Vanilla Oatis

Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer | Year-Round | United States

By Tom Cannon

Judges Rating: 95
Aroma: 23
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 39
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 19

The combination of dark roasted malt and the sweet, Ibarra chocolate flavor and aroma make this Oatmeal Stout similar to a chocolate covered coffee bean. The style calls for both coffee-like and chocolate-like roast aromas and this version hits both notes quite well. In the glass, this beer is an opaque black with a lovely creamy head. A presence of vanilla comes though more thoroughly in the flavor which helps add a deep, rich creaminess with an almost hazelnut complexity. There’s a lot going on in this beer, but the balance of the flavors and the beer’s structure are what make this example of Oatmeal Stout so breathtaking and satisfying.