Black Gold by Che Beervara

Attention all beer lovers, there is now dark beer on the island!  You may have seen a growing variety of different types of beers in local bars and restaurants.  Among these is stout beer.  Originally brewed in England, stouts emerged as variations of the classic London Porter over 200 years ago.  Irish brewers, especially Guinness, take credit for perfecting this style of beer over 150 years ago.  Stouts are known for their dark color and bold flavors.  They are now brewed all over the world (including Puerto Rico) in many different styles.

The six official styles of stouts according to the Brewers Association are; Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout, Foreign (Export)-Style Stout, Sweet Stout, Oatmeal Stout, American-Style Stout, and American-Style Imperial Stout.  Some breweries also opt to invent even more specialty variations of these styles.  The liberal use of roasted malts in the brewing process gives stouts the deep, dark tones as well as their particular flavor profiles.  These flavors include espresso coffee, bittersweet chocolate and caramel among others.

Stouts are very versatile beers depending on the different style you’re drinking.  A medium-body dry stout can be mixed with champagne for a starter cocktail.  A smooth oatmeal stout pairs incredibly with a grilled steak.  Finally, a bold imperial stout pairs well with a dark chocolate dessert.   Below is a quick guide to some locally available stouts.  Salud!