Amicas Unfiltered Oatmeal Stout

Growler poured an opaque black with a small diminishing brown head. Aromas of smoke, roasted malt, and chocolate. Palate wasmedium bodied and smooth. Flavors of bitter chocolate, roasted malt and a bit of smoke with a smooth finish.

on tap at the very comfortable and lively downtown salida brewery. this blandly named stout pours a beautiful glossy obsidian--like silky sable tresses of navaho hair. the brief head is the tan of baked eggplant . not much aroma: old wooden floors, peat, toasted oats. thirst compels me to leave it at that and begin earnest guzzling: it delivers a very grainy toasted bread-end sweetness, with brisk carbonation, and a barely medium-bodied flavor with a watery feel. no flavor components have the boldness to emerge as distinct: dark malts hint at coffee without actually saying it, they grumble something about smokiness-- but become evasive when questioned about it, a rumor of oily molasses and oats equivocates under cross-examination. bitterness makes some noise, but it too remains safely moderate. overall "oatie" is pleasant, but about as exciting and engaging as office small talk.