Black Bat Stout
Boston Beer Works - Canal Street

 

 

 

 

A-Pours very dark. Seems to have nearly zero light penetration. Looks nice. Half inch tan head that retains well. Head leaves thick lacing walls.

S-Sweet with coffee and chocolate. Smells like an Oatmeal Stout. Oats dipped in chocolate. Smells a bit chalky as well.

T-Unfortunately the chocolate malt lends a chalky character that is a bit too noticeable. Light coffee flavor. Virtually no hop flavor. At its base, it is pretty decent but the chalkiness brings it down a bit.

M-Creamy but still relatively light for a Stout. More than enough carbonation. Light and sessionable.

O/D-Although it was a bit too chalky, this was still a pretty decent drink. A Stout most would enjoy regardless of his or her experience with the style. Far from great though.

 

Big thanks to Eric for sharing this growler with me, secured during a recent trip to Salem. Poured into a standard pint, this brew looks black with a scant amount of head. A few large bubbles form across the top yet subsequent pours yield a finger of tan froth. Spotty lacework sticks to the glassware. Some brown clarity is seen around the edges when held to the light.

The smell of this brew is sweet with notes of chocolate malt and vanilla. There is a light coffee character that imparts a citrus element that seems to be from the coffee and not from hops. Overall pleasantly roasty with a nice contrasting sweetness balancing out the nose.

This brew tastes roasty with dark grain coming across like coffee and chocolate. The chocolate really pops once the vanilla flavoring settles in the mouth. A faint nutty aspect is noted midpalate overtop a mild fruity alcohol flavor. There is a mild yeast flavor which clashes a little bit before the onset of faint, sticky vanilla flavoring.

This is a light bodied brew with a low level of carbonation. It is smooth at times and almost watery in the feel which is a disappointment. It is lacking the viscosity I look for in an oatmeal stout. Overall though it is a decent take on the style. The alcohol is well integrated. This is worth a try.

On tap at the brewery on 07.04.2007. Served in a stange. Poured an opaque coal in color beneath a bone white, creamy head. The creamy head leaves walls of condensed lacing with decent strength. Roasted coffe bean aromas along with mocha and dark chocolate. The aromas are rich and roasted; however, very understated. Dark and milk chocolate flavors amid a chewy, roasted maltiness. Notes of peat-smoked malts with a mild smokiness. The finish is creamy and dry, making for a medium body and smooth texture. A decent Stout, made with 20% flaked oats that will not really stick in my memory for good or bad.

A: Pours a jet black color with a one finger caramel colored head. Nice retention and good looking spider web lacing.
S: Aromas of roasted coffee are the most dominant. Lesser aromas include sweet caramel and burnt chocolate.
T/M: Roasted coffee is the most dominant flavor--Almost tastes like an old coffee. Slightly burnt and smokey chocolate notes also are noticeable. Light on the palate making me think this has a low abv and could be a good session brew. Dry aftertaste with a slight bitterness to it.
D: Drinkable stout. As I mentioned before, could be a really good session brew as the abv seems pretty low. A good offering from Salem.

Enjoyed at Beerworks, Salem, MA. Presented in a 16oz glass.

Presented with a frothy 3/4" light brown head over the almost opaque dark brown/black brew. Head fades rather quickly to nothing but bubbles around the edge of the glass. Aroma is hearty dark grains, burnt coffee and sweet chocolate competing. Taste leans toward the coffee bitterness, shouting down the chocolate sweetness in the end. Mouthfeel and drinkability are both reasonably good, with the oat influence most noted here. Reasonable stout, worth a try.