Cadillac Mountain Stout -- Bar Harbor Brewing Company (Bar Harbor, ME)

On the last day of my summer 2010 vacation, I stopped in to the Bar Harbor Brewing shop in the quaint downtown district of Bar Harbor and picked up a six-pack of this brilliant beer named for one of the defining geographical features of Mount Desert Island. Now nine months later, I've busted out the last bottle to see how it fared.

Characteristics: Opaque brown color, medium-to-heavy body, low carbonation and minimal head, strong vanilla flavors throughout the deep roasted malts. Sugary taste is rather moderate considering the depth of the brew. Definitely more on the milk/oatmeal end of the stout spectrum.

Minor Gripes: Bar Harbor doesn't have the greatest distribution connections, so you may have to be in northern New England (or a real specialty shop) to score your own sample.

Bottom Line: Quite simply, the best stout I've ever had. Rich, creamy, complex, smooth, balanced -- from start to finish, regardless of age. A must-try for anyone who's ever thought about stouts.

Rating: 9 / 10