Iron Rat Oatmeal Stout
Tampa Bay Brewing Co.

Appearance: Arrives at the table with a dark coffee color and a nice tan head that retains well and sheets the glass with lace

Smell: Chocolate and tobacco notes predominate but there is also a vegetal odor that, fortunately, does not come through to the palate

Taste: Milk chocolate and oatmeal up front; after the swallow, the flavors dry out considerably and present tobacco, more chocolate and a touch of mint on the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, a bit creamy, with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Nicely flavored with the chocolate and oatmeal elements that deftly avoid becoming too sweet; except for the slight flaw on the aroma a very nice beer

This was very good. This is one beer that could make me change my favorites.
Black or deep brown (depends on the lighting) color that had a tiny ring of beige around the top.
Smelled of coffee and espresso with a slight hint of chocolate. Each sniff getting better than the first.
Tasted chocolate, burnt nuts and coffee. Slight presence of hops played around in the background but wasn't too obvious.
Mouthfeel was great. Smooth with a light creamy finish that left the mouth craving from another swallow.

This oatmeal stout, served on a nitro tap, is quite smooth. I had it as part of a big sampler at the brewpub.

It has a flavor that is a little too light. I wanted more substance. The body is a little light, too. I was slightly disappointed with this beer, considering how much I love oatmeal stouts in general. Now there's nothing at all bad about this beer. It is just a little above average. Perhaps it is too subtle for my big beer taste buds. Oh well.