Blackout Stout
Capitol City Brewing Company

 

 

Billed as an English style oatmeal stout on the menu.

Impervious onyx with thin cordovan highlights and the margins. Dense cap of espresso colored cream-like foam that has persistence. Sticky bands of lace ring the glass until the mid point. The aroma is oatmeal smooth and creamy with some minimal charcoal dusty burnt esters and a bit of crisp hops. Big burnt flavors crash across the tongue, woody and ashy, alongside some hints of dark fruit. Relatively dry and the burnt malt gives this a bitterness that is further enhanced with a bit of hop edge. The oatmeal that revealed itself in the nose is surprisingly absent, or simply overpowered by the deeply roasted malt. There is none of the characteristic smoothness that oatmeal provides which leads me to believe that this is closer to an English stout. The finish is long and punctuated by burnt caramel and wood with a hint of sweetness. Medium to light body with a medium grit sandpaper mouthfeel, the carbonation accentuates the dry bitterness. Not bad and enjoyable, but I would have liked to have tasted and felt a bit more oatmeal.

This arrived with a decent tan/light brown head that quickly dissipated to wispiness. The color was a deep reddish brown that was almost dark enough to be considered opaque. The nose was chocolaty sweet and I detected notes of caramel along with the chocolate in the mouth. The mouthfeel was light, especially for a stout. The chocolate lingered at the finish, but I also experienced some unpleasant charcoal bitterness. It was an OK beer, but if their Prohibition Porter is available, I would take it over this.

Pours with a solid black body and a thin, almost non-existant head. A very strong toasted malt smell, almost smokey. The beer tastes strongly of coffee, with a bit of malty body to it. Nice coffee aftertaste, as well. The mouthfeel is silky, but a bit dry, and a bit thin. Overall, a good stout, and a good counterpoint to Capital City's Porter.