Diablo Dark

Diablo Dark is an American Stout by the Schubros Brewing Company. The brew pub is in San Ramon, CA although the bottle states it was brewed in San Jose. Not sure if they contract or if that's where they have their production brewery.

Dark Night

Dark Night is an Oatmeal Stout by the Santa Cruz Ale Works of Santa Cruz, CA.

I picked this up at Total Wine and More on Arden in Sacramento. It has an ABV of 6%.

The aroma roasted coffee and chocolate. The taste has the roasted, coffee upfront followed by a bitter coffee finish followed by sour note and a metallic, coppery taste. The body is watery for a stout.


Blah, not good. Skip It.

Cappuccino Stout

Cappuccino Stout is an Imperial Stout by the Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, CA.

Coffee and beer share a common history.  Cappuccino Stout was one of the earliest beers to utilize coffee, but today coffee beers are common and are added to various styles, including IPAs.

Drakonic

Drakonic is an Imperial Stout brewed by Drake's Brewing Company of San Leandro, California. Drake's has been around since 1989, but has really started to break out of it's east bay home in recent years. This is the first brew of theirs I've tried.

I bought this at the Davis Beer Shoppe. It has an ABV of 8.75%

Dragoon's Dry Irish Stout

Dragoon's is a Dry Stout by Moylan's Brewery & Restaurant in Novato, California. This stout is named after the 4th Continental Dragoons during the American Revolutionary War which was led by General Stephen Moylan. I'm not sure if there's a familial relation.

Black Eye Black and Tan Ale

Black Eye Ale is a blended beer in the spirit of a Black & Tan by the Mendocino Brewing Company. It's a blend of their Eye of the Hawk Select and Black Hawk Stout.

Black and Tans were former soldiers brought into Ireland by the government in London after 1918 to assist the Royal Irish Constabulary (They fought the Irish) in their work. They were Irish traitors!

Porterhouse Oyster Stout

Porterhouse Oyster Stout is and Irish Dry Stout made by the Porterhouse Brewing Company of Dublin, Ireland. The history of “Oyster Stout” as a name and style is up for discussion. Some say stouts go well with oysters, some say processed & concentrated oysters create a thicker beer, and some, like Porterhouse, actually use fresh oysters in the brewing process.


So the question is which was first, oysters in beer or beer with oysters?

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout is an Oatmeal Stout brewed by the Samuel Smith Old Brewery of Tadcaster, England. While Samuel Smith is an internationally distributed brewery, they are very much focused on their local community. Beers are still distributed through out their home town of Tadcaster on carts pulled by Shire horses. Sam Smith also uses the traditional brewing method known of stone Yorkshire squares and the same strand of yeast that's been in use since the 1800's.

Russian River Brewing Company

Russian River Brewing Company is located in downtown Santa Rosa, CA right off of Highway 101. Downtown Santa Rosa is actually pretty nice, with lots of locally owned shops and restaurants.

Off the bat - this is a Must Have It. Just the fact that Russian River puts out two of the top rated beers on Beer Advocate, should be reason enough. However, the creative innovations of Master Brewer Vinnie Cilurzo are the best reason. Cilurzo is credited with creating the Imperial or Double IPA (DIPA) style which is showcased in Pliny the Elder. A style that actually was incorporated into the 2008 Beer Judge Certification Program Guidelines. This is pretty big, since many new styles just fall under "specialty beer".

Bear Republic Brewery

Bear Republic Brewery & Restaurant is located just off the main square in Healdsburg, CA. The brewery was founded in 1996 by veteran homebrewer Richard G. (Ricardo) Norgrove (who is also the Brewmaster), his father Richard R. Norgrove and both their wives. The mom is a greeter and hostess, the father is a barteneder and Ricardo's wife is the accountant. This brewery is a Must Have It.

Rogue Chocolate Stout

Rogue Chocolate Stout is an American Stout by Rogue Ales of Oregon. Stouts get their name from being Stout or Strong Porters. The Rogue website says this brew was first made as an export to Japan under the name Chocolate Bear Beer. I would have been down with that Care Bear.

Parabola Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

Parabola is a Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout by the Firestone Walker Brewing Company from Paso Robles, California. Barrel aging is becoming popular these days, especially with old bourbon casks, which Parabola was aged in.