2008 Double Chocolate Cherry Stout

[JerCraigs]

you should rethink your position on detroit though. between kuhnhenn, dragonmead, and the other little breweries/brewpubs popping up it's a great beer place that's less than a 4 hour drive away.

Most of those places are all out in the burbs anyways, its not like you need to venture into the "ghetto" to get them or anything.

[lister]

I've had a couple of pacific northwest stouts with a bunch of cascade hops... it was sort of like a Terry's chocolate orange.

i thought of that too, but didn't suggest it due to lister's hop aversion...

I'm willing to try a gulp of anything once but buying a bottle or pint blind is another story unless something about it intrigues me or I know that the girlfriend would be happy to drink whatever I don't like (like say a Belgian Wit or a sour.) She's not much of a hops fan either which is strange because she has no bitterness taste issues like myself.

[jaymack]

Woohoo!

I have to say I love the Double Chocolate Cherry Stout. Black Oak does such a wonderful job on this beer, I'll definitely have to start stocking up!

J

[lister]

I hardly think I tarred and feathered you Lister. I offered you some decent suggestions while trying to be humorous - get some thicker skin man, if you're going to stick your neck out as the fruit beer lover, you're going to need it - the caveman like testosterone filled beer loving society that I am a part of is just not willing to accept you yet (note - this is also humorous! Look at my fruit beer scores are ratebeer, I've enjoyed plenty! They're just not the first thing I look for and I do not dream of fruity style concoctions).

I was speaking more generally than specifically towards you. I just think it's tired and old.

I have read your reviews and others here on RB to get some additional info on beers I may see on an eventual trip to NY this summer. (In early reference to the paragraph below, we do plan to do other non-beer related things while there, otherwise I wouldn't go.) On my first and only trip to Premier several years ago (on way to Boston), I really didn't have much to go on for many of the beers on the shelves (I recognized a few) other than what was on the label.

For the record, I do find your obsession with fruit beers really funny. Sorry. But I did take the time to try and help you on your quest.

I wouldn't say it's an obsession. I'd say the interest is the same as finding any really good ESB, weisse, porter or whatever interesting concoction Perry, Church Key, Black Oak, Great Lakes et al or any international brewer comes up with.

I love statements like this. You like an obscure beer style/flavour mutation, someone suggests a world class brewery near by that makes the exact obscure beer you're after and you dismiss the idea completely because - why?

Because I'm not interested in taking a trip anywhere JUST to have/get/consume beer. There's got to be something else included for me to expend my time, effort, $$$ and dislike for 2+ hour drives, especially trying to cross the border which sometimes can be a pain in the ass for me depending on the line of questions the border agent ask. I haven't seen or heard anything else in Detroit that may interest me right now. Maybe that'll change in the future but Detroit and surroundings aren't high on my list of destinations to go. I do appreciate the info though.

You have a very interesting palette Lister and you post your thoughts here on a public forum- so don't get all pissy when folks take some good natured stabs at it; the fact that you do (get all pissy) is something I still do not understand.

It's just tired and old though fine, I'll just ignore that type of stuff in the future.

[Bobsy]

Just a thought on this whole chocolate orange discussion. I can think of reasons why it would work, and also reasons why it wouldn't, but until I try one I'll have to hold back. Would mixing a shot of cointreau with the youngs chocolate stout produce the desired flavour? Is this worth trying out or would it just lead to a headache (pun intended)? I did try making mintless mojitos once with peppermint essence, and it was a complete disaster.

Anyway, back on topic...here's hoping Volo has some of the stout left as I'm planning on hitting there tomorrow night. How public transitable is the brewery? I've heard conflicting reports about the distance from the GO station, though I don't mind a walk.

[lister]

Just a thought on this whole chocolate orange discussion. I can think of reasons why it would work, and also reasons why it wouldn't, but until I try one I'll have to hold back. Would mixing a shot of cointreau with the youngs chocolate stout produce the desired flavour? Is this worth trying out or would it just lead to a headache (pun intended)?

Les Trois Brasseurs in Montreal has this option available with their beers. You can add a liqueur flavour shot to make it a flavoured beer. Um, no. I tried this twice mixing two concoctions that on paper would work but in practice didn't. I could very easily discern the liqueur and the beer. They just didn't mix well in my opinion. Mixing a flavoured beer with another beer works better, like say Mort Subite Framboise and a stout.

GO to Black Oak: 1.7km according to Google
link

I've been out there a couple of times. The walk doesn't seem too bad though I don't know about carrying several six packs back by hand. Cart?

[gardhouse]

GO to Black Oak: 1.7km according to Google
link

I've been out there a couple of times. The walk doesn't seem too bad though I don't know about carrying several six packs back by hand. Cart?

The average person walks at about 5 KM/h. So, thats a twenty minute walk.

Just to give it some perspective, I'm quite a large fellow, and I was in montreal this past weekend, and averaged walking over 12K a day... Its a great way to see the city, even if you have a backpack full of beer (18 bottles of Quebec's finest)...

Do it.

[jaymack]

Anyway, back on topic...here's hoping Volo has some of the stout left as I'm planning on hitting there tomorrow night. How public transitable is the brewery? I've heard conflicting reports about the distance from the GO station, though I don't mind a walk.

I'm fortunate enough to live literally up the street from Black Oak. And, I've walked home from the GO but it's a god 20 minute hike (and I'm 6'4" with a long stride)

Just an FYI

[Bobsy]

Les Trois Brasseurs in Montreal has this option available with their beers. You can add a liqueur flavour shot to make it a flavoured beer. Um, no. I tried this twice mixing two concoctions that on paper would work but in practice didn't. I could very easily discern the liqueur and the beer. They just didn't mix well in my opinion. Mixing a flavoured beer with another beer works better, like say Mort Subite Framboise and a stout.?

Probably won't stop me trying it. I wonder if the youngs and the great lakes orange peel would be a good mix? Only one way to find out...

I've been out there a couple of times. The walk doesn't seem too bad though I don't know about carrying several six packs back by hand. Cart?

Nah...I'll rope the missus in. The distance isn't really an issue for me (I like to go on day-long hikes when the weather allows), so I know what I'll be doing this weekend.

[JerCraigs]

As someone who did the walk form the GO to Black Oak in some fairly cold temps, I'd recommend a cab for the return trip at least. It's not toooo far a walk but its some cruddy terrain - crossing the 401, some open areas etc. - so if its windy it may not be too pleasant. That said its not that far and easily walked.

[Bobsy]

As someone who did the walk form the GO to Black Oak in some fairly cold temps, I'd recommend a cab for the return trip at least. It's not toooo far a walk but its some cruddy terrain - crossing the 401, some open areas etc. - so if its windy it may not be too pleasant. That said its not that far and easily walked.

Can I expect sidewalks and crosswalks? I don't mind the cold, but I'd be more worried about having to run across a three lane road because there are no stop lights.

[JerCraigs]

Theres lights and crosswalks on Trafalgar, and I think crosswalks on at least part of the road down to Black Oak. (Its been a while...)