Stout Ratings

RANK	STOUT	RATING (10)	JUDGES COMMENTS
1	Grand Ridge 'Hat Lifter Stout'	9.42	The surprise packet this year; exotic, intriguing, like Thai food, this aromatic stout is complex ambrosia; florid but clever, not one to be pinned down, almost aniseed muscaty. A standout 'widget-less' stout from an obscure brewery in Gippsland*
2	Guinness (Ireland)	8.45	Like floodwater foam, yeasty and zesty, this remains the benchmark stout, full and confident, gorgeously creamy.
3	Guinness (CUB Local)	7.1	This rangey local variety packs flavour and nose but is perhaps a bit thin at the top end
4	Murphy's Irish Stout (Ireland)	6.94	Subtle and sophisticated, it's head might posture a little but this black swampy stout is subtle and murky too. The Tony Lockett of stouts; it keeps presenting itself.
5	Beamish Draught Stout (Ireland)	6.93	Slightly brackish, but also of vanilla cream and coffee. The Kylie Minogue; charismatic but lacking substance. Disappointing for a widget beer at that price.
6	Coopers Best Extra Stout	6.81	Roasted black, bitter like burnt toast and iron filings or shellfish shells in an Aboriginal midden, it is also sweet and molassesy and slightly gluggy and full. One to go with the plum pudding.
7	Abbots Invalid Lager	6.4	The public servant of stout with a brackist texture like Tidal River for medicinal purposes only. Stringent and fastidious, this takes effort. This is the Pete Costello economic rationalist stout, bile like but necessary medicine sometimes.
8	Cascade Special Stout	6.04	This ambivalent stout lacks confidence in itself despite its wonderful colour and pedigree. Disappointing and a bit lagerish.
9	Warrick's Black Medicinal Stout	5.92	A Monica like head [it goes down quickly] with a satiny almost cherry cola colour this is rich and complex and slightly tinny; like a corrugated roof or that iron feeling in your throat after climbing Hearns Road. Yeasty and sweet and black.

*about the winner - The Hat Lifter Stout is produced by the Grand Ridge Brewing Company, Main St., Mirboo North, Victoria, Australia. It is a pure malt beer naturally brewed without chemicals, sugars or preservatives. The 'Hat Lifter Stout' is 4.9% alchohol.