Lump of Coal Christmas Stout

The Label

Believe it or not, this was my first attempt at a stout. Most homebrewers I have met, usually attempt a stout early, and in many cases it is the first beer they make. I found this recipe in one of my books. It caught my eye because it not only used a variety of types of malted barley, but also wheat, and roasted barley. The yeast specified was for a German Ale, which seemed a bit strange, considering the British history of stouts, but I followed the recipe. The yeast gave the beer more of a dry finish, which worked well based on the unusual variety of grains. The beer has a very dark, almost black look, with a rocky dark head, strong roasted smell, and a roasted taste with hints of coffee and chocolate. This was my personal favorite from the holiday packs, and it received high praise from family and friends.

The Name
Based on the color of the beer, I could think of no better comparison than a lump of coal, which was always a possible gift from Santa, if you had a bad year. After naming the beer, I found a couple commercial beers with the same name.