Echigo Stout

A well-regarded Stout (call this one either an American Stout, or Foreign Export Stout..., for you pedantic style nazis out there), from a Japanese brewery that has not wow'ed me much in the past.

But there is something to be said for a brewery to make amends for it's dumb-as-wet-bag-of-hammers Lager with a rather full flavored and appealing Stout.

Excellent mouthfeel and body with this one. "More-ish", in LongBeachBum-speak, that appeals to your inner Stout-loving geek (Irish, or not).

Roasted cocoa, with hints of coffee and toffee in the mix -- all the while hiding away the alcohol nicely. Rather sedate carbonation is a plus here: any more or less fizz would throw off this beer's vibe.

Dry and satisfying in the finish..., especially when you let this one warm up some. Probably orgasmic cask-conditioned and hand-drawn from a firkin (not that the US will ever see such a thing from a Japanese brewery!).

A hearty thumbs up, methinks!
//TB

P.S. Not that anyone gives a crap, but this will be my last beer review for a week or so. With my last two wisdom teeth coming out Thursday, that means no drinkin' Wednesday..., and no drinking afterwards either! (Mixing Vicodin+alcohol is not too wise!)