Beer column: These stouts come from the same place, but boy are they different

Not all stouts are created equal.

That much is plainly obvious when you look at a pair of stouts from Twin Sails Brewing in Port Moody.

One is a staple at the brewery, released every winter, while the other is new this year and gives an eyebrow-raising first impression from the name alone.

I’ll start with the latter, called the Black Pearl Oyster Stout, which comes in at 5.2% ABV (alcohol by volume) and 12 IBU (international bitterness unit).

“This stout offers a delicate umami depth that enhances its roasted malt profile, imparting a subtle minerality from the oyster shells that marries perfectly with the creamy mouthfeel,” the brewery explains.

When you hear about a craft beer collaboration, you typically think of two breweries, but that’s not the case here.

For this unique creation Twin Sails quite literally collaborated with their oyster shucking friends who make their living on the Pacific Ocean just steps from the brewery’s front door.

“This oyster stout is rich, velvety and embodies the essence of a Pacific Northwest winter,” notes the brewery.

The Con Leche Horchata Milk Stout, on the other hand, is more what people would expect when they think about this type of winter beer.

It’s obviously inspired by the popular Mexican drink that is made from rice, milk and a touch of cinnamon and vanilla, then balanced by strong aromatics of coffee.

Registering at 7.5% ABV and 18 IBU, this beer pours almost black but has a thick, creamy mocha head.

And thanks to the beer containing lactose, that smooth, creamy taste won’t just stop at the top and will carry on through the entire Con Leche drinking experience.

While Con Leche is available at BC Liquor Stores around the province and should be relatively easy to find, it won’t necessarily be the same story for Black Pearl.

It may be hard to locate outside the Lower Mainland, but could be in stock at certain private liquor stores that focus on craft beer!

Josh Duncan is the NowMedia news director and a craft beer lover. Reach him at josh@nowmediagroup.ca. His beer column appears every Saturday afternoon in this space.