Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Astoria Brewing Company

 

Good God, has it really been four-and-a-half years since anyone has reviewed this? Had a 10 oz. pour at Bailey's Taproom (thanks to Michael for the reco).

Lists now at 8.8% abv, for what it's worth...

A: Pitch black, impenetrable (at least in the waning late-winter twilight). A short 1/2 finger of rusty-vanilla cream - clingy/spongy tufts at the edges, scant film in the center.

S: Light sweetness of baker's chocolate and a non-descript coffee roast. Served cool (not cold) this never really picked up beyond the modest sugar/roast notes. Fair strength.

T: Shows off a rich, deep roast within a second or two - full-strength coffee bean and a dark cacao. Thick grain, toasted/burnt and borderline 'molasses', though not nearly as sweet in that regard.

M: Appropriately 'creamy' and 'smooth', a wonderfully velvety texture that builds a slight booziness/heat with each sip.

D: Strong - that's for sure - with a richness and alcoholic kick that give away its 'imperial' status. Huge malts and plenty of bitterness married with a smooth and creeping warmth make this an apt sipper on a cool/overcast February evening. It's not quite a 'love', but it's a sting 'like' - well worth the effort to find. Or to stumble upon, as was the case tonight.

Served too cold, but a bit of judicious warming will reward the imbiber with a hearty brew of solid roasted flavors, a camel-hair head, and no appreciable off-notes or stragglers. The lace is graceful, the bitterness is on-target, and the slight coffee accent makes this strong oatmeal stout worthy of repeat visitations. Recommended.