Tonight is episode #4 of the ongoing Samuel Smith variety pack saga. Tonight’s patient is Samuel Smith’s delicious Oatmeal Stout, a fantastic ale from the Old Brewery in Tadcaster. Somehow their box wording “Ales and Stouts” might make you think Stouts aren’t ales, but they are ales as we all know.
I was clicking as fast as I can, but the solid quarter inch head on this glugger disappeared about as fast as buddies who owe me money. Sporting decent lacing, that also went away quickly. Weird, you usually have a few cherished moments to enjoy a meaningful beer relationship together…. Or maybe it’s me!
First big gulp is satisfying, almost had an estery fruitiness to it, with the solid chocolately-cocoa “stout thing” going on. Totally drinkable though, this isn’t one you sit there sipping like a girly-man. Big mouthfuls, this stuff is great. Again, bottles are too small, but thankfully they are using 12 ouncers rather than the 11.2 ounce baby bottles. What, do I drink this with a pinkie in the air? C’mon guys figure this out. BIG CANS please!
Actually I’m going to back-pedal on that insensitive girly–man remark. I have a daughter who loves stouts like they are the latest frapa-mucha-chino. She reminds me it is close to her connoisseur coffee habit, but in a different way. She loves stouts! Maybe passed between generations, a cherished father-daughter thing.
Stouts are by nature low IBU. This one has the smoothness and silkiness that an Oatmeal Stout would imply. Medium to medium low carbonation, classic bottle, fussy foil packaging, I want this in a BIG CAN… Please! Great beer.