Monday, December 26, 2011

Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout - Organic

Wolaver's Oatmeal Stout is exactly as it sounds - a dark Stout with hints of delicious oatmeal aroma and flavor (section 13C of the BJCP style guidelines). This particular example leans more towards the sweeter side for a Stout, along with a comparably lighter body and rich flavor that makes it a delectable dessert. Part of Wolaver's variety pack purchased at City Market in Burlington.

Alcohol Content: 5.9%
Malts: ?
Hops: ?

Medium: 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
Price: $17.00 for a 12-pack Wolaver's sampler

Aroma: Can be defined by a very strong, overly roasted character. The roasted, burnt aroma is immediately released, completely masking any potential hop aromas. This is then followed by a subtle and delightful coffee-like aroma with hints of sweet oatmeal. There is also a slightly bitter chocolate presence underlying the coffee notes.
Appearance: Pours for a thin, light mocha head with a small amount of lacing. Visible carbonation is very hard to make out due to the beer's opaqueness. The overall appearance is practically black, with dark ruby hints when held up to the light. Heavy yeast sediment in the bottle.
Flavor: A roasted, somewhat grainy flavor coincides with hints of coffee and some bittersweet chocolate. The sweet oatmeal character is subtle but noticeable. A clean bitterness slowly takes over the roasted coffee flavors, followed by slight drying. Like the aroma there is a lack of hop character (appropriate for the style); however, its very clean bittering properties complement the malts quite well. Definitely malt balanced and sweet for a stout.
Mouthfeel: The oatmeal character can be defined as slick and slightly creamy. There is a subtle alcohol warmth noted in the aftertaste along with some drying. Moderate to strong carbonation. Has a moderate body that is comparably thinner than other stouts I have tried.
Overall Impression: This uniquely crafted stout should be one to treat yourself after a meal. The strong carbonation will give the illusion of fullness when it is actually thin for the style. Very good but I have no other organic Oatmeal Stouts to compare to. Definitely worth the sampler.

2 comments:

  1. Are all their beer's Organic? That's impressive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wolaver's is the Organic line brewed by Otter Creek.

    ReplyDelete