A Pint of Plain

  "When food is scarce and your larder bare
And no rashers grease your pan,
When hunger grows as your meals are rare -
A pint of plain is your only man."

~ from The Workman's Friend, by Flann O'Brien

I've never been terribly inclined towards stout...although I've been known to drink it in a pinch ;)  The husband is inclined though, so as befits the occasion, we opened up a few bottles of Obsidian Stout from the Deschutes Brewing Company in Bend, Oregon. I'm no beer expert, but here a few notes in comparison to one of  its more widely-known counterparts:

Unlike Guinness, this stout is vegan friendly. (full marks!)

Like Guinness, it has a nice flavor (not the same, but nice).

Unlike Guinness, the head is a bit...how can I put it?...disappointing. It's watery/bubbly and dissipates quickly. A good pint of stout should have a nice sturdy, creamy, layer on top. Maybe this particular beer would pour out better on draught, but I don't know.

No worries, we enjoyed it just the same...Sláinte!

Beannacht Lá Fhéile Pádraig !

 

Happy Paddy's Day!!