Oatsmobile Ale

Oatsmobile Ale is a good example of a Session IPA with enough body and flavor to satisfy and compensate for the style's hallmark – a lack of alcohol.

Moderately complex dank hop characteristics dominate the aroma, with the earthy dankness augmented by roasted onion and garlic notes up front. Tropical melon and citrus characters come up behind this, along with an interesting heaviness in the nose that is likely due to the oats and caramel malt in the grain bill. The overall impression is rather savory – almost like Thanksgiving stuffing. This moderately carbonated brew pours a slightly hazy golden color with a solid white head and solid lacing.

The flavor takes the character from the aroma and runs with it. The savory marriage of hops and malt carries on quite well throughout the flavor from start to finish, and a moderate level of hop bitterness is also evident. The oats provide a light cereal note backing up the rather light caramel malt character and help to deliver a medium-full body to the brew. The aftertaste delivers a lingering marriage of hop character and cereal flavor, wrapping up the package quite well.

Overall, the complexity delivered by the marriage of aromas and flavor of this quaffable brew really make this one stand out from the rest of the Session IPA crowd. The smoothness from the oats also rounds out the thin body and sharper bite of bitterness typically seen in this style, delivering an easy-drinking and enjoyable brew.