Beer Works Buckeye Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by Beer Works
Style: Sweet Stout
Boston, Massachusetts USA

Draft near fenway. Pours a solid oily black color with a light creamy head. Head removes itself quickly(as seems to be the pattern with this place) Nose is roasty malts, nuts, and a hint of caramel. taste is roasty and almost a bit of smokey nut notes. Not too bad

Sample at the Fenway Park location. Not quite opaque dark molasses color, small bit of receding off-white head and no lacing...roasty-bitter black coffee and baker’s chocolate in the nose...in the body, thinness and a bit of oil, bland weak coffee grounds in a dried old cocoa bath, tepid water floats some hints of tarragon later but I don’t care.

On tap at the Fenway location, 5/9/2005. Dark black color, small, creamy white head, low retention. Aroma of black malt, oily roast, quite a good deal of lactic notes and some caramel. Flavor is oddly quite burnt, yet also incorporates the lactic quality. Oats give it a smooth mouthfeel, but there is a strange burnt rubber and chalkiness that don’t go well together. Dark, burnt hazelnuts, soured cream and a bit of sweet malt. Body was medium, with no real wateriness, but the flavor is just off.

On tap, probably nitro, at the Fenway location. Dark brown, almost black color, thick white head. Minimal hops in the aroma, some roast going on. Nothing offensive here, but nothing particularly interesting either. Thin-medium body, somewhat sweet, roasted malt, slightly bitter finish.

On tap at the Salem Beer Works under the name of Black Bat Stout. Black color that was ambery in the middle. Thick head over a very smooth mouthfeel beer. Chalky burnt taste that was eh.

I’m still not sold on this oatmeal stout style of beer, and thought this one was starting off okay, but ultimately became disappointing real fast. Small lacing. Heavy crayon-black/brown look to it, okay, I agree that’s good... Almost a bacony first taste. Wheaty, or so it seems, along with the oats. Needs some sweetness, it seems--maybe some maple and brown sugar added to this? That would be cool. Slash the Buckeye from the name, which is not a local term at all, use real Vermont, Mass, or New Hampshire Maple Syrup, and call it "Berkshire Morning Oatmeal Stout". That’s my recommendation. Ah... Beer Works, won’t you hire me? I’m so talented, and I love you so!

I thought the aroma was a mix of nuttiness and rubbing alcohol. Pretty average in flavor and too watery.

Pours black with a tan head. Very rich coffee flavor. Not over the top. Decent stuff.