As the crisp kiss of November ushers in cooler days and longer nights, our palates naturally gravitate toward heartier, more comforting fare. And in the world of craft beer, nothing answers that call quite like a magnificent stout. This month, Mellow Mushroom invites you to cozy up with three exceptional dark brews that perfectly capture the rich, complex, and wonderfully warming spirit of the season. From a powerhouse Imperial Stout aged in wood to two velvety, nitro-charged indulgences, this is your definitive November Stout List.
When the temperature dips, you need a beer with gravitas, and Great Lakes’ Barrel Aged Blackout Stout delivers a knockout punch of depth and refinement. Bold and dark, this Russian Imperial Stout is a tribute to the legendary 2003 blackout – a truly fitting metaphor for a beer that will briefly make you forget the outside world.
Poured into the glass, it’s a profound, almost inky black. The aroma is an intoxicating blend of dark roast coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and a luxurious undercurrent of vanilla and charred oak, a testament to its barrel-aging. The first sip is a revelation: rich and full-bodied, with a decadent warmth that spreads across the chest. Notes of burnt sugar, dark fruit (like raisin or fig), and a whisper of bourbon spice from the barrel mingle with a robust malt backbone. This is a contemplative beer, meant to be savored slowly alongside a roaring fire or… a pizza. It’s the powerhouse of the list – a robust, boisterous beginning to stout season.
Left Hand Brewing Co. continues its reign as the “butter half” of America’s Stout with a playful, yet sophisticated twist on their classic. The Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro is a creamy dream that perfectly balances savory and sweet, and it demands the proper ritual: Pour Hard. Go Nuts.
The magic truly begins with the pour. The hypnotic cascade of the nitro charge – tiny bubbles rushing upward before settling into a thick, pillowy, tan head – is a show in itself. On the nose, you get the familiar Milk Stout notes of coffee and chocolate, quickly followed by the distinct, comforting aroma of roasted peanuts. The mouthfeel, thanks to the nitrogen, is the star of the show; it’s smoother than velvet, literally caressing the palate. The flavor profile is a delightful interplay: the sweet lactose and dark malt notes provide a backdrop for a surprisingly natural peanut butter flavor that avoids being cloying. It’s the perfect dessert stout – rich, comforting, and an absolute joy to drink.
For the purest expression of cocoa decadence, look no further than Rogue Ales’ Chocolate Stout Nitro. This brew elevates the classic stout structure with a colossal infusion of imported Dutch chocolate, all blended into creamy submission by a nitro charge.
Ebony in color, it pours with the same mesmerizing cascade as its Left Hand counterpart, culminating in a velvety, lasting, cream-colored head. The aroma is pure, intense dark chocolate, reminiscent of a high-quality truffle. The taste follows suit: a robust, earthy body provides a grounding counterpoint to the deep, semi-sweet chocolate flavor. It’s not overly sweet; rather, it’s a sophisticated chocolate experience with a slightly roasty, coffee-like finish. The nitro lends a creamy, almost liquid-mousse texture that seamlessly blends the flavors. This is the ultimate comfort stout – a smooth, chocolatey blanket to wrap yourself in as the November air turns brisk.
November is the season of transition, and these three stouts offer the perfect bridge from summer session beers to winter warmers. Whether you seek the bold complexity of a barrel-aged behemoth, the nostalgic sweetness of peanut butter, or the smooth decadence of pure chocolate, Mellow Mushroom’s November Stout List has the perfect dark delight to help you embrace the cooling weather. Cheers!
-by Maeve Black
