From the Beer Writers: Despite the fact so many drinkers unfamiliar with the wide breadth of styles craft beer presents define the superiority of their anti-adjunct-lager palates by saying, “I like Guinness,” Irish-style dry stouts remain severely underrepresented throughout San Diego. Come St. Patrick’s Day, those inky, Éire-inspired ales get their moment in the sun. Then, in most cases, they are shelved until March rolls back around. But when crafted correctly, dry stouts possess characteristics that make them the perfect dark beer for year-round imbibing, even in our perpetually sunny climate. A fine example comes in the form of Make Your Own Luck, an Irish-style dry stout from Scripps Ranch’s Savagewood Brewing. To be fair, it was introduced as a special offering for St. Paddy’s Day, but it makes a case for everyday enjoyment. A toasted, nutty nose gives way to sturdy roasted coffee flavors that instantly wash away, leaving an almost woody savoriness with subtle nuances of cocoa in its wake. All of that flavor is delivered via a delicate, 4.9% alcohol-by-volume beer that goes down more like a light-bodied blonde or brown ale than a viscous stout. It’s proof to those not familiar with this highly drinkable style that you can’t judge a stout by its color.
From the Brewers: “Make Your Own Luck is a full-flavored yet light-bodied stout that is surprisingly rich and roasty for how drinkable it is. It can be easily quaffed any time of year. All of the roasted character comes form the chocolate malt and roasted barley, and the rest of the grain bill is pretty standard—Maris Otter, flaked barley, and Black Patent malt. We used English hops (Fuggles) and Irish Yeast (White Labs WLP004). We mashed high at 154 degrees, and the lack of complex sugars caused it to ferment fast and dry out nicely. The rich flavor gives the illusion of body, but it finishes dry and crisp. We named the beer Make Your Own Luck because, even though we released this for St. Paddy’s day, we don’t need a leprechaun to help us! We’re a small neighborhood brewery that makes our own luck!”—Darrel Brown & Zach Hayes, Savagewood Brewing Company