Fitgers Big Boat Oatmeal Stout (Whiskey Barrel)

Sampled during ABR ’07 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pours an opaque dark brown brew with a flat dissolving off-white head that leaves behind a thin off-white head. Aroma of dark roasted black malt, some bourbon character, oatmeal, and some oak barrel character. Taste is full bodied, light carbonated with flavors of dark roasted malt, some bourbon/coconut character and a touch of vanilla. Finish is smooth, creamy with a bourbonized dark malt aftertaste. The bourbon character over-powers the dark oatmeal malt flavor.

On tap at FoBAB 5. Poured very deep brown with a loose cap of off-white head. The aroma picked up sweet and soft oatmeal notes with just a hint of fresh oak accent.. a bit too sweet and somewhat artificial was my overall impression. The flavor was sweet with lightly-roasted chocolate and oatmeal laced with some bourbon sugars.. some darker chocolate appeared toward the back. Sweet, yet sharp on the palate.. the oaky sourness was more abrasive than enjoyable. This one wasn’t so good.

FoBAB 2007: My last call rating, opaque with a small creamy head. The aroma has notes of oat, coffee, liquorice, minor vanilla and oak. The taste has a big coffee presence up front with bittersweet chocolate in support and finished with a moderate oak and whiskey note. The mouth feel is oily, silky and lush. A darn nice stout and a great way to end the fest. Still I wish is was a tad less boozy.

ABR 2007. Massive oak on the nose with fain head. Bourbon and oatmeal on the nose. More of the usual suspects in the body (vanialla, oak, biscuit). Heavy bourbon dominates the oatmeal in the body, but it’s still there.

On tap at the brewpub (named Bourbon Barrel Aged Big Boat). Black color with no head. Big aroma of bourbon and oatmeal. The sweet malt and oatmeal of the stout blends very well with the vanilla, oak and whiskey of the barrel. Incredibly smooth and slides down dangerously easy. An absolute winner.