O'Ryans Oatmeal Stout
Southend Brewery & Smokehouse

Southend brewery poured a perfect pint of their Oatmeal stout. the lacing just STUCK to the glass the entire time, very impressive. Nice temperature for a stout, no real smell to speak of. A bit malty with a nice aftertaste. One of the better stout's I've tried, but still a bit difficult to consume more than one.

The bartender placed a nice dark chocolate colored stout in front of me that sported a thick caramel head. The aroma was OK, a light roasted malt smell. The stout tasted average with the roasted malts, and subtle hints of coffee snuck through. The stout left a dryness on the tongue with a minimal chocolate residue that I don't associate with an oatmeal stout. The head remained thick & creamy through the drink. I did not sense the smooth thick texture that I have enjoyed in other oatmeal stouts, but it was quite drinkable.

This beer pours a dark brown, almost black from the nitro tap with a very thin, tan head. The smell hints at roasted malt, but also features a rather annoying buttery aspect. The taste is not nearly roasted enough for the style. After all, it's supposed to be an oatmeal stout, and all I could taste was that buttery flavor. The mouthfeel was rather thin, and drinkability-wise, I wasn't ready for another. This is, sadly, still one of Southend's better brews.