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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Whiter shade of stout

Rick Bonino

There’s more to Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp program than last year’s “Beer Camp Across America” collaborations with other breweries that we mentioned in our previous post.

Since 2008, throughout the year, Sierra has invited folks from various sectors of the beer business to hang out for a weekend at the brewery in Chico, Calif., and create and brew their own special recipes. A dozen representatives from Total Wine stores around the country took part in one such session last fall.

Now the result will be released for growler fills on Friday at Total Wine outlets nationwide, including the two in Spokane, at Northpointe and Spokane Valley.

Fade to White (7.1 percent alcohol by volume, 43 International Bitterness Units) is one in a new wave of pale stouts – brewed without the darker roasted malts that give traditional stouts their color and flavor, but with ingredients like coffee and chocolate added to capture some of the same character.

While white stouts still are nowhere as commonplace as black IPAs, you may have run across another widely distributed example of the style, Stone’s similar Master of Disguise.

Fade to White also includes anise for a flavor kick along with smoked malt and tangy acidulated malt, as well as oats for body and smoothness. It’s bittered with Aurora hops, and finished with Aurora, Celeia and Australian Cascade.

“It’s got all the flavors you’d expect to find in a regular stout. I’m excited to try it,” says Nicole Helling, assistant manager at the Northpointe store and a self-described “stout snob.”

It will be tapped starting Friday at 5 p.m. Supplies are limited; there’s one keg up north, and two in the Valley, says Chris Barker, wine manager at the Valley store and beer buyer for both locations.

A regional Sierra representative will be on hand at the Northpointe store on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. for samples and conversation.