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BEER OF THE MONTH: Indian Wells Blackout Stout (Ricardo DeAratanha, Los Angeles Times)

February 11, 2009
Indian Wells Brewing, up north in Inyokern, Calif., is best known for a reddish lager called Mojave Red (they even use mojave-red.com as the brewery's website name), but it produces a wide range of brews. For the Whole Foods Market chain, it's making an attractive dry stout: dark, practically opaque, but with no molasses note and a low level of bitterness. The finish has a faint burnt flavor and a touch of sweetness, and altogether it's an exceptionally well-behaved stout, one that doesn't become tiring after a single glass. It would be great with cheesy dishes such as macaroni and cheese.

-- Charles Perry

Style: Clean-tasting, Irish-style stout with faintly burnt bittersweet finish.

Price: $8.99 per six-pack at Whole Foods Markets.