Oyster Stout
Upright Brewing Company

this is something enormously unique and high quality from one of my favorite breweries, so cool to see them with something on tap in denver again, i feel like it has been ages! this one is no joke, brewed with a ton of oysters and oyster juice, that element about as forward as i have ever known it to be in one of these weird stouts. its eggshell luster black in from the tap, with a short but lingering off white head and an aroma of english yeast, seawater, and minerals, calcium and protein, i think i can appreciate the oysters right away, but it may just be in my head. faint smoke and the malt aromatic i would get in an irish dry stout. the flavor is more of the same, the oyster distinct but also really well incorporated, and quite obviously doing something chemical to this thats very agreeable, although its hard to place. richer in feel but bone dry, propped up by the richness of the oysters instead of a caramel malt or something, and with a nice european ale yeast at the middle and end allowed to add a little flavor. not quite briney, not slimy either, but interesting in taste and texture, drinkable too. potentially a great food beer, but im not sure what with, maybe vanilla ice cream, does that sound yucky or good? this is cool beer, further proof that upright is among the elite!

 

On tap at toronado Seattle. A bit of a surprise for me. Looks great, smells great. Big and bold. Not too much oyster. I love it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reviewed from notes. Poured from 750 mL bottle into an Upland pint glass.

A: Pours a very dark brown, mostly opaque, with a big fluffy tan head that lasts for quite awhile. Relatively low visible carbonation.

S: Chocolatey malts, briny, with just a touch of oxidation. There's something lurking in the background as well that smells a bit like acetic acid - concerned there may be an off-flavor here.

T: Chocolate malts, minerals and brine, with a touch of leather and, again, some acetic sour/funk near the end – while it's not offensive, I'm pretty sure this isn't supposed to be there. It finishes with some residual malt sugars and lingering chocolate.

M: Thick, smooth body, with low carbonation sensation, and well-hidden alcohol presence.

O: Even as it is, this wasn't a bad beer. I assume the acetic character was an off-flavor, but it wasn't enough to render it undrinkable at all. I just don't think is what was intended, and certainly isn't to style. Still finished it without a problem.