Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout is another beer that has been on my to-do list for a while. After tasting the Rogue Shakespeare Stout and being told that this was a comparable beer, I had to push it towards the top of my agenda.  Standing up against the bard himself will be quite a task.  The Shakespeare Stout was one of the best of its type I have ever tasted, so let's have a look at this offering.

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout poured nicely and a very rich and creamy brown head graced the sampling very easily.  This beer is practically black but there are some hints of amber around the edges of the glass.  The aroma of roasted barley and black patent malt got my taste buds excited pretty quickly.  The taste of this beer excellent with a very smooth and velvety mouth feel with a full body and pronounced hop presence.  The dark malts linger on the tongue for a beautiful smokey finish and after taste.  Like other beers of this style, it is heavy, and really makes a nice dessert drink.  It would also make a nice liquid in a vanilla ice cream float. 

After working my way through this victorian pint (18.7 ounces / 550ml), I'm not quite ready to make the call on whether or not this is worse, equal to, or better than the Rogue Shakespeare Stout.  While the Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is a fantastic beer, I think I'm going to have to do a side-by-side tasting of these two in order to make a decision on my personal favorite.  Life was much simpler when I drank Coors Light. 

** Note of Interest **

I'm going to be writing a weekly beer review for the Hickory Daily Record's Superbuzz, which is their weekly entertainment paper.  I'm going to be reviewing some of the same beers I have written about here as well as new samplings, but those reviews are going to come in a little different format.  Check it out if you get a chance!