Recommedations for a good English stout beer

[Snaggletiger]

Guinness Draught has 126 calories and is 4% alcohol.  Bud Lite (water) is 110 calories and 4.2% alcohol.  Sounds about the same to me.

Now my personal favorite is Duvel.  According to its website it is around 196 calories and 8.5%.  Best served in a Duvel pimp cup.  Good stuff!

Where does one obtain this elusive, Duvel, of which you speak?  8.5% alcohol content seems a wee bit intriguing.

[Ranger12]

Mackeson XXX Stout is one of my favorites.  Has a sweeter flavor than most stouts and is pretty low in alcohol when you want to have a few (though keep doing that and you will weigh 400#).  Smithwick's makes a really good oatmeal stout.  Keep trying the good stuff and soon you will be leaving the world of Guinness and Beamish behind as they are the English equivalent of Natty Light.  In fact the Guinness here in the states is worse than that.  Basically concentrated Guinness from Canada is added to water to make the Guinness you get in the states.

Irish stouts tend to be lighter bodied and dryer than English.

Soon you will stepping up to the Russian Imperial Stouts like Old Rasputin or Rogue Imperial Stout.  Taste like spiced port.

And for the guy wanting to drink himself into a coma in the UK, the typical English bitter is only about 3-4% alc by volume.

Ranger, you're in Huntsville right?  Great Spirits on the Parkway by the baseball stadium is small but they typically have the best selection in the city.  They typically have lot's of stouts in stock including Mackeson.  Also The Nook (bar) on Bob Wallace has Mackeson available.

http://beeradvocate.com/user/beer_reviews?ba=sammy44

I had an Imperial Stout recently also, the same day I tried the English Stout. Also tried an IPA. I was in Chattanooga a couple of weekend ago and when we at the Big River Grille and Brewing Works and I tried their beer sampler. Though it was American versions of imports, it was what has now gotten me interested in imports. To be honest, I have never been a big beer drinker. As far as domestic, it has been Sam Adams and I have never had a taste for Bud or Miller, but a few of these particular beers I sampled has gotten my attention. Here is what I sampled to give you and idea (there was also an Octoberfest that I sampled):
http://www.gordonbiersch.com/resources/pdf/feb08_BR_chatt_Beer.pdf

I actually live just south of Decatur, but I am in school at UAH and my wife works in Huntsville also. I know the place you are talking about on the Parkway, so I will definetly have to stop by there and check them out to try some Mackesons XXX and see what else they may have.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Where does one obtain this elusive, Duvel, of which you speak?  8.5% alcohol content seems a wee bit intriguing.

I get mine imported from Atlanta when I make a trip there or when friends come to visit.  If you are after the high alkeehaul stuff I also recommend Chimay Blue (9%), available at Publix in Atlanta.  If you see these words on a beer bottle

Barleywine
Imperial
Dopple
Dubbel
Eisbock
Strong
Tripel
Malt Liquor

you might want to have a designated driver available.

[Ranger12]

Got a chance to sip on the Sam Adams Cream Stout tonight. Not bad at all. Very similar to what I tried a couple of weeks ago, but has just a little more of a stronger aftertaste.

[Thrilla]

I get mine imported from Atlanta when I make a trip there or when friends come to visit.  If you are after the high alkeehaul stuff I also recommend Chimay Blue (9%), available at Publix in Atlanta.  If you see these words on a beer bottle

Barleywine
Imperial
Dopple
Dubbel
Eisbock
Strong
Tripel
Malt Liquor

you might want to have a designated driver available.

Now we're getting into the high gravity area of beer, which is different that stouts.  It can get very dangerous when you drink these.  You think to yourself "self, I'll just have the same amount of these that I typically have of my regular beer, and it'll be just fine."  Next thing you know you'll be having butt sex with a homeless person in a dark alley.

But, I digress, and highly recommend purchasing a bottle of "Three Philosophers" if you are going the high gravity route.  Smooth finish without too much bitterness.  Chances are if you like the stouts and want to try something similar, you will make your way to higher gravity beers with a higher APV.

If any of you make it to the Georgia version of Decatur, there is an excellent pub called the Brickstore Pub that has hundreds of high gravity, Belgium beers that taste great and will absolutely fuck you up.  First one's on me, but you're on your own when you start mounting the homeless.

[Snaggletiger]

Next thing you know....

I freakin' laughed out loud in my office.

[D-Day]

You think to yourself "self, I'll just have the same amount of these that I typically have of my regular beer, and it'll be just fine."  Next thing you know you'll be having butt sex with a homeless person in a dark alley.

Yeah, but was it worth it???

[Thrilla]

Yeah, but was it worth it???

As with other blackouts....it's always worth it.

[wesfau2]

This thread inspired me to hit my local fancy-pants beer store since our AU club golf tourney was rained out.  By "rained out" I mean that nine holes of 65 degree rain were plenty for me.  Fuck it, I wasn't going to win anyway.

Anywho...

I picked up two Sammy Smith Nut Brown Ales and a sixer of Sweetwater IPA for the game tonight.

I couldn't wait, so I'm having a Sammy now.

Delicious.

[Ranger12]

This thread inspired me to hit my local fancy-pants beer store since our AU club golf tourney was rained out.  By "rained out" I mean that nine holes of 65 degree rain were plenty for me.  Fuck it, I wasn't going to win anyway.

Anywho...

I picked up two Sammy Smith Nut Brown Ales and a sixer of Sweetwater IPA for the game tonight.

I couldn't wait, so I'm having a Sammy now.

Delicious.

I am right there with you by getting a little headstart. Thought I was going to have to miss part of the game tonight because of my son's football practice, but they canceled it because the varsity moved their game from tomorrow night to tonight because of cold and wet weather predicated tomorrow. Wusses.

After classes tomorrow, I am going to snoop around Huntsville and see what all I can find as far as stouts and I may even see what I can find in IPAs also.

[AU_Tiger_2000]

Can't go wrong with Bridgeport for a good American IPA or Stout available in Alabama.  Sammy Smith or Smithwick for English.