Double O Stout
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale House

 

 

A - Deep black brown with a thin, faint dark brown halo highlight around the rim. Nitro head doesn't disappoint; creamy, bone white, with stellar retention and a cloth-like lace.

S - Dry wood, balsamic vinegar, and faint booze.

T - Quick, dry mesquite opening into sweet caramel and light roasted malt. Sweet cream and roast finish with a dull lingering bitterness.

M - Soft and creamy. Light on the palate but still carries a full body.

O - An ambivalent stout. Great appearance and mouth feel but the flavor and nose fail to rise to the occasion.

Reviewed on 10/8/08. On tap at JH. Pours dark brown with a slowly disappearing light tan head. Aroma of light roast. Very faint aroma. Flavor is quite sweet (oatmeal and chocolate) with a slight roasted malt finish. Pretty gulpable and smooth but I found the palate a touch watery. The sweetness got to me a little as well and it was a bit artificial. Meh.
6/4/6/3/14 (3.3/5)

Poured a deep brown hue with a two finger creamy tan head. There was good retention and sticky lacing.

The smell featured a combination of sweet and roasted malts. Good coffee aroma as well.

The taste consisted of robust caramel malts and a smooth cafe au lait element.

The mouthfeel was on the fuller side with a good creaminess.

Overall a tasty and well done oatmeal stout.

Named a "double" O Stout for using twice as much oats as a normal oatmeal stout. It pours a jet black, with a cascading brown head, thanks to the nitro. The aroma is sweet, nutty, with roasted malt coming through.

The flavor follows suit, and it is extremely sweet, with a big roasted nut flavor, as well as some chocolate and coffee bean. Overall, this is certainly a dessert beer, as it's very sweet and somewhat heavy. Mouthfeel is rich, creamy and smooth. I really enjoyed this oatmeal stout, even on a hot August day.