Oliver's Blackfriar Stout
Pratt Street Ale House

 

 

Pours black with a cascading, thick, creamy tan head that stays, leaving lacing.

The smell is of roasted, espresso-like coffee, some chocolate, and strong earthy tones.

The taste is of roasted coffee, some peat-like smokiness and bitter chocolate. Balancing earthy bitterness mixes in with the sweetness and smoky touch.

It has a creamy, medium-body.

A creamy, very well-balanced, smooth, "sessionable" stout.

On nitro, at the downtown brewpub. Good roastiness, good lacing. On the thicker mouthfeel side. A bit sour rather than bitter. Sessionable abv helpful, and carbonation is not obtrusive. Drinkable with the coffee and cocoa in it.Drying finish and aftertaste.

Had this on tap at Frisco's. I assume this is what I was drinking, though it's hard to tell. The beer menu describes this as an Oatmeal stout, but the tap handle says it's the Blackfriar. So I assume that's what I'm drinking (doesn't really taste all that much like an oatmeal stout).

The beer pours a very dark brown color with an outstanding creamy head. Head retention was excellent and lacing is quite good. On the nose this beer is almost as impressive. There is a sweet malt aroma, but interwoven is an aroma of peaty smokiness. Really smells quite good. On the palate it starts out with some light creamy, sweet malt, but then the hops come on strong and it finishes pretty dry. There's almost a burnt malt flavor in the finish. Mouthfeel is pretty light and creamy, though the bitterness bites in on the finish. Abv. (as you might imagine) is hardly noticeable and the beer is consequently pretty drinkable.

A good solid stout from Oliver. Not in the same class with the breakfast stout I had with friends last night, but not bad.

This one’s dark black with some cherry highlights with 3mm of sandy, dark tan head.

Smells of gingersnaps, baking cocoa, oatmeal cookies and molasses. Damn.

Tastes of a hint of black licorice, heavy grains, chocolatey booze and a touch of smoke.

Feels light and easy with a mild, gentle carbonation that left a little film in my mouth.

This is a nice take on the style for sure. The smell knocked my out of my shoes.

Had from a nitro-tap at Friscoe's Grille, Columbia, MD.

A- Very nice and dark, with a thin brown head.

S- Hoppy and chocolaty, welcoming.

T- Very powerful, chocolate and coffee, with a dry finish.

M- Thich, with a smooth flavor, dry finish.

D- Very inviting if you like coffee and chocolate.

Appearance: Arrives at the bar with a black color and a tan head that displays great retention and leaves sheets of lace on the way down

Smell: Moderate grainy notes

Taste: Milk chocolate followed by coffee notes

Mouthfeel: Creamy with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: A very nice sweet stout that is well balanced

I tried this one before attending my first place Orioles beat the tar out of the Yankees a few weeks back. Poured into a PLASTIC CUP (GRRR), it poured pitch black with a half finger of creamy, pale tan head.

Aroma was killed mostly due to some jackass smoking a cigar 5 feet from me, so i can't hammer this one on review numbers (unfair), but what I could draw out of this one, I got some roasted brown malts w/ some caramel and chocolate tones. Nothing too overpowering though, which I am sure to Mr. Cigar Smoker at a Beer Bar being inconsiderate of a beer bar's purpose! (sorry, had to rant on that one a bit).

Taste was rather sweet with chocolate and molasses flavors with a slight crisp pear flavor through it; i found this very interesting! Nothing too crazy to report, but enjoyable flavor!

Feel was rather smooth, full-bodied, a tiny bit of carbonation (much like a Guinness) and was served by nitro-tap, which made it wonderful!

To drink this one is a good experience, to drink two of these would have been even better had it not been for the cigar smoke. I definitely gotta get back down to try this one again.

Appearance: Pours a nice deep dark brown/light black with a thick tannish head. Lacing stays throughout.

Smell: As to be expected, some dark chocolate and roasted coffee smells are evident. Some sweetness detectable as well.

Taste:Initial hoppiness experienced with the chocolate and coffee tones from the smell. Not too bitter, not too sweet. Not very malty.

Mouthfeel: Pleasant. Despite the hoppiness and full flavor, it isn't overly dense or weak. Roasted barley stays in the mouth for a bit afterward. Would be nice to try with some chocolate or deserts.

Drinkability: Definitely easy to drink and to enjoy.

Sampled at the Fells Point location in a 10 ounze glass. Served at room temperature. A more complex brew than their porter, but still very pleasing. It definitely isn't as complex and kick a$$ as say a fine imperial stout, but better than average.

I did not have the highest hopes when I ordered this one at The Wharf Rat, but I was definately impressed. This stout, more realisticly labelled a black ale, is highly hopped, apparent in the nose and on eht palate. There is no questioning the rich and poignant roasted barley and chocolate malt flavor. This one is a keeper.

Zum wohl!