Chinook Oatmeal Stout
Two Sergeants Brewing

A- Interesting labeling showcasing a Chinook chopper! The brew pours very thick right out of the can and has the look of motor oil in terms of consistency. It is heavily dark in color, showcasing deep dark browns and tinges of night black....it is highly opaque, letting little to no light through. The head is toffee/tan colored, is about 1.5 fingers thick to begin with, and looks to be creamy dense.....it settles modestly into a solid layer over the liquid and I'm guessing the carbonation is fine as well, based on how the head sparkles. Lacing isn't super sticky but there is some artistic clumping in small doses.

S- Heavy dark chocolate aromas kick things off, with undertones of vanilla bean pod, cream, bread yeast and/or biscuit roundness. Coffee notes, toasty burnt black and chocolate malts, dry oat flakes and an Earthy, ever so slight leafy hop bitterness create an enticing balance!

T- The flavors here follow suit to the aromas rather well, with dark chocolate/cocoa powder on the palate in a big way, black French Press coffee, Earthy roots like Licorice on a muted level and Sarsaparilla, charred black and chocolate malt, dry oat grain, black tea, all with an underlying blackstrap molasses semi sweetness. The finish is of dried hop leaf or pellet and the bitterness just hits the tongue at the very back. Very nice tasting!

M/O- The body is rich and creamy, leaning in between medium and full, with soft carbonation. This leads overall to a robust, flavorful and smooth easy drinking oatmeal Stout, that really starts bordering Imperial territory! The alcohol, at 8%, is superbly well hidden, and I find this an excellent accompaniment to old cheddar and assorted salamis. Definitely a winner and I recommend.....will buy this again! Looking forward to the move into Old Strathcona and will visit the new location!

 

 

650ml bottle - nice label blurb describing the various references of the name 'Chinook', with the only beer-related one being the hop varietal employed here.

This beer pours a fairly solid black abyss, with scant red cola basal edges, and two fingers of puffy, loosely foamy, and bubbly brown head, which leaves some streaky snow rime lace around the glass as it evenly sinks away.

It smells of roasted caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, dry vanilla pods, some free-range ashiness, cold cafe-au-lait, and some mild earthy, leafy, and somewhat spicy green hoppiness. The taste is bready and doughy caramel malt, a separate acrid roastiness, stale chocolate wafers, wan vanilla notes, very milky coffee, a hint of black licorice, and further understated grassy, spicy, and floral hop bitters.

The carbonation is quite light in its plain as the day is long frothiness, the body a decent medium weight, and generally smooth (and a touch creamy), but with perhaps a bit of char getting lodged in a few of my various palates. It finishes off-dry, the chocolate, vanilla, and roasted grains playing us out.

Overall, this is a well-made flavoured version of the style, with the elevated ABV damned near nowhere to be seen! The Chinook hop does indeed impart a gentle spiciness to the proceedings, which helps offset the big-boy malts. Given that the last couple of days around here have felt like Chinook conditions (20C or so swing, upwards), this is a wholly appropriate offering, and one that isn't holiday related!