First of the Makos home games brought a clear crisp night
and the resulting emphatic win by the team, electrified the crowd with exited
anticipation for perhaps a serious shield challenge. Well, I was excited and had me scurrying back
home faster than a Makos back line to check the fridge for some thirst quenching
warming oatmeal stouts to ease the chill of the night and toast a great win.
Oatmeal stouts are exactly as labelled, having rolled oats
added to the fermentation for their higher fat content to give qualities of sweetness
and rich mouth feel, and used to be viewed as a healthful and restorative
drink, so make sure your Doctor reads this!First up was Liberty Brewing ‘Darkest Days’ named because of the ever increasing difficulty for craft brewers to get regular supplies of hops, not because Richie and Dan are injured. Swirl the glass to encourage a creamy head, take a gulp and experience a thin bodied yet silky texture as the oat fats lubricate the mouth. Perfectly balanced mild strength with pleasant hop and cocoa malt flavours. This is an easy to drink stout and is in stark contrast to the next oatmeal stout,
The ‘Epicurean Coffee and Fig Imperial Oatmeal Stout’ from Epic.
Distinct aroma of fresh figs, taste is of dark chocolate with a ‘long black’ background and a dry woody lingering aftertaste exactly like a freshly picked fig. Strangely, this dry aftertaste keeps you going back for more. This brew is an unusual departure from Epic’s normal in your face hoppy brews as the Epic Epicurean is more an about face in your face fig brew, not just their play on words!
‘8 Wired Mighty Imperial Ale’ hasn’t any oatmeal, but I’m sure is just as healthy?
A full bodied brew with a port barrel aged woodiness to it that smacks of bitterness, hoppy pines then a pleasant afterglow of malty diversity with just a touch of smokiness. An 11% blockbuster that’ll warm you to your toes!
Maybe Richie and Dan should be trying oatmeal for their restoration?
Denis Cooper -
Zythologist
