Sampled this one on draught at the brewpub in Hood RIver, OR. This beer pours to a beautiful, jet black color, with a thick, creamy, tan head, and a moderate amount of carbonation. The nose on this beer is very robust and aromatic, with big aromas of dark chocolate, coffee, roast, and piney hops. The palate is firm, with a creamy mouthfeel. Lots of good dark chocolate, espresso coffee, and roasty flavors coat the tongue. This beer finishes with more big dark chocolate, coffee, and roast, and then finishs bone dry, with a piney hop bitterness that lingers. WOW. Talk about an intense beer. Like with all the Big Horse beers I tried, this one was just packed with character. This beer was a fantastic oatmeal stout, the oats giving this beer a very silky texture, and even with all those big aromas and flavors, it was so fresh tasting and drinkable. This would make a great pint to enjoy by itself after a nice meal, and would make a phenomenal match with rich and sweet deserts. A must try if you find yourself in Hood RIver, OR.

On Tap at the BrewPub Black with a dense tand head. Nice soft chocolate roasted and slight coffee. Flavoe was similar, mostly the smokey roasted. Moderate body and soft carbonation. Nice.

(Draft: Big Horse Brew Pub in Hood River, OR) Having switched Nitemare from an Imperial to an Oatmeal Stout, the brewer (Jason) has totally revamped this beer. Sweet, roasty, and alcoholic, the nose also shows the expected oatmeal aroma. The flavor shows the same characteristics, sweet, oaty, roasty, fairly bitter, with alcohol not really all that noticeable to me. Roasty, bitter, and slightly smoky finish helps keep this pretty sweet beer from becoming cloying. Full bodied, naturally, fully coating, somewhat syrupy on the palate. Very dark brown in color, not quite black, but fully opaque except at the edges. The tan head dies down very quickly, fading to a thin ring, and can’t manage to leave more than a trace of lace on the glass. Overall, another excellent beer, and at this point, after trying them all, I’m not surprised at all. Everything’s been great, and I expect wonderful things from Big Horse now that a new brewer is in place.

On tap at the brewery. Pours black with a small tan head. Milky and smooth, with an earthy dark chocolate taste up front and lingering coffee finish. Very nice stout with a great texture to it.

Tasted a brewery in Hood River--Deep, dark, hoppy, malty, balanced brew. Great, creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Creaminess from oats with a hint of coffee and chocolate. Finished roasty and complex. Yum!