Southern Star Brewing Company- Buried Hatchet Stout: Down The Hatch

Damn you Steve!  Of course I read Steve’s review of Southern Star Brewing Company’s Buried Hatchet Stout and thought to myself, “that sounds damn good!”  I love stouts and Steve’s description had my mouth watering from the start.  Lucky for me, I happen to not only have one sitting in the fridge but I even went out today and grabbed an additional 4 pack just in case it was that great I didn’t have to be depressed that I only had one.  To this point I have only had the opportunity to try Southern Star’s Pine Belt Pale and if Buried Hatchet is even close I’m going to be super stoked.  Now what’s funny is that I acquired this beer back in November when I was in Ohio and my cousin Ian and I ran to Gentile’s Wine Sellers in Columbus.  Buried Hatchet Stout is long overdue; we are officially poured and ready.

Southern Star Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Strong American Stout and their website describes Buried Hatchet Stout as, “Jet-black in color, this monster smells of coffee and chocolate.  The taste is much of the same, with hints of creamy toffee and roasted malt.  Smooth and delicious, this medium bodied ale is all about the malts, but has enough hop bitterness to be balanced.”

Buried Hatchet Stout pours a dark chocolate brown color with a 1” tan head.  The aroma resembles a coffee with cream with hints of chocolate and faint scents of hops in the background.

I may disagree with Steve on certain things but he is spot on with Buried Hatchet Stout.  When I think of Imperial Stouts I usually envision a 750ml cork and caged or 22oz bottle but this one is delivered in a 12oz can, which I love.  Buried Hatchet is a great Imperial Stout.  The flavor is a superbly balanced mix of roasted malts, chocolate and coffee.  Buried Hatchet Stout starts with the chocolate up front with a bit of malt sweetness and then transitions to a bitter chocolate that finishes with a coffee flavor and once the swallow is done a taste of bitter chocolate lingers on the back on your tongue.  I don’t detect much of a hop presence but I’m completely ok with that.  What most surprises me is that it drinks more like a stout than an imperial stout.  You can easily bury a couple of Buried Hatchets without realizing you polished off the entire four pack and if so, you’re sure to be close to done.

ABV: 8.25%

Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy a Case

Southern Star Brewing Company - Buried Hatchet Stout: The Texas Cure for the Illinois Cold

It’s cold outside here in Plainfield, Illinois, and I’m looking for my favorite cold weather beverage. You may be thinking that I’m talking about coffee or hot chocolate and as far as flavors are concerned, you wouldn’t be far off the mark. I am however talking about a good ol’ strong American stout. As luck would have it, I do have a few varieties in my chill chest. As I reach in the beer I discover is Buried Hatchet Stout from Southern Star Brewing Company out of Conroe, Texas.

I poured the beautifully packaged can into my favorite tasting glass and noticed a deep dark brown color to the beer which comes really close to black without quite getting there. The head is a dark tan color and it dissipates quite quickly. As I take a whiff I get blasted with the aromas of chocolate and coffee. The body is a bit light for a stout, but based on what I smelled previously, I can’t wait to give I a taste. As I take my first sip, the chocolate and coffee that I smelled are clearly present and it is accented by flavor of toffee.

I am not aware of very many breweries in Texas, but if this is any indication of what goes on down there I am well intrigued.  This has definitely got to be in my top five favorite stouts.  It is almost like getting a cup of mocha from your favorite coffee shop, only so much better. It is too bad that I only have one of these, because I would surely like to have another. This is one of those beers that is a joy to write about because I know that someone will read this and in doing so, go to the store to buy one and find the same enjoyment that I did, and that is what it is all about.

ABV: 8.25%

Consumed: Mother Earth Globe Glass

Verdict: Buy a Case