Lakefront Brewery’s Snake Chaser is an Irish Dry Stout that does a pretty good job aligning itself with the style. It’s brewed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin … less than two hours away from us here in Chicago. I’d say up to this point in my craft beer experiences I have not heard much about the brewery other than a few reviews here and there. It feels like they keep to themselves a bit, but maybe that’s just my own perception. Needless to say, I chanced upon a single bottle of Snake Chaser at my local Binny’s and decided to sit down for a review.

Poured into a favorite nonic pint (would also work in an imperial of course), the beer was a soft, milky pour. It lacked the frothy, milkshaky texture of Guinness, but still cascaded with little tan bubbles. I could immediately smell the roasty, coffee character of this beer, which again is a departure from something like Guinness. While they’re both in the same style category, I can’t help but point out that Guinness isn’t really that roasty. It’s smooth, barely carbonated, and very … mineraly. Snaker Chaser, however, may be a bit closer to the classic style, boasting those roasted notes.

Tasting this beer, you know that it’s a winner. When I’m out with friends, sessioning a beer, I almost never turn to Irish Dry Stout … it’s just not a staple for me. But have had a few (Guinness, Murphy’s, etc) and can say that this Wisconsin craft beer version by Lakefront is very well done. It is smooth and velvety like a stout should be, but does have slightly more carbonation and a deeper flavor profile. The mineral taste is definitely there, but that roasty, coffee taste really rounds it out, and it finishes very subtly, without hardly any lingering flavors. So you take another sip.

Overall I’d have to say that Snake Chaser lives up to the style. If I were in a bar and had the choice of Snake Chaser, Guinness, or Murphy’s … I would probably go with Snake Chaser.