More stout flows around St. Patrick's Day than at any other time in the U.S. So, it's the perfect time to consider the story of our favorite dark beer.

History of Stout

Stout is a relatively young style of beer. It was first introduced to the in the 1700s, as an "extra stout" version of a porter beer. The name "stout" referred to the fact that this beer was a little more assertive than the regular porter. The foamy head characteristic to a stout is a result of the centuries old brewing process. And, while the dark color might be deceiving, stouts are actually light in taste and texture and are often on the lighter side in alcohol content as well.

American Stout

There are multitudes of stout styles; the most popular are Irish in origin, like Murphy's Irish Stout, and boast a coffee-like, or 'toast' flavor. American Stout is a pleasant creation inspired by English and Irish stouts. With a great deal of innovation and originality, American brewers have taken this style to a new level. Whether it is highly hopping the brew or adding coffee, chocolate, or even oatmeal to compliment the roasted flavors this style of beer surely will not disappoint die-hard Irish stout enthusiasts.

With American stouts, the hop bitterness range is quite wide but most are balanced. Many are just easy drinking session stouts as well. Beers with robust flavors like the creamy and malty Sierra Nevada Stout, dark and rich Bell's Expedition Stout and the tart and slightly fruity Cherry Stout are all great examples of American-made brews that have earned their standing with Stout connoisseurs.

Host a Stout Tasting

This St. Patrick's Day, host a stout tasting. Gather some friends and some different types of stouts. Try Lakefront's Snake Chaser; look for flavors of toffee and coffee aromas. When tasting the Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout, look for the distinctive flavors of chocolate, coffee and, of course, oatmeal. As expected, Bell's Java Stout will have a smooth velvety coffee flavor. Note the different aromas that are infused into these American brews, and maybe contrast their flavors with that of traditional Beamish Irish Stout, for example. Take small sips and cleanse the palate in between tastes with crackers, different types of fruit and sips of water.