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

Black beerday

Rick Bonino

When your Black Friday shopping (or lounging) is finished, why not reward yourself with a nice dark beer?

We’ve been blessed lately around these parts with quite the collection of stouts appearing on tasting room tap handles. A quick recap:

– Perry Street has been pouring a single keg of its Export Stout (5.5 percent alcohol by volume, 30 International Bitterness Units) flavored with cacao nibs and coconut toasted down the street in the oven at South Perry Pizza.

– If you’re lucky, you might still catch some of Wednesday’s small-batch special at Daft Badger – a Salted Caramel Milk Stout (9.5 percent ABV) with house-made caramel sauce. And next Wednesday, look for their Bourbon Stout.

– River City’s Midnight Marmot Imperial Stout (7.8, 87) recently returned for the season, full of espresso, chocolate and dark fruit flavors with a dry, roasty finish. Mark your calendar for the first International Marmot Beer Festival on Dec. 19, featuring 10 variations from raspberry/oak chip to root beer-infused.

– Also back for winter is Orlison’s Roast House Coffee Stout (5.5, 62), a lager version brewed with beans from the local coffee company and generously dosed with vanilla. This year, it's available in 22-ounce bottles as well as draft.

– Ruffled Grouse Stout (6.3, 40) has rejoined the rotation at English Setter, with balanced coffee and caramel flavors and a hint of smokiness.

– The cookie-inspired Gingersnap Stout at Downdraft is made with candied ginger, molasses, cardamom and cloves.

And looking ahead, Trickster’s will celebrate its third anniversary Dec. 5 with a firkin of oatmeal stout aged in a bourbon barrel.