Monday 14 September 2009

Oatmeal Stout

October looms and here in the Garden of England we're finding our thoughts leaning towards the dark side. Creamy, rich, luxuriant and very, very dark.

Malted oats in the grist provide a palate smoothness and a homely aroma; roasted barley and black malt give colour, flavour and aroma. Fuggles hops we use only for a decent level of bitterness, there being no other area of employment open to the hop in this style of beer: it's the malts, and only the malts, that we're after here. The hops do a job, and although it's an essential job without which there'd be no beer it is, nevertheless, a backroom job. The main event is roasty, toasty, chocolaty smoothness with hints of orange and porridge.

Luxury.

Next episode: Broadstairs Food Festival

5 comments:

Brock said...

I've been doing my best to rid Margate of this wonderful dark Autumn treat since I found it in a sticky tabled seafront dive yesterday. It runs deliciously from the tap, dark and slow as Guinness but settling with an honest head that retains a pleasing caramel shade from the ale. The first sip raises a delighted brow as the smooth depth of toasty flavours gives way to a unexpectedly long bitter finish that almost seems to cleanse the pallet for the next gulp and singles this out as my favourite Gadds' experience since my first Dogbolter. HUZZAAAAAhicAAAH!

Simon said...

Possibly the finest oatmeal stout I have tasted. I believe it contains all the food groups known to maintain a healthy diet and is sold in my local the Ship Inn Deal.

Simon said...

Possibly one of the finest oatmeal stouts I have tasted. Gloriously delicious and a meal in itself. I believe it contains all the required food types for healthy living and is currently available in my local The Ship Inn Deal.

Eddie said...

Brock, Simon, many thanks for your kind remarks. Ironic that you drink in establishments at either end of the spectrum.....

Brock said...

Well I'm not sure I've ever been into the Ship Inn Deal, but I can only assume from your comment Eddie,that it's a very pleasant establishment with attentive, skilled bar staff and clean glasses. Must cycle over there at some point.