Trader Joe's Stouts

I've also found the Mendocino Stout, Sierra Nevada Stout, and Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout at Trader Joe's. Oh, and what's that English brewery with the funny-shaped bottles? Their cream stout is sometimes at TJ's for two dollars a bottle; it's okay.

Are you talking about Watney's Cream Stout? That was always one of my favorites! Unfortunately since I've been residing on the island of Maui for the past 8 years, I haven't had the opportunity to sample the tasty brews that you all mention. We just don't have selections here. We had a couple of local micro-breweries, but most went out of business at least 4 years ago. The only one remaining is Fish & Game Brewery & Rotisserie in Kahana. If your palate prefers more of a hoppy flavor, that's the place to go.

I was talking about St. Peter's Cream Stout, though I've seen Watney's at Trader Joe's.

Yeah, I'm surprised at how bad the beer selection in the Hawaiian Islands is.

So the Fire Rock microbrewery is gone?

nb

I just noticed that both of my selections come from North Coast Brewing in Ft. Bragg, CA. This link:

seems to confirm that I have found a great cheap stout in the Black Hart.

-- SlobbyDon sez "Starbuxux."

I noticed that those "funny shaped bottles" are now coming in brown glass in at least some of the available beers in the US. I also found out the hard way that they come in 500 ml and 355 ml versions, thus ruining the "bargain" I thought I found once.

Fire Rock brewery is on the Big Island. We can get it here on Maui in selected grocery stores for anywhere between $8.99 and $9.99 a six-pack. Just a little pricey for my budget. There is one store here, Hawaiian Liquor Store, that allows you to purchase single micro/import beers for $2.00 a piece, so at least if you don't like the flavor you're only out the one bottle, although it's clear across the island for me to get to.

TJ's now has gift packages of Samuel Smith's on sale. For $7.99 you get three assorted 550ml *pints plus a glass with a logo. The Oatmeal Stout is great--sweet, but not too sweet.

--

--------------------------------------------- American Pint 473ml Pieter's Dutch Pint 500ml Smith's Import Pint 550ml Imperial Pint 568ml

SlobbyDon

For beer, yes--but that's only one of two U.S. pints. For blueberries, or oats, the "American" pint is 551 ml.

Also, for beer the U.S. manufacturers shortchanged us on the barrel, instead of the ever-so-logical 31 1/2 gallons for other liquids only giving us the so much more logical 31 gallons.

Gene Nygaard

Shouldn't blueberries and oats be dry measure or grams?

Does carbonation figure into the difference?

SlobbyDon

I've also found Goose Island's oatmeal stout at TJ's. And they sometimes sell yet another oatmeal stout - I can't remember who makes it, but there's a maritime theme on the label and it's only $4.99 a sixer. A hell of a bargain.

In my opinion, though, none of these oatmeal stouts stands up to the awesome Ipswich Oatmeal Stout made by Mercury Brewing.