Glassware: Snifter.
Appearance: Pitch black with a short and finely beaded brown cap. It forms a halo and leaves spotty lace down the walls of the glass.
Aroma: There’s an initial roasty bitterness which makes way for more sweeter notes like vanilla and lactose…yet even with that sweetness there’s an undertone of toasty malt and espresso coffee. We definitely detect the oatmeal with its distinctive grainy porridge-like characters. We totally understand how 19th century Europeans would consider this a healthy breakfast!
Flavour: Like the aroma it starts with a mild roasty bitterness which unfolds in to chocolate, coffee, a hint of cherry, porridge and toasty malts. Maybe a very subtle underlying smoky/peaty note here to. It finishes with a soft dry bitterness and faint roasted coffee on the back end.
Mouthfeel: Somewhat dry and grainy texture. Medium body with a touch of bitterness. Low IBU and a modest 5.6% AbV.
Overall: A decent oatmeal stout at a very good price. The outstanding aspect here (and across their whole range) is the artwork on the paper wrapping…very eye catching. We dig it.