Quenchers Saloon's Stout Fest 2010 - All January Long

By Jake Guidry in Food on Jan 5, 2010 10:00PM

During this frigid, dark and desolate time of year, we've got to find really good reasons to pry ourselves from the comfort of our warm, cozy dwellings. That awful trek from doorstep to CTA stop--face down and muscles tensed--must be worth something. For beer enthusiasts, Quenchers Saloon entices the brave soul off the couch and into the elements en route to Stout Fest 2010.

Quenchers Saloon is hosting Stout Fest 2010 all January long and features 20 stouts of all types and regions (mostly American microbrews). They've divided the featured stouts into four groups and, if you manage to make it to the last one in a given group, it's on the house. Choose your group wisely, however, as some feature hefty imperial stouts that can slow down one's progress. The featured stouts are listed here, but be reminded that supply is limited.

As a stout enthusiast, if you are looking to tackle a single group, I would recommend Group 3, which features Bell's Expedition Stout, Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, Two Brother's North Wind Stout, Hitachino Espresso Stout and Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout. There's a good mix of types of stouts from various regions that would satisfy both a novice and an experienced taster. If you're looking to pick and choose out of each of the four groups, take a good, hard look at Founder's Breakfast Stout, Rogue's Shakespeare Stout and New Holland's impeccable Night Tripper, a roasty, 10.8% ABV brew that will send you back home just toasty enough to forget how miserable it is outside (maybe).