Solid
The Ways Brewery and Restaurant

 

Reviewed after having a fresh pint poured at its brew pup in Glenside, the pint can version may not measure up. Nonetheless, this review is based on emptying a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. That part is nice, as there's a presentable biege head on top of a dark brown liquid that's not nearly black, but closest to the color of a good dark chocolate. As it should be, the predominant character of the aroma is roasted barley malt. This is admittedly an oat stout and oats generally don't hit the nose hard. Especially in stouts, oats manage to soften the roasted aspect of the barley malt and whatever hopping is included. Here, that's exactly what happens. This is a very pleasant drinking Oatmeal Stout. Not memorable because of an included flavor, nor because it's particularly a high ABV beverage, but it's at least likeable. Without any pronouncement, this gets the roasted malt and mildly hoppy part of the oat softening right on. The minus is its lack of distinction, so it ends up being a nice Oatmeal Stout, but nothing more.