Today's sampling is Stroom Brouwers' House Oatmeal Stout. It's described as a smooth, dark beer with oats and coca nibs. 6.5% ABVFrom their website: When you say “stout” in Belgium, most people think of a certain Irish beer that has become synonymous with the style. And while that is a fine beer, this stout is very different! The use of Golden Promise oats gives this beer a silky mouthfeel, while the cacao and various roasted grains give the intensity of dark chocolate and coffee. At 6.5% abv, we tried to keep the balance between a “big” beer with lots of body, and something drinkable that allows you to enjoy more than one.
Appearance: Well, this is for sure.. a Stout. Deep, dark, black as the night in the long Prairie winters. The head is fairly thick and luxurious with a deep cookie dough yellowish/faintly light brown. The head diminishes quite quickly and leaves puddles of bubbles throughout the beer.
Aroma: My dad was an oat (and beef) farmer and this reminds me a good deal of whenever I'd be cleaning the grain bin.. lots of oats. Once I get past the oats I get a moderately rich roasted maltiness which gives off notes of caramel, a bit of peat, dark chocolate, hint of coffee, and a bit of grassiness to it. It's not as bitter and roasted-forward as most stouts, but of course they're not trying to be that at all.
Taste: Okay, nevermind - this is your typical Oatmeal Stout you would see on the other side of the pond. I got a rich, moderately burnt malty presence to it that has a rich peat-forward taste, a lot of oats that reminds me of my family farm, caramel, a roasted coffee bitterness that lingers on the palate for ages, and a hint of woodiness at the end.
Overall Thoughts: It's December 2025 in Manitoba, Canada and it's -26C as I write this. I picked this up in Belgium a couple years ago.. on a day that was easily 40C warmer than it is right now. Perfect for the weather I'm dealing with, it's not boozy but it's warming me up, it's rich and flavourful with a bit of chocolate, coffee, peat.. and lots of oats. I like this.
Appearance: Well, this is for sure.. a Stout. Deep, dark, black as the night in the long Prairie winters. The head is fairly thick and luxurious with a deep cookie dough yellowish/faintly light brown. The head diminishes quite quickly and leaves puddles of bubbles throughout the beer.
Aroma: My dad was an oat (and beef) farmer and this reminds me a good deal of whenever I'd be cleaning the grain bin.. lots of oats. Once I get past the oats I get a moderately rich roasted maltiness which gives off notes of caramel, a bit of peat, dark chocolate, hint of coffee, and a bit of grassiness to it. It's not as bitter and roasted-forward as most stouts, but of course they're not trying to be that at all.
Taste: Okay, nevermind - this is your typical Oatmeal Stout you would see on the other side of the pond. I got a rich, moderately burnt malty presence to it that has a rich peat-forward taste, a lot of oats that reminds me of my family farm, caramel, a roasted coffee bitterness that lingers on the palate for ages, and a hint of woodiness at the end.
Overall Thoughts: It's December 2025 in Manitoba, Canada and it's -26C as I write this. I picked this up in Belgium a couple years ago.. on a day that was easily 40C warmer than it is right now. Perfect for the weather I'm dealing with, it's not boozy but it's warming me up, it's rich and flavourful with a bit of chocolate, coffee, peat.. and lots of oats. I like this.
No comments:
Post a Comment