All About Beer Magazine

Beer Talk

Winter Warlock Oatmeal Stout

Published March 2003, Volume 24, Number 1

• Fred Eckhardt

  This beer has a red head with a smooth buzzing sound. But this beer is more than just friendly; it is inviting—a fine invitation to enjoy the smooth, mellow balance of rich, thick, roasted goodness. This beer is good all the way down. It’s another of those “betcha can’t take just one sip” beers. This is an exemplary oatmeal stout and irresistible, to say the least.

• Garrett Oliver

  The beer pours quite black with a lacy brown head. Dark chocolate mingles with bubblegum in the nose. The palate opens sweetly, and then hop and roast bitterness pull it back into balance. It’s medium-bodied and richly fruity through the center, emerging into a nice, dark chocolate finish. An oily smoothness raises a flag for oatmeal. A pleasant stout, particularly with cheesecake or vanilla ice cream.

• Michael Jackson

  Oatmeal Stout, a style I helped revive, seems especially popular in Colorado. Not much head on this black brew, but lovely aroma of dark, bitter chocolate. Oatmeal usually imparts a silky body. I would describe this as velvety. I’m not sure whether the low carbonation in this sample is intentional, but makes for full textures of chocolate fudge cake and nougat. Wonderfully teasing balance of bitterness and sweetness.