Empyrean Brewing Lazlo Limited & Bosco's Foreign Export Stouts

You're probably wondering why I would do a joint review of two different beers, from two different outfits some 600 miles apart. Good question, to which I can reply with two words:

"I'm lazy". ;)

No, but seriously, had both of these beers at my buddy John's place this past holiday weekend, where the guys and I helped him clean out his WBC stash of beers while he brewed up a batch of his infamous Wenchmore ESB.

Rather discuss the differences between these two Foreign Export Stouts, lets talk about their similarities. Same ABV% (8%), both entries in the 2009 World Beer Cup, and both still in pretty good shape.

A nice rugged roastiness to these beers, that made them much more interesting than had they been of either lesser strength. Rather, the roughness and the girth of these beers -- abated some with some aging in John's chillbox -- meant that both of these stouts went down rather nicely.

Be curious how these taste fresh and/or off the tap at their respective brewpubs. If they're in this sort of shape witjh some age and John's infamously iffy cellar'ing mindset -- Really dude? Do you think that El Salvadoran schwill in a clear bottle will get better with age? Really? -- then I could easily see making these my go-to beers at the bar.

Better than expected.

//TB