Oatmeal Stout
Alandale Brewing Company

I picked up a growler of this after dinner at the brewpub on the way back from Six Flags.

A - Dark brown, almost black brew with a one finger brown head that exhibits good retention, and leaves a little bit of lace on the glass.

S - Creamy milk chocolate, Oreo cookies, and some hay-like hop notes. Smells sweet and creamy.

T - Much more roasty than the nose suggests. More dark chocolate than milk chocolate, but it's still really creamy and sugary. Cold dark roast coffee with tons of cream and sugar. Nice burnt cereal grain flavors add some bitterness and make this one an excellent balance between sweet chocolate and bitter dark roasted coffee.

M - Medium bodied with mild carbonation and a dry roasty finish.

D - Excellent. This is an excellent sweet stout that is a very, very impressive offering from the one year old Alandale brewery.

Ordered a "half split", 12 oz. pour. Received a very dark brown beer with a khaki ring of foam.

Smell was mild coffee.

Taste was pleasantly bitter coffee. Creamy rich and not too sweet. Nice balance of elements, restrained bittering hops and toasty malts.

Mouthfeel was rather full. Spot on.

Bring your growlers! This is one you will want to bring back to savor. Excellent appearance - opaque black with a persistant dense brown head. The silky mouthfeel you would expect for the style. Hops and dark roasted malts combine for a nice dry bitterness in finish of this malty semi sweet stout. No diacetyl detected. House ale yeast is very neutral as far as esters. Slight nutty and earthy flavor most likely from oats (but possibly from English hops). Some notes of chocolate help complexity. A nice choice for the winter season and with out flaws. Local water is a blend from the Merimec and Mississippi but does not hurt this oatmeal stout.

Oatys are one of my favorite styles, and this one really hit the spot! It could easily be one of my session brews at Alandales.

Nothing like an almost black pour, with that tan pillow floating on top, Then followed by a subtle aroma of coffee and chocolate malts, finishing with a fine quaff of a medium bodied brew. A little burnt toast and charcoal really rounded out this puppy.

I really enjoyed this one and would have many more, but, ya know, these dark brews are always kinda heavy.
;)