Scream 'n Stout

Oh yes, hopheads, it is glorious Stout Month!  I couldn't let it slip away
without a few good stout reviews.  There are a wide array of stouts available from the basic and imperial stouts to chocolate, oatmeal, and even cherry stouts. I am a stout lover regardless of the month so this week I am gonna do my best to touch on a few of what is out there. . .I just love all this research.
I started off my stout exploration with a basic Sierra Nevada stout.  It was a well balanced brew with clean earthy flavor.  I found this stout to feel light as it went in making it easy to enjoy without having given up the strong proud malty flavor a stout should have.  Overall it was a wonderful example of what a stout should be.  I can be certain that it will follow me home again and I will definitely make mom let me keep it.
Second beer up tonight is New Holland The Poet oatmeal stout.   The first thing that struck me was how low key the scent was. The scent of a good beer is a big part of overall effect and that was where my thoughts about this beer began to roll downhill.  I kept taking sips trying to put my finger on what was going on inside and never really grabbed it.  It was a muddy blend of malty tones with a kind of woody finish that lingered.  This is the first New Holland beer I've had where I felt let down. They are a normally strong brewery and I won't give up on them but as for The Poet. . .quoth the Beerzilla, nevermore.
Rounding out my first round of stout goodness is the Samuel Adams  Imperial Stout.  The aroma is enticing and the flavor lives up to its promise.  This rich full bodied masterpiece is worth every penny.  Chocolate and coffee tones run through the deep malty flavor with just the right touch of sweetness.   An absolute keeper.  As a matter of fact, I'm gonna keep drinking it.  More stouts coming soon including milk and cherry stouts.  Until then - Cheers!