Dark Star Oatmeal Stout
R & B Brewing Co.

L: Dark chocolate brown, an inch of thick, creamy head
S: Roasted malts, chocolate, subtle coffee, some burnt notes
T: Dark chocolate, some coffee, slight burnt character, rich roast flavours, dry
F: Medium bodied, rich, slick mouthfeel, good carbonation, dry, roasted malt aftertaste
O: A decent sessionable oatmeal stout, get that rich mouthfeel from the oatmeal with a nice roasted malt character, just slightly bitter

On draft at Storm Crow Tavern, Vancouver.
Tawny film over garnet-jet body. 4
Coffee nose with some ash and dried blackberry. 3.75
Char, some cola, fig, and dark chocolate with slight wood hops. 3.75
Barky finish and dry linger.
Round, almost medium, some fizz. 3.75

Straight up: Mostly burn and not much oat smoothness but still easy and accessible. One for the masses. 3.75

 

 

 

 

R & Brewing's 'DarkStar Oatmeal Stout' @ 4.6% , served from a 650 ml bottle purchased for $6

A-pour is a dark cola brown with a medium size tan head leaving a sticky lace film along the pint glass

S-sweet chocolate , roasted malts & oats

T-somewhat smooth , tad thin , no crispness

MF-mild medium carbonation , medium body

Ov-big beer taste for only 4.6% ABV , allround ok/good beer

sampled alongside Steamwork's 'Heroitca' and Ninkasi 'Oatis'

prost LampertLand

650ml bottle. I'm reminded vaguely of those lesser-known, but still memorable, if you actually saw them, 1980s sci-fi (are you getting this, 'SYFY' network?) flicks. Or maybe HHGTTG.

This beer pours a brown-tinted solid black 'hue', with cola-tinted basal highlights, and three fingers of puffy, robustly foamy, caked milk chocolate brown head, which leaves some nicely stacked and layered bicycle chain lace around the glass as it slowly and evenly recedes.

It smells of toasty, somewhat meaty caramel malt, a mild black fruitiness, sour lactic notes, chalky cocoa, and herbal, citrusy, and leafy hops. The taste is medium-roast coffee, dry baker's chocolate, sour dark fruit and rather more than week-old milk, a stodgy oaten, bready caramel malt, and more herbal, earthy hops.

The bubbles are a tad playful, and agreeably supportive, the body medium-light in weight, just a little watery for the style, and so-so smooth, considering the sub-style of stout we're current knee-deep in. It finishes mostly dry, the malt mostly overridden by the various souring notes, and latent leafy, herbal hops.

A tasty enough oatmeal stout, with nicely attendant coffee and chocolate essences, and a more than expected sour character. Which is all a nice way of obfuscating the white elephant in the room - where be the silken, creamy tones, such that my mouthfeel can glide along as if on an overindulgent dairy high? Oh well, this is still pretty drinkable, if I lower my stolid expectations, and just enjoy that which is in front of me. Or maybe a frontal lobotomy.

Good smell, bitter up front taste (hint of coffee/ chocolate), no carbonation, head drops quickly. Easy finish with no lingering aftertaste. Surprisingly easy to drink but not the best taste. Could stand to hold a little carbonation, it just feels, dull. The smooth finish is definitely what redeems it.

Thanks to Rutager for this one.

Poured from a 650ml. bottle and shared with my wife.

Appearance: A thick body is poured with an awesomely intense head, pock-marked and bubbly which is long lasting and leaves lots of hanging lacing.

Smell: Sweet cocoa mixed with a milkiness and a mild roasted aroma.

Taste: Roasted coffee, tame but there, a bit of chocolate that straddles the milky and semi-sweet with some oats thrown in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Carbonation a tiny bit high but a good solid medium body with a decent bitterness.

Overall: A good reliable stout overall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: I’m not going to lie, this beer looks like a glass of coffee mixed with chocolate milk and a nice ugly brown coloured head (goes away instantly) to top it off.

S: The smell is very powerful and a little sweet. Oats oats oats with chocolate? coffee? Anyway, it smells excellent.

T: Tastes like oats dipped in a light chocolate. I know that sounds bad but it tastes very good.

M: It has a very heavy body with a light carbonation, just like every other oatmeal stout. It’s very smooth and drinkable.

O: This is an excellent beer; it is hideous but truly damn good.

Appearance. Pours a deepest of brown with a finger of light brown, bubbly head.

Smell. Sweet chocolate, dark toasty malt, a little vanilla.

Taste. Bitter coffee, dry roasty toasty malt, a little dark chocolate and wood.

Mouthfeel. Medium-light body with medium-strong, bubbly carbonation.

Overall. A nice, easy drinking oatmeal stout.

More tasting notes from my visit to BC.

A - Pours pitch black, almost opaque, with a dark ruby red tinge in the light. Thumb of mocha coloured head, decent retention and some fine lacing.

S - Chocolate malts dominate, but the scent is quite nutty with almonds and cashews coming through. A bit of coffee comes through, but it is masked by sweet caramel.

T - Milk chocolate off the top, but it sours a bit on the finish, with dark roast coffee coming through and lingers on the tongue. Flavour is a bit smokey and some dark cocoa also comes through.

M - Perfect carbonation for a stout, medium bodied, goes down really smooth and is not overly dry.

D - Uniquely balanced flavours make for a pleasureable experience. I'm struggling to find out what makes this stand out from others I've enjoyed, but I'm also struggling to identify why this isn't stellar. It's just plain old nice, nothing mind blowing, but very satisfying at the same time. A worthy stout and highly recommended to any stout fan.