Bull Falls Oatmeal Stout

Available via Nitro at the brewery taproom in Wausau, Wisconsin. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a creamy beige head that has long retention and excellent lacing via nitrogen charge. Aroma of light toasted dark malt, light oatmeal, some flowery hops with a touch of chocolate and molasses. Taste is full bodied, creamy nitro character with very light flavors of toasted malt, some light chocolate, molasses and flowery hops. Finish is very thin with some semi-sweet aftertaste. Texture has some antique acidic character that quickly disappears after the finish. Though this oatmeal stout has some flavor, it has a body character and aftertaste close to Guinness Stout via nitro.

Availble on tap and in growlers. Got mine in a growler and the nitrogen tap doesn’t help with this one. If you want it, get it on tap. Aroma: Typical oatmeal stout aroma, nothing noteworthy except the astringent scent that knocks this one way down. Appearance: Again, nothing remarkable here. After the nitrogen head fades, there’s no carbonation to speak of and it looks like a glass of flat motor oil. Flavor: An initial amount of flavor that lends itself to the oatmeal style, but is so subdued, it’s hardly worth mentioning. Some weak bready sweetness tries to push through the astringency, but is overpowered. Any other trace flavors drop off with the oatmeal sweetness around mid-taste and fade into nothing as the aftertaste leaves you wondering if you even had a swig. Palate: Mediocre to below standard. A slippery wetness that isn’t necessarily appetizing when coupled with the flat motor oil qualities of this beer leaves a slight frown on the face. Overall: The averge elements of this offering combine with the more unattractive qualities of this brew into something to be considered sub par. I was hoping for more of a full, sweet flavor and full body that would be expected from an oatmeal stout. The brewer must have either skimped out on the grains for this one or was in too much of a rush to put it on tap. As it is, it can only be considered a brew that was rushed to get it to the bar.