Youngs Oatmeal Stout (London Stout)

Brewed by Wells & Youngs
Style: Stout
Bedford, England

On nitro tap. Creamy smooth palate - although a little thin and lacking much depth in flavor. Roasted oats and light chocolate define the flavor. A little more going on than Guinness.

Brown/black colored brew. Nice aroma of dark chocolates and a bit roasted malts. Starts of a bit fruity, but then the thickness and bitterness kicks in. Nice roasted, chocolate flavor. Nice.

Bottle. Deep, red-black coloring. Thing, bubbly head with ringed foam. Roasted nut, black coffee hints. Thin and watery initial flavoring though somewhat sharp. Rich and creamy nostril exhale. Worth a try but not a 2nd round.

Rated 10/10/06: Yet one more fine product by Young’s. Rich aroma bitter-sweet and roasty. Decent pour with a good creamy tan head, would like to see some more lacing though. Mouthfeel is good and smooth, could be thicker. Great flavor very sweet for a stout which is a nice change. Roasted malts and a hint of mild chocolate with a bitter end. Very solid stout here, although I’ll take the Double Chocolate if given a choice.

500 mL bottle. Um, I don’t think this beer is retired. Black with a good creamy light tan head. Aroma of chocolate and figs. Smooth velvety palate. Taste of smokey dark roasted malt, chocolate, and semi-dry finish. A decent stout.

Bottle: Pourel almost black with a tan head. Nice stout aroma, heavy on the sweet toffee and coffee notes. Flavor is a bit buttery and understated, with a finish that is a bit too polite.

Bottle. I am not entirely certain that this beer is retired, as I have seen it at stores very recently. Nice dark brown pour, tan head which leaves a good deal of lacing. Aroma is what you’d expect for the style: dark roasted coffee and oatmeal. Very smooth drinking - maybe a little too smooth since the flavor is very subdued and really doesn’t even emerge until the aftertaste. The flavor is, however, a pleasant one once it does emerge: very true to the style, with touches of coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Not a stand-out beer to me, but pleasant. Probably a good breakfast beer.

Is this retired? A well done oatmeal stout. Nothing too crazy here, just a well balanced stout with that oatmeal smoothness. No alcohol taste at all. If you like Guinness or Murphy’s-- this is probably a nice step up.