Behind the Bar: Red Hare Sticky Stout

Author: Barmacral Tigana, January 2018

The beer review is back! To start us off in the cold month of January (unless of course you are upside down and it is summer) I thought I’d review a winter seasonal stout that can be attained in the Atlanta region. I picked up the Sticky Stout from Red Hare Brewery when I went over to the USA for JordanCon, along with a number of their other beers that I have long since consumed.

An unassuming 6.25% (though I had to find that on the website; the ABV is nowhere to be found on the can) this beer is dark with a large tan head that disappeared very slowly. The lacing does not cling much to the glass, making it seem far less sticky looking than the name implies. The aroma is roasty and the flavour has a bit of an acidic tang to it; the body is medium and leaning light, making it highly drinkable.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 – Not too heavy a stout makes it well-suited for Georgia weather even in the winter. Drink fresh though, my can is left over from last year and I liked the first 5 far better when I drank them some 8 months ago.

Fun Facts: A bit about stout

Most people, when thinking of stout, think first of Guinness - and no wonder given that it is the biggest stout brand out there. But many stouts bear little resemblance to it. Stouts can have a huge range in alcohol, often between 4-14%. Many can be powerful, complex beers that can be aged for several years and have a huge range of flavours. Bigger stouts (such as the Russian Imperial Stout) are also often aged in different types of barrels, old whiskey barrels being the most common of them. Other stouts can be quite sweet, often with a thick and oily mouthfeel instead of thin and light. So give a stout a try when you have the opportunity. Chances are it will bear little resemblance to Guinness.