Here’s a truism I’m sure beer drinkers everywhere can appreciate. Sometimes, you buy a six-pack of beer and wish you had only bought a single. Other times, you buy a single and wish you had bought the six-pack. The latter is the case with me for RJ Rockers Good Boy Stout, a brew that just bowled me over so much that the first sip told me I should have bought more than a single.

RJ Rockers describes this as an “American Stout” (whatever that is). They don’t say too much about it on their website, other than the following:

Stout is a full bodied American Stout brewed with a variety of dark malts which produce a deep color and rich flavor. It's chocolate and coffee notes coupled with its 7% ABV produces a sweet flavor that finishes warm and smooth.

The bottle label says this:

Our American stout is a perfect treat for man or beast. It’s full-bodied taste comes from a robust combination of seven malts. That’s one in dog malts.

Although the website says Good Boy Stout has an alcohol content of 7% by volume; my bottle says 6.5% by volume. There is a “Bottled On” date field on the label, but it’s blank.

RJ Rockers Good Boy Stout pours to a jet black color with a moderate creamy tan head and an enticing chocolate and licorice nose. Taking a sip, I’m in love at first sip here folks: huge waves of All Sorts licorice wash over the palate and don’t let go. OK, there’s some wonderful roasted barley malt notes here too, and some coffee notes as the beer progresses. But this one is all about the licorice and I do love licorice. A hint of raisin fruit poles thorough, and in the finish, a big roasty bitterness makes this dry, drinkable and downright amazing.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I am off to buy more.

Update 11/13/2014: And buy more I did. Taco Mac had this beauty on draft, and I wasn't passing it up. At $6 for a full mug pour, this rich and roasty treat was a bargain on tap. If you see it, be a good boy and buy it too, won't you?



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