Our Tastes-- Saint Arnold Winter Stout

This is the last bottle of brew I managed to "leg" back last year from the Cotton Bowl. Made in Houston, TX at Saint Arnold Brewing Co. I'm sampling their Winter Stout. The first thing you notice is the sweet malty aroma followed by a creamy tan lingering head that seems to slide effortlessly up and down the pint. I am amazed by the small bubbles rising from the glass and forming the head. It's a dark brown with great legs. 2000 sweet stout winner at GABF. Four malts and 2 hops varieties (if still available) of Pacific Northwest hops are used. This beer oddly enough came to the fermenter just like the Sam Adams Longshots, in 97' they held a brewing contest and used the recipe of the winner. Saint Arnold (the actual saint) has an interesting story. For years he extolled the virtues of drinking ale and the dangers of drinking water (of course water wasn't that clean back then) and at his funeral his pallbearers stopped to have a mug of beer but sadly there was but one to share among them. However, as the mug was passed around it never went dry allowing even the mourners to be satisfied!! Saint Arnold, patron saint of homebrewers 580-640A.D. Oh, and this one is 5.6%abv. Have one, if you're lucky you'll always have a full pint?