We had a long scheduled work outting to Mountain Sun Brewery for “Stout Month” on Friday (2/22/2008).  I was actually able to enjoy the stouts this time – my pallette was destroyed after going to Avery’s Maharaja release party the first time I went there (I’m still recovering from that night out!)

So here’s the line up I tried:

A warm up pint of Cherry Dip Stout (Chocolate Stout with Sweet Cherry Puree).

A sampler including: Old School Irish Stout on Nitro, Thunder Head Stout, Usurper Imperial Stout, Java Jalapeño Stout, Dog Fish Head’s Chicory Stout

Finally a pint of the Java Jalapeño Stout 

Sold out: Trickster Stout, Stoked Oak Stout, The Czar

I was a little disappointed by the number of stouts they had on their board that were “out”.   They certainly had replacements, but I had my heart set on trying the Stoked Oak Stout.  I was looking through my emails and the did send an email telling us it was running out… so you snooze, you lose.

 I have been a huge fan of the “Old School” stout on Nitro for some time now.  It’s one of the best stouts I’ve had – dry with a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness.  I really enjoyed the Java Jalapeño Stout also.  All the stouts were very good, these two were great. 

My coworkers enjoyed some cheese fries and a heaping plate of nachos with black beans.  The food at Mtn Sun is pretty awesome.

 Update: This note just came from the brewery today.  “The amount of stout consumed the past three weeks is astounding. To date you have helped consume 102 kegs of Stout. That is roughly 12,000 pints of STOUT in three weeks! Simply amazing.”  They also announced “Mini-Stout- Month at Southern Sun” which is much easier for me to get to from my house.  Woo Hoo.  Looks like I have something to do in March now.

Update 2: I finally had stoked oak stout last night at the Southern Sun Brewery.  Damn good stuff.  Left Hand Brewing had also provided a firkin of cask condition Bourbon Stout that was absolutely fantastic.  Southern Sun is having a “mini-stout” month in March.  I’m sure it will be a challenge for them to keep stock in rotation there.