Tasty Dark Beers

On a cold winter's night, many beer drinkers prefer to have a substantial beer that is meant to be savored. When looking for a dark beer, you should sample different styles (porters, stouts, reds, black and tan, etc.) to discover what you prefer.

Dark beers usually contain highly roasted grains and malts that help contribute to the flavor and color of the beer. Any good beer starts with filtered, sanitized water, high quality grains that are baked (roasted) to perfection, and then the use hops for flavoring and finishing. Making beer is a time consuming procedure, but the efforts are well worth it when you have a brew that is substantial and delicious.

Ireland's Guinness is often a forerunner in the realm of dark beers and stouts. Rich and velvety with roasted malt flavors and a dark chocolate color, Guinness stands out in a crowd. If you can, purchase Guinness in the pint draught cans that help create the creamy head and draught essence. A four-pack of draught cans typically costs $7.

If you happen to come to New England, try Rock Art's Ridge Runner. This small Vermont microbrewery sells six-packs and growlers to a handful of New England locations. Ridge Runner has the essence of brown sugar and malts infused into every sip. The roasted barley gives the beer a dark reddish brown hue that makes it look exceptional in a glass. Expect to spend about $15 for a growler and $8 for a six-pack.

Redhook's Blackhook Porter is a wonderful dark beer that creates a cream-colored head when poured. This porter contains sweet caramel and coffee tones and strong hops at the end of the sip. Availability is excellent as Redhook has breweries in both New Hampshire and Oregon. Redhook is usually available in stores for $8 a six-pack and $15 for a 12-pack.

St. Pauli Girl has been an American favorite for years. Their Special Dark is a lightly hopped dark beer that contains strong malt tones and a nice balance of carbonation. Special Dark has won the American Tasting Institutes Gold Medal for Best Full Calorie German Dark. St. Pauli Girl's Special Dark is hard to find, but well worth it if you can!

England's Double Diamond is not available in all stores, but if you can find it, definitely try some. Double Diamond is an Amber beer with mild hop tones and a malty essence. At $9 a six-pack, it is a great treat every now and then.

Celebrator's Dopplebock is a German classic. Brewed since the 1800s, this beer's coffee tones and strong malt flavors help create a luscious brew. The smokiness of the roasted malts help add complexity to the beer's taste and reddish color. Celebrator is usually only found in specialty beer stores. Expect to pay $5 per bottle.

When drinking any dark beer, you must plan for the beer to be far more filling than a typical light beer. The dense flavors and maltiness make the beer seem more like a decadent dessert beverage than a beer worth chugging. Many dark beer fans feel that a high-calorie slice of fudge cake is the perfect side for a pint of your favorite dark.