If I had a strange medical condition where I could only drink one style of beer or I’d get terribly sick, I’d spend a lot of time at my doctor’s office. Once I wised up, I’d stick to drinking either porters or stouts. I’m trying to say that my favorite style of beer is like I like my coffee is like I like my women – ground up and in the freezer! No, no, that’s not right. Dark beer. Yes, there we are. I’ve always been a fan of Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte Porter. It’s my favorite beer of all time. Why am I talking about some other beer in this beer review? Jealousy plays! No, I mention it because I love that beer so much, I never gave any of the other Pacific Northwest dark beers a fair shake. Let me state it now – there are many, many great dark beers in the Pac NW. That includes this Dragonstooth Stout. It’s dark, with faint hints of red. Even the head is slightly reddish. Mahogany, even. According to the bottle, it has won an impressive list of awards at the Great American Beer Festival, as well as the World Beer Cup (maybe it should be World Beer Pint Glass, or Flagon). I believe it. I’ve always loved the ancient Greek/prog-rock epic theme of Elysian, and this brew’s label is a great example of that style. I feel that this would be a great beer to drink if you were watching “Dragonheart”, or listening to “Dragonforce”. Dragon-style sticks together. As for the beer itself, this is a stout that any dark beer lover could drink and be very happy with.
Specs:
22 oz. bottle
7.45% ABV

Ahh, red ale. It’s more complex, bolder than a standard ale, but still lighter in body than a porter or IPA. I like a good red when it’s been hot outside for a few days straight; I get tired of drinking lighter ales, and I want something more flavorful but not as heavy as a porter or stout. I am still human and I need to be refreshed. Iron Horse Brewery’s Imperial Loco Red definitely hits this spot. It’s described as a “big, hoppy red ale” and there is truth in advertising at work! It’s got a great flavor, with touches of the sweetness from a red ale, but enough hops to pull the sweet out of the aftertaste. It’s got the initial floral bouquet and head of an IPA, although much milder than a standard IPA. This bad boy clocks in at 7.5% ABV, and was only $3.75. Hey Iron Horse, I would still be satisfied by this if you doubled the price!
Specs:
22 oz. bottle
7.5% ABV