Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout

Ah, it's time for an adult beverage, and the weather this evening was just right for one of my favorite cold weather beers, Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (I'm talking Santa Barbara cold.  It's 56°F right now.  Brrrrrrr).  Now, this is not just any oatmeal stout, this is the one that all other oatmeal stouts are based on.  This is one of the originals, dating back to the late 1800's, and still using water from the same well that was sunk in 1758 at the Old Brewery at Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, in the North of England.  That sort of longevity should be a pretty good clue that these guys know what they are doing when it comes to making beer.  They also have a pretty cool tradition of still delivering the beer around town, five days a week, with the horses you see below. The brewery keeps those "Shire" horses in a stable behind the Angel & White Horse (pictured below), which is the pub next to the brewery. 

Ok, about the beer.  This lovely oatmeal stout pours a deep, almost opaque brown, with a small, lightly mocha colored head.  Man, does it look good in the glass.  The aroma is definitely sweet from the caramel malts, but not over powering.  Some people notice hints of chocolate, but I get more of that caramel notes.  The taste is smooth from the tight carbonation.  Bitterness from the hops is noticeable, but the balance with the malt is just right.  This beers sticks in your mouth for a while, but doesn't go down thick. It's an easy drinking stout, for sure.  Maybe too easy.  I could easily spend an afternoon in the yard sipping on a few of these, especially at only 5.0% ABV.  An interesting part of what makes this beer unique is the brewery's continued use of a very old fermenting technique known as using "Yorkshire Squares." This adds a distinctive bitterness and silky mouth feel.  The beer is then cask conditioned to allow the residual yeast to ferment any remaining sugars, which will mellow out the bitterness by producing a little more alcohol and carbon dioxide.

This oatmeal stouts pairs well with just about any meal, but I especially enjoy it with fish, and if things are going really well for me, a nice shellfish, like oysters, clams, or lobster.  Yum, yum!  It also goes well with hearty dishes like steaks, rich gravies, and cheddar and blue cheeses.  Really, it goes well with all the good stuff!  Desserts work nicely with this beer as well.  Try a with some chocolate. That's a fine way to round out a meal.

If you haven't tasted Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, you definitely should give it a try.  It's an easy drinking beer that you won't soon forget, it goes well with just about any meal, and it has a pretty cool history to go along with it.  Cheers!