A BIG DARK CATCH FROM FISH: SMAUG STOUT Fish Brewing, Seattle, Washington: Fish Tales SMAUG STOUT
20170110 (Our Beers of the Day in January look back to some of our favorites of 2016) We slide up the West Coast to Seattle for today’s beer, Smaug Stout. We don’t know how Fish managed to land the rights to use Tolkien characters in its Hobbit series, but the label is almost as compelling as the dark elixir within. This is a big and yummy full bodied stout. A rich dark roast with some fruit in a big start with dark chocolate and dark biscuit in the finish. 
It’s not only a good beer, but it’s a good deal. We’re increasing distressed by the tendency of breweries to brew good beers, but then charge for them as if they were premier vintage wines. Fish proves here you can brew a marvelous big sipper without having to ask people to take a vow of poverty to enjoy it.
Rating: **** Value: *****
Leave a Reply