profile might round it out a bit.  It is nice to see a lower abv stout available, but I found the Double Mountain Irish stout a bit more well rounded. I’ll give it a C+

Next up was Steam Fired Stout from the new Fire Mountain brewing in Carlton, Oregon. Now there is no fair way to compare these two as this is an over 7% sweet stout, so I won’t be doing that. Pours pitch black with a tall pillowy brown head leaving thick lacing behind on the glass. Body is creamy and beautifully balanced. Roasted malts up front, dark chocolate with a touch of mocha towards the finish. Overall a delicious stout, just under the realm of Imperial Stout, this one could really sneak up on you. I’ll give this one a A-