Here’s a beer from a small brewery in Pennsylvania that I’ve never heard of. It’s called Buck Snort Stout from the North Country Brewery of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Their beers are not sold in Georgia, but I got a can of this elusive beer in a trade with my good friend Scott White.

If you go to the brewery website you will not find a listing for Buck Snort Stout. This beer is canned at the brewery however and not a contract brew. The can calls this a “West Coast Style Stout”, whatever that is. It also advertises “Beer Hunters Wanted!” I’ve been a beer hunter for over 30 years now, so I guess I’m just the person they’re looking for. Buck Snort Stout is also described as “A very quaffable ale” although at 7% alcohol by volume I would not want to quaff too much of it.

From the can label:

A bold stout with a full malt and hop flavor. An ale that will have all beer hunters calling in another! Support the snort!

Buck Snort Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and a big roasted dark chocolate nose. Taking a sip, the body is smooth and medium here but it’s the roastiness that really makes this beer stand out. I get dark bitter chocolate, a little licorice, not really any coffee notes but huge roasty bitterness, very astringent and even at the last the beer is packed with intense roasted bitter notes. It’s different, and I guess by “west coast stout” they are referring to Double Black Stout from Green Flash. It’s like that but lower in alcohol.

However you peg it this is a very different beer indeed, and in today’s beer world that is something.

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