Pike XXXXX Stout brewed by Pike Pub & Brewery - Seattle, Washington

Pike XXXXX Stout has a full-bodied velvety malt texture; hints of chocolate, licorice & espresso. Appropriate anywhere a red wine would be served, yet goes beautifully with delicate dishes like oysters. Hops: Cninook, Willamette, and Goldings. Malts: Pale, Crystall, and Roasted. ABV: 7.00%. IBU: 65

Stout History
Originally known as “porter” because thetrain porters sold it. Some “porters” were called “stout” or “extra stout porters.” In the 19th century, the biggest breweriesdropped the word porter. London was the most famous stout capital in the 18th century. In the 19th century, Dublin became famous for a light dry style that advertised its restorative and nutritional benefits. The craft beer and cream stouts in the early 1980s.
           

Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Fantastic.. Not much else to say - but I will go through the list.

Upon opening and pouring the experience begins, great pour with a very very dark almost black colour to it. Can't see through the glass (always good with an extra stout), and finishes with a nice 1.5 finger caramel head. The head started to melt away and within a few minutes it was all gone.

Smell was strong with coffee, and a sweet malty almost burnt chocolate smell. Definitely sweeter than floury or bitter. The flavour mimics that quite a bit. First across the tongue was slight bitter espresso flavouring, which led to a smooth finish. It was nicely carbonated and was very easy to finish the entire bottle.

I started drinking it with some home made pizza which didn't harm the flavour but didn't really add to it. Finished with a nice piece of 70% dark chocolate, and that pushed this from an excellent beer to a freaking fantastic beverage of glory.

Definitely a must buy and must drink. I haven't had anything else from Pike but this would make me like to try others.

 

                                                                      
The History of Charles and Rose Ann Finkel and Pike Brewing
Charles and Rose Ann Finkel founded an importing company, in part "according to Charles" to satisfy their taste for authentic beers. At the time, the United States had 40 breweries, only one made beer according to the Rheinheitsgebot, the world's oldest food purity law. With an idea of marketing different tastes in beer, like different tastes in wine, Charles visited more than a dozen independent American breweries seeking marketing and distribution arrangements. He discovered that most small breweries copied the big ones brewing with corn syrup and rice filler (adjunct) chemicals and additives. Charles decided to market beers of his own design using other people’s breweries.

  

Finkel, who majored in design in college, became the agent for D.G. Yuengling of Potsville, PA, America's oldest brewery (for states west of the Mississippi). While he did not change the beers, he did choose labels from the brewery’s early archives.

Finkel launches Cold Spring Export, from one of only two remaining Minnesota breweries. In doing so he became America's first modern "contract brewer." Finkel specified that the beer had to meet Rheinheitsgebot standards, created the recipe, designed the label and sold it nationally. Years later, he did the same for the August Schell Brewery of New Ulm, Minnesota.

Frustrated by the lack of great American beers, Charles and Rose Ann set a goal of marketing great beers of each of the classic brewing styles and educating the American beer drinker about them. To do so quickly, the only choice was to concentrate on classics from Europe. The same year, the Finkel’s discovered Michael Jackson's seminal World Guide to Beer first published in 1978. Inspired and informed, Charles and Rose Ann became the exclusive agent for some of Europe's finest independent brewers including Ayinger, Lindemans, Melbourn Bros, Orval, Pinkus, Samuel Smith and Traquair House. Their's was the first company to offer a range of Belgian beers; to work with British brewers to create long forgotten styles like Oatmeal Stout, Porter, Imperial Stout and Scotch Ale; and to repackage classic Bavarian dopplebock under a private label that eventually became the Ayinger Brewery's world-wide brand. They introduced many people including many early craft brewers, to the glories of great beers.

Writing about Charles in Beers, A Connoisseur's Guide to the World's Best, Christopher Finch writes "No beer supplier in the world represents such a catholic range of beers, and in each range is a masterpiece, or something remarkably close to it."

The Finkels talked of creating their own brewery for years. Working with the world's greatest brewers was inspiring. So, in 1989, wanting a location in the famous Pike Place Farmers Market, they convinced John Farias, the owner of Liberty Malt Supply Company, to sell them the business with the idea of creating a microbrewery as a way to show home brewers how beer is brewed. Liberty, founded in 1921, was originally upstairs in the main section of the market, but had moved to the LaSalle Hotel Building after the space had been vacated by a small winery.

The Finkels opened The Pike Place Brewery in the Pike Place Public Market. Well, not exactly "in" the market, but “under" the market in the La Salle Hotel at 1432 Western Avenue. It was one of the country’s smallest breweries with the tallest smoke stack. A four barrel copper kettle was custom made by Seattle's Alaska Copper and Bass Company and though tiny, the brewery was state of the art. From the beginning the goal was to brew world class ale to accompany great food. The Finkels wanted the beers of Pike to be the equal or better, and in better condition than any that they represented from Europe. Charles and Rose Ann favored beers that went well with food, especially the classic British brewing styles like Ales, Porters, Stouts, Scotch Ales and Barley Wines. There was great anticipation among the Seattle brewing community as a little red and white tile brewery in the lobby of a former bawdy house took shape. Articles appeared in newspapers and posters announcing the brewery opening and inviting friends and beer lovers to participate in the "World's Shortest Non-Motorized Uphill Parade", from the brewery to Cutter’s Bay House at the corner of Pike Place and Western Avenue were distributed to local pubs and retailers. The opening day weather was as good as the beer. Leading the parade was John Farias pushing a keg in a silver two wheeled hand truck. Following were the Finkels, Franz and Angela Inselkammer from Bavaria's Ayinger Brewery, Pike brewer, Jason Parker, a host of TV and newspaper photographers and writers, and almost 100 beer lovers. Joining the group was a llama from The Herb Farm, a walking geoduck from the Seattle Sheraton Hotel, dogs, a cat and an oyster. Everyone ) perhaps not the oyster, which was eaten, and the llama) sensed that they were making history. The premier pint of Pike Pale was tapped by Braü Franz Inselkammer, Braü Von Aying. In the weeks and months that followed, Pike gained a following among the growing rank of beer lovers, became available at some of the finest restaurants, hotels and pubs in Washington and developed a loyal following. In addition to draft, Pike Pale and XXXXX Stout were offered in beautiful swing top bottles which required a deposit. They were so popular that consumers didn't return them and for practical reasons, the brewery switched to 12 and 22oz. bottles. The labels were created by Charles, inspired by views of the entrance to the art deco market. The original logo was cut out of a stencil. He later switched to a computer to do the designs, but always retained the stenciled look. As soon as the brewery opened, the bottles were featured in a full page color photograph in Beer, a Connoisseur’s Guide to the World's Best, Beer by Christopher Finch. The beautiful coffee (beer) table book was published in 1989 by Abbeyville, the country’s finest art book publishers.
Pike Voted Best Microbrewed Beer - Members Vote, Microbrew Appreciation Society.

In 1997,the Finkel's sell Pike Brewing, Liberty Malt Supply Company and Merchant du Vin Corp and Steve Sinser becomes president of Pike Brewing ”