Blackout Oatmeal Stout
Cambridge Brewing Company

On tap at the brewery on 11.9.2007.

Poured an opaque onyx beneath a frothy/creamy off-white head with good retention. Cascading rings of lacing are left down the entire pint glass. Aromas of semi-sweet milk chocolate, fresh hazlenut, and peat. Roasted malt flavors: milk chocolate, mocha, light espresso, and brown sugar; not the least bit chewy or robust. Lingering layers of peat with a compact floral hop/pine presence. A light, medium in body; creamy and velvety smooth most likely due to the blend of nitrogen and carbon dioxide. A delicious and unencumbered Irish Dry Stout. Definitely one of the better of its kind that I've ever had.

Vacuumed down on 4/23/04 at a trip to Redbones’ Underbones with some compatriots. Sixteen-ounce pour in your typical shaker glass. One-inch head subsided to a fingernail’s breadth, but retained from that point onward. Hue was black on black, though on the black scale, not quite as dark as the World Wide Stout. Nose was sweet up front, maybe some hints of lactose, with some fruity tartness that crept in as well. A creamy, slithery taste hit first, followed by a great chocolate maltiness. I found the stout was flowing smoothly down my gullet, and I was reminded a bit of Shipyard’s Bluefin Stout. This was a very quaffable offering, and with its relatively low alcohol content, I would state that this is one you could have more than a few of in a sitting. This black magic offering was entirely appropriate for the Underbones venue.

Sampled at the brewpub on tap.

This stout poured an opaque, black color with creamy, light brown foam (characteristic of nitrogen tap). The smell was mild but pleasantly malty with notes of coffee. The taste was slightly bitter roasted malt up front, but followed by a smooth, malty flavor with notes of sweetness (some coffee and chocolate) and low hop bitterness. The mouthfeel was very smooth and dry with medium body and low carbonation. A very nice feel. This was a very, very good stout, and a great session beer. I wish this one was available more often!

Had this on tap at redbones, by the time it came out the head was gone, but no matter. The deep dark color is quite inviting as is the light roasted aroma. The body is quite smooth and supports a light roasted malt with a buttery finish. Very drinkable and quite tasty.

This is easily comparable to a Guinness. Nice carbonation, long head and it is a dry stout just as advertised. Some roasted coffee flavor but the hop bitterness comes through from start to finish.

Nitro poured pitch black brew with a trademark nitro head that is comparable to the top Irish stouts. Smells softly yet prominent charcoal and roasted coffee. Incredibly smooth from the nitro and flaked barley which makes it go down too well. Moderate body. The roasted flavour is even across the board with charcoal, mild burnt and roasted coffee flavours that provide a bitterness that is in-line with the slight hop bitterness. Some malt sweetness as well as a sweet note from the flaked barley that feigns a chocolate note when the roasted flavours double up.

Absolutely superb, Will (Head Brewer) has done a great job on this one and if it was a year round brew I’d come here all the time for my dry stout fix.

Presentation: On draft.

Appearance: Opaque, with deep brown hues. Nice, creamy, rich tan head from the Nitro system pour.

Smell: Mocha notes. Rich coffee aromas. Sweet, dark malt aromas.

Taste: Smooth (from the addition of oatmeal), medium bodied. Dry upfront, a bit acrid. Chocolate & coffee flavours. Nice balance of hops; semi-sharp/citrus and adds to the astringent dryness of the brew. Finishes with some dextrin sweetness.

Notes: So damn better than Guinness could ever imagine to be. More depth, drinkability, rich flavours and smoothness. I have a hankering for another pint like a thirsty baby does for pure mother's milk.