Stout, Porter And Mild Not Tasting Of Chocolate Or Coffee

[barnaclebill58]

I was in Austria recently and had some excellent dunkle bier. I usually drink pale/golden ales in the UK apart from the odd pint of Guinness so thought I would give stout, porters and mild a go. I have found that Guinness apart, be they bottled or on draught they have just about all tasted of chocolate or coffee or both-and I don't like either. Are they supposed to? Some do say that they have chocolate or coffee overtones but I had one in Wetherspoons that made no mention on the bar clip. Any suggestions of ones that taste like a German dark beer appreciated. Murphys and Beamish don't seem to be around any more.

[dannyk13]

Some supermarkets sell German beers.Tesco have a small selection/

[Old_Geezer]

Can't say I've particularly noted a chocolate flavour to any of them. Had beer that boasted of chocolate on the label though. Mind you I avoid these thin, less pleasant tasting pale/golden ales/lagers and tend to go for more malty brews usually.

[Buenchico]

Some stouts are most definitely intended to taste of chocolate. e.g.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/664/73/
(That's got quite a few fans here on AB)

However, as you don't like chocolate (although you might still like that stout), I'll direct you to Shepherd Neame's outstanding porter. Asda sell it as their own-brand Whitechapel porter
https://groceries.asda.com/product/bottled-ale/asda-extra-special-whitechapel-porter-premium-ale/40236
and Sainsbury's stock it as their London porterhttps://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/gb/groceries/all-vegan-products/sainsburys-london-porter--taste-the-difference
There's a slight hint of chocolate in the flavour but, I suspect, not enough to prevent you appreciating the quality of the ale.

Alternatively, head to Waitrose for a lovely dark wheat bear:
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/weihenstephaner-dunkel-weissbier-germany/807974-175342-175343

[Jordyboy9]

Try Robinsons old Tom from ASDA

[gingejbee]

Is this the Murphys that you can't find?

https://groceries.asda.com/product/stout/murphys-irish-draught-stout/910000024156

[Buenchico]

It might be worth you trying Guinness West Indies Porter. (I don't like it as much as the Shepherd Neame porter I've mentioned above but we've clearly got different tastes).

Asda, Morrison's, Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's all stock it (with the first three of those stores all currently offering it at 4 bottles for £6).

[barnaclebill58]

Thanks all, Clearly I've been unlucky in that Morrisons and Tescos are the closest. I'll make my next trip to Asda and the next one to Sainsburys. I'm not keen on ordinary wheat beer but I'll give the dark one a go. Incidentally Schlenkerla Rausch beer is worth a try -some describe it as liquid kippers. A bit hard to track down in the UK but not impossible

[fourteen85]

I rather like McEwans Champion Ale, i buy it from Morrisons, 3 for £5.00 its enough these days as it is 7.3 proof

[rowanwitch]

Titanic plum porter is lovely and jammy
Salem porter is rich and raisiny
Beowulf killer stout is evil
Flying dog oyster stout has a salty tang
De molen tsarina Ezra is a stunning imperial stout
If you can find them green Jack Ripper or better still Baltic Trader are mindblowingly good

[Ellipsis]

I used to live near a Fullers pub that sold Mr Harry:

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/71/20643/

However, I don't live there and more and, even if I did, Fullers don't brew it any more! Does anyone know of a good equivalent?

[gingejbee]

fourteen85....not right, I'm afraid. The ale you're talking about is 7.3% ABV (alcohol by volume)....not the same as "degrees proof" at all.
(For example, standard whiskey is 40% ABV equal to 70 degrees proof).

[fourteen85]

Ok, i stand corrected, still strong though and a damn nice drink