Saranac Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by Matt Brewing Company
Style: Sweet Stout
Utica, New York USA

Pours an almost opaque ruby with a thick beige head. Aroma is practically nonexistent; just a bit of sweetness. There’s some roasty malts in the flavor, with some hop twang and oats, but it’s kinda sour and thin. Like most of the Saranac beers, this one is plain and average.

Poured a dark brown, prunish color with a medium sized, light tan head, that quickly diminished, leaving very light lacing on the glass. Aroma of mild roasty notes, a light amount of chocolate, but also some metal in there as well. More roast and metal in the taste, oats, faint chocolate, but a surprisingly creamy mouthfeel. While not my favorite oatmeal stout, it was better than I expected.

Bottle from winter 2006 asst: First off there’s the alcohol taste. In a Saranac?What is the alcohol content of this stuff. A typical Saranac in other ways though, including that I would like it a lot if it were a little less thin. But what do I know except that I enjoyed it. Unlike the group of reviewers here who seem to pan everything Saranac, I haven’t tasted other oatmeal stouts that it apparently withers in comparison to. From my perspective, though, it kicks the butt of the predictable BMC swill I used to routinely drink not that long ago. BUY AGAIN: Yes

Very deep brown, not at all black. The head a full and foamy...but disappeared rather quick. The aroma had a definate malty and chocaloty smell. The stout is a little more on the thin side the I think a stout should be. The nose is also starts a bit thin, the hoppy flavor is a bit bitter, if it had been stronger I think this would have been an ECELLENT stout. The malty flavor is very good. This is a hint of some chocolate, not very complex but very smooth. Not a bad stout...it could have been a very good stout.

Bottle. An earthy, floral aroma. Full body with a good balance between hops and malt, leaning a little to the malty side. This is actually a decent stout.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow & tupalev at the (last!) ’Saranac Vs. Samuel Adams sampler packs tasting’. Pours a clear dark ruby -- this is getting ridiculous, most of the Saranac beers look and smell the same, this looks nothing like a Stout. Aroma of caramel malt and stale hops. Flavour of roasted malt with a touch of hops, no oatmeal, chocolate or coffee at all. Thin bodied. I think I’m being generous with my score, this bares absolutely no resemblance to an Oatmeal Stout. I hope that was the last of the Saranacs tonight...

Bottle, from the mix pack, shared with the other Toronto lads. As Greg sad before we drank this, but after many disappointing Saranac beers, "Oatmeal Stout: Don’t fuck with me". Word. Light dark brown, small fading off white head. Smells like Saranac! With a hint of oats and roast. Dry roast flavour up front not bad, but terribly thin. Gives way to dry bitter finish. It really is too bad it is this thin, as I think they were on the right track with this one. Just give us some body! Oh well, back to the Sam Adams mix pack...

Bottle from Saranac sampler pack - shared with HogTownHarry, blankboy & tupalev. Dark brown-ruby with a wispy head. Aroma is stale, with a faint roastiness and a sour note in the finish. Body is thin and limp. Flavour is mild, quite dry and roasty, fairly bland. If you told me it was a dry stout, I’d say it was an average but drinkable one - but as an oatmeal stout, it’s a resounding failure.