Portsmouth Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by Portsmouth Brewery
Style: Sweet Stout
Portsmouth, New Hampshire USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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Fresh bomber purchased from the brewery store on 7/28/06 and consumed on 8/5/06.
Vigorous pour yields a small to medium-sized head, tan in color and fairly rapidly receding to partial cover/ring. Little to no lacing, though some light leg-like residue left on the glass. The body is an unfiltered, deep coal-brown/black color, opaque and with touches of deep tan-magenta on the edges.
Sweet but very smooth nose has both notes of milk chocolate, vanilla cream and a dry, almost chalky-like yeastiness. Light vinousness emerges on the end, slightly oily and fairly short-lived, though flecked with blackberry-like notes. Crunchy grain notes of barley and sweet/even oats are well-apparent, while little hops are noted. The sweet maltiness is definitely quite strong in the nose, and it’s chocolatey-vinousness, interwoven with fresh yeast really goes much farther than the usual sugary, choco-caramel and straightforward coffee roast seen in this style. No alcohol apparent in the nose.
The first thing noted upon my first sip is the thick, melted chocolate-like texture. Flecked with hints of prunes and concord grapes and growing slightly oily on the end, it is a well-balanced mix of chocolate and vanilla, with the vinousness and lightly dry roast balancing. As it warms, the mouthfeel lightens on the end, providing more drinkability in contrast to the rich, sweet beginning. The roast is very reserved, but elegant and blossoms after the finish, hanging on the end of the palate. Very low carbonation levels, overall, but the sweetness is not overdone. No alcohol or hops apparent in the the flavor.

[oaked version, served via cask @ the brewpub] This was my first beer consumed at the brewery- while my girlfriend and I were waiting for a table, we ventured to the basement lounge where we found this gem. I was willing to have a few more pints of this and call it dinner! Smooth, woody oak aroma, with some subtle elements of coffee present. Glorious, tall frothy head. Flavors are exceptionally smooth- a bit of roasted coffee/chocolate, chewy oats and loads of malty goodness. Creamy, milk-shake mouthfeel. The oak vessel seems to provide a bit more character for this brew, however it remains low in the overall mix. Its hard for me to find a flaw in this beer- overall, this is excellent.

I don’t know if this is what I had at the Vt Brewfest, or if it was their other stout. It was pretty good. Very well rounded with a rich finish.

Draught. Tan, frothy head, dark ruby appearance. Malt and cream in aroma. Roasty bitter flavor, dry finish. A little thin.

Bottle, from brewpubs gift shop. purchased 4/8 sampled 4/19. Good nose, classic oatmeal stout. Sweet, coffee ice cream, caramel. Dark orangy brown color, small head good lacing. Bitter sweet flavor. Roasty. Like aroma, but I get a bit of grapefruit and grain. Medium body, smooth creamy mouthfeel, bitterdry finish. Leaves kind of milky powdery coating on the tongue. Nice O stout. Delicious.

22oz bottle thanks to Argo0: Pours to a mostly opaque dark brown/black with a medium light tan head. The aroma is light coffee, chocolate, sweet caramel syrup, light roasted barley. Taste is dark roasted chocolate, sweet syrup, dry cocoa, hints of vanilla, light oak, oats, sweet sugar. Medium-full bodied, moderately carbonated, finishes bitter, dry, and with some roasted notes.

(22oz bottle) Minimal beige head atop black-cola body. Aroma is medium sweet, roasty, some bittersweet chocolate, coffee. Taste is moderately sweet, Hershey syrup, some cream, light roast, lactic sourness, faint earthy. Creamy light-medium body with light stickiness and low carbonation.

On tap at Redbones: Brown with a tan head, chocolate aroma, smooth, soft low carbonation, starts and ends lightly sweet, mellow light ending.

Redbones Porter & Stout Dinner, March 29, 2004. On Nitro. Poured a deep brown/black color with a thick tan head. Roasted barley aroma and sweet and malty as well. Flavor is also of roasted barley,starts sweet and malty,ends dry and roasted.