Hamburg Brewing Company - Southtown Stout

Pouring a deep, dark brown with garnet red highlights and a fluffy cap of medium brown foam, this stout sure looks good in the glass. On the nose, look for notes of brown bread, medium-roast coffee, deep-down caramel, and a dusting of cocoa powder. The roasted barley comes through nicely in the flavor, with plenty of roasty char and coffee-like impressions. Oats contribute to this stout’s creamy and smooth mouthfeel, as well as a bit more body that we might expect for a 4.5% ABV beer. Some very light hints of residual sweetness are easily tempered by a moderate dose of bitterness from both the roasty character and the hops, the latter also delivering some herbal, earthy, and lightly woody impressions. With the low ABV, this stout is easily sessionable and will be among our choices for weekend cookouts over a charcoal grill. Pair this brew with all manner of grilled meats including ribs, burgers, and brisket, as well as grilled corn and root veggies. Chocolaty dessert pairings are another indulgent option. Cheers!

Hamburg Brewing Company was founded by father and son duo, John Russo, Sr. and John Russo, Jr., whose family is known in western New York as the founders of Sorrento Cheese (now sold under the Galbani brand). John, Jr. got his start in the brewing world like so many others, as a long-time homebrewing hobbyist. After some encouragement from friends, he decided to team up with his father to start his own brewery. The two toured around western New York state looking for the best place to launch their business, eventually realizing that it made the most sense to build it right near their home in Hamburg, in Erie County just a few miles south of Buffalo. They built their 20-barrel brewery in a building that had been owned by their family for many years and was originally home to offices and a collection of automobiles.

The brewery opened to the public in 2013 and has become a prime destination for beer lovers in the Buffalo area. Their large Taproom is built like a mountain lodge, with vaulted ceilings and a large central fireplace along with a patio overlooking a large pond. Hamburg currently produces several year-round brews and a variety of seasonals, in addition to a large variety of limited edition beers and even hard cider. Their beers can be found at restaurants, bars, and for retail sale mostly in the western part of New York. For more info, call them up at 716-649-3249 or visit www.hamburgbrewing.com.