Michigan: the stout state

Michigan is the stout state.  No, I'm not referring to a public health issue.  Rather, we're blessed with a superb stout selection made by our very own Michigan brewers.  I haven't had a chance to explore them all, by any means, but so far I've reviewed several here and in Examiner.com, and I'm always amazed at how good Michigan stouts are.  I want to recap some of those reviews here.

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout was lovely: rich and creamy with coffee, chocolate, and fruity aromas.  The coffee dominates the flavor profile, intermingling wonderfully with dark chocolate and a cherry note, which seems only appropriate for a Michigan brew.

Battle Creek's Arcadia Brewing Co., which has impressed me time and again, offers Cocoa Loco.  This bitter brew features dark roasted coffee flavors as well as strong chocolate notes.  Less sweet than the Bell's Double Cream, the flavors just deepen more and more as you drink.

Back to Larry Bell's brewery extraordinaire: his Expedition Stout is rich and thick, much sweeter than the Double Cream or Cocoa Loco.  Higher in alcohol, it's a warming brew that features flavors of coffee, chocolate, and molasses.  It's a luxurious and velvety imperial beer, and the sweetness subsides just in time to avoid being cloying.

New Holland is another outstanding Western Michigan brewery.  Its Dragon's Milk is a barrel-aged stout - though I've seen it described as a strong ale without the stout moniker, too.  It's roasty and somewhat sweet, and the flavor profile includes brown sugar, caramel, coffee, and dark fruit, as well as chocolate-vanilla notes that emerge later.  It's an absolutely delicious beer.

The last beer I'll mention here is Founders Breakfast Stout.  Big and bitter, dark chocolate and espresso predominate in the flavor profile, with a hint of sweetness and cinnamon coming on as the beer warms.  There's a touch of alcohol bite in the throat, which is nice on a winter's day.  The finish is silky smooth and long, coffee all the way.

Obviously, it's a lot of fun to review these babies.  I'd suggest finding some of these delights.  Several are high gravity beers that should cellar nicely, and it's great to have one around for a chilly day.  In fact, I might go have one right now.