St. Peter's Brewery's St. Peter's Cream Stout

Pours inky black, but not opaque as it poured. On type for a stout. Nice dark tan head that sticks fairly well.

Throws off a sweet floral smell as the head dissipates, and settles to a nice grainy smell. Still a bit sweet, apparently from the lactose.

Huh. I like it. But the lactose isn't too apparent. It is mostly apparent in the feel, making the feel a little smooth up front like the type should be, but is quickly offset by a carbonated soda feel and aftertaste. Roasted grain still, but still soda-like.

Wish there were more cream/milk stouts out there. This one is fairly average, not going far enough into the style to really stand out.

Ridgeway Brewing's Bad King John Black Ale

I've started to like all Ridgeway beers, and a black ale as opposed to a black lager is intriguing, so I have high hopes for this one.

Pours like a stout, although not as opaque as some. Nice tan head and a good, roasted grain smell to it.

Excellent taste to it. I'm not sure what the difference between a black ale and a stout, but it feels just a little lighter in the body so maybe the gravity is the distinction. Either way, it's about like a Saint Arnold's stout, which I think is one of the lightest out there. It's even got a little more flavor than St. A's. Good beer, from a brewery that's working its way up my list.

Ridgway Brewing's Foreign Export Stout

I must confess my ignorance as to what make a stout one that is foreign and to be exported. If it's foreign, wouldn't you haves to import it? And aren't all exports to foreign places? I don't know.

What I do know is that it pours a nice, almost completely opaque black with a good tan head that sticks. And that it smells grainy and substantial.

Tastes the same. It's straightforward, with a solid roasted grain that keeps its grainy taste and has a limited amount of the other chocolate or coffee tastes or smoothness that lactose can impart. Simple.

Great beer. Glad I picked up one of every Ridgway beer I saw.