Cold snap

Well, more like a warm snap (70 deg as opposed to 90+)... With a break in the heat wave and a little rain, it's a perfect opportunity to cross more stouts off the list. I wouldn't be in a hurry to do it, but I definitely didn't plan ahead about the summer heat!

Beer: Murphy's Irish Stout
ABV: 4.00%
Home: Cork, Ireland, UK
Slogan: "No experience required."

The Murphy's has very faint flavors and aromas, owing to its extreme smoothness. Super dark with a neat tan head. No detectable bitterness. If push came to shove I could gulp this one down, no problem. The beer comes in a can with a nitrogen widget, a hollow plastic ball that interestingly aids in producing a draft-like head during pouring. Murphy's (from Cork) and Guinness (from Dublin) have a long-standing rivalry, but I'd lean toward Team Guinness. It's also still my fave above the several nitro cans I've tried on the list!

Beer: Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.00%
Home: Fort Bragg, California, USA
Slogan: "A sincere friend is not born instantly"

This beer is not screwing around. It pours pitch black with a thick head that smells of mocha. It's a powerful brew that tastes the way it looks. Chocolate and coffee with just the right amount of bitterness at the finish. I enjoyed taking my sweet time with this one.