Oatmeal Stout
Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe

 

 

 

 

 

I was able to get their delicious Oatmeal Stout on 2/2/08. Their beer menu says that this beer has a 5.2% ABV. They poured it into an American pint glass. It was clearly an opaque colored beer that had a 1 inch head of tan foam. The head of foam quickly dissipated into a small tan film, tan colored foamy rings along the edges, and a few spots of tan lace. The aroma was heavy with milk and dark choclate (that's a first), dark roasted malts, a spatter of roasted oats, and a few pounds of roasted espresso beans. It had a dark and roasted taste (what else could I expect?) of dark roasted malts, a dab of sweet caramel, dark chocolate, a pinch of roasted oats, roasted espresso beans, and a touch of roasted hops at the finish line. The mouthfeel was full bodied and had a full flavored dark and roasted aftertaste of roasted malts, dark chocolate, espresso beans, and roasted hops. The aftertaste was just as good as the initial taste. This aftertaste lingered on in the back of my throat for a few minutes. If you couldn't tell already, I throughly enjoyed this beer! Damn, I wish I growler of this one right now!

Had this on tap at the brewpub last night. In this style I always wind up comparing to my gold standard - sam smiths - and I find there's a lot of interpretations of this brews. In discussing with friends I thought this a great brew but an americanized version rather than the english version. It appeared wonderfully black, viscous with a solid tan head. it smelled of roasted grains / coffee / sweet malts. Taste followed the nose but it was missing that sweetness I associate with an oatmeal stout. There was some of that there but it was dominated by the roasted grains. A medium / full bodied beer, nicely carbonated, smooth drinking, a bit too crisp in the mouth for the style IMHO. Drinkability was good, it quaffed nicely and was enjoyed heartily by many members of our party.

This beer poured a thick black color with a thin cream colored head (this came from a growler and I suspect it was originally more carbonated). The aroma was definitely coffee. The taste was mostly a mixture of coffee and roasted flavors – there was enough sweetness to make it balanced. The mouthfeel was full and seemed to match the brew well. Overall, this was a tasty beer that I’d love to try again.

(Note: scores on appearance and mouthfeel would probably be higher with a fresher sample – this spent at least a week in the growler before I was able to open it).

On tap at the moon. Again, they have not let me down in the slightest on this version and its up there on the top of the list of their seasonal offerings.

A: Espresso color, almost black with a tight creamy head. Good luck letting ths bad boy sit in front of you and showing any restraint.

S: Toasty oats as you would expect. The color would lend me to think espresso smell but more of a chocolate aroma than the coffee.

T: Flat out perfect for a beer like this. Such a good match of deep flavors. May just be me, but not overpowered by the coffee flavor and has a warming taste that is indicative by a high ABV (which it doesnt have- so they claim)

M: Smooth as can be. Pillowy.

D: Intensely drinkable for a beer of this type.

This is a good example of this type. While it's not the best oatmeal stout I've had, it is certainly above average! It is VERY dark black with a small brownish head that becomes a thin lace that remains. The smell is oatmealy, chocolatey, with some hints at a floral/fruity aroma. It tastes as it smells. The taste with thick, as expected with this type, but not overwhelming, which made it very drinkable. I had several of these and was very satisfied!

Pours an opaque black. The formation of the head creates a nice cascading effect, much like what you get with those nitro cans. The head is rocky and well-sustained leaving behind a sticky, sprawling lace. The nose features heavy burnt aromas and, believe it or not, some distinct floral hops. The palate is dominated by strong burnt flavors and a tasty roasted coffee bitterness. The mouthfeel is smooth with very mild carbonation.

Very good with nice roasted and burnt flavors and a great smoothness. Haven’t had a beer from Harvest Moon in quite a while. Unfortunately, I haven’t lived near the place since I graduated from Rutgers about a year ago, and this beer reminds me of what I’ve been missing. Guess it’s good to have friends who bring growlers when they visit. Recommended.

64 ounce growler. Pours a dark brown with a reddish tinge. The tan head is initially large, but quickly dissipates. The aroma is roasted coffee. Great roasted flavor. Sweet and nutty with a hint of chocolate. Very smooth mouthfeel. There have been some good beers coming from Harverst Moon recently, but the oatmeal stout is my favorite.