Style: Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 5%
Presentation: 550 ml brown bottle
Brewery: : Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)
Country: England

KANPAI! w/ Jeff Werstiuk

It is thanks to the founder of the beer importing company Merchant du Vin, Charles Finkel, that Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout even exists, let alone reintroducing to the world what had become an obsolete and nearly forgotten beer style.  Back in 1978 he had made it his mandate to seek out the exemplar version of what he defined as the two dozen major classical beer styles, all from traditional breweries found in the homeland of each respective style.  His quest was nearly complete when he realized that no one was producing an Oatmeal Stout, in fact the last consumer produced Oatmeal Stout hadn’t been sold since the turn of the 20^th century.  This was when Finkel approached the Samuel Smith brewery in Tadcaster to devise a traditional recipe so they could once again reintroduce Oatmeal Stout to the world again in 1980 after 3 generations of its absence.  There are many other fine stouts of this style available these days, however it is Samuel Smith’s version that is used as a benchmark for it.

For those wondering, yes there are actually several different styles of stout, and are hardly like the “thick black molasses” or “motor oil” that many people stereotype them as.  The most well-known is Guinness which is a Dry Irish Stout, which also contains a small amount of oats.  Sweet/Milk Stouts are just like they sound, sweetened with lactose which is milk sugar.  Russian Imperial Stouts are extra strong and higher in alcohol content.  Oatmeal Stouts are also what their name claims, possessing a larger amount of oats (although still not overly substantial compared to the overall malt bill), which adds more sweetness to the flavour, and a rounder, silky smooth texture.  This style of stout even used to be prescribed to nursing mothers, not only for its high iron content but also for many other nutrients found within it.  I can’t personally condone this, but then again I’m not a doctor either (…although I always wanted to play one on television).  Still it was very popular in the 1800’s, almost as a liquid version of a multi-vitamin pill.

Here’s an ale you’ll want to pull out your favourite mug for, or any handy pint glass for sure.  It doesn’t have to warm up too much out of the fridge, yet a few minutes resting in your hands will loosen up the flavours a bit more.  Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout comes in a sturdy 550 ml brown bottle with gold foil around the neck and cap.  Not quite the stereotypical pitch black in appearance this Oatmeal Stout pours out a nearly opaque, a deep dark brown that will reveal a patch of garnet when held to direct light, while a thick spongy beige head crowns it with impressive retention.  Be prepared for a sweet aroma with mild roasted malt, even hints of treacle.  The mouthfeel is smooth, a little bit sticky at times, yet it is mostly silky and smooth.  Finally, the flavour is equally as sweet as the aroma reveals, the malt is roasted along with some cocoa notes, hints of licorice, a creamy milky sweetness with a dry finish.  Some acidity may be apparent too.

This Oatmeal Stout is decent with desserts such as cheesecake, buttery fruit pastries, and baked chocolate goods.  Curiously the Samuel Smith website recommends a wide array of food pairings to go with this stout, some that left me scratching my head, but to quote:  “Pizza and salad, Italian foods, steamed clams, grilled ahi tuna, lobster with drawn butter, steak, ploughman’s lunch, crumpets, shish kebabs, vegetable ragout and eggs Florentine, dark flavorful bread and aged Stilton.”  Also of note is that stouts in general go great with bivalve shellfish, especially oysters.  The slight acidity of this Oatmeal Stout also compliments lamb as well.  One last detail of note is that Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout is a vegan beverage, for those who take extra personal caution with what they consume.

The next steps in the cooler:

From This Brewery:
Old Brewery Pale Ale
Taddy Porter
Imperial Stout
India Ale
Nut Brown Ale
Organically Produced Lager
(also an Organic Cider!)

In-Style:
St-Amboise Oatmeal Stout
Bete Noire - Paddockwood

Other Stouts:
Shakespeare Stout - Rogue
Andean Stout - Cerveza Jerome
Midnight Sun Espresso Stout - Yukon
Jamaica Stout

For The Adventurous:
Old Rasputin Imperial Russian Stout - North Coast Brewing
Trois Pistoles - Unibroue
Old Crustacean - Rogue

Style:  English Pale Ale
ABV:  4.7%
Presentation:  500 ml brown bottle
Brewery:  Fuller Smith & Turner PLC
Country:  England, UK

KANPAI! w/ Jeff Werstiuk

It states “Outstanding Premium Ale” on the label of this English Pale Ale, and although I’ve had beer labels lie to me in the past, this one most certainly lives up to its own bold claim. Although there have been several changes in ownership, beer has been produced on the grounds of this Chiswick located brewery for over 350 years now, and presently most of their ales are exemplars of its own particular style. London Pride is no exception as this brewery‘s flagship offering, and if you’ve yet to discover the full rounded flavours that the world of ales has to offer, consider this one of the finest invitations and introductions that you can get.

One thing to keep in mind with the English style Pale Ale is that in general it tends to be a bit more balanced than its younger American version cousin, and if anything will lean more towards the sweeter maltier side of the flavour profile, therefore being a more approachable option for people who haven’t developed a taste for bolder hop character.

This ale is ideally enjoyed slightly chilled, but not quite room temperature, in order to fully appreciate the balanced nuances within the flavour. A pint glass or mug will serve just fine. Expect a transparent rustic copper amber appearance from this London Pride, with a foamy white head. Within the aroma, if the ale is not too cold, you should be able to pick out notes of crisp sweet malt, toffee, even some buttered bread, while the combination of 3 different hop varieties exude a grassy, spicy nature that is earthy yet possesses a soft citrus zest. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, and balanced between a light smooth roundness with enough carbonation to provide a crisp finish. Lastly the balance continues in the flavour where at first the malt provides the palate a buttery, toasted toffee that blends smoothly with mild earthy and herbal hops in the finish, which offers a crisp finish but doesn’t overpower the backbone of the malt.

For those of you who enjoy having a few of the same beers in a sitting this English Pale Ale is ideal for a session ale. With food it is pretty versatile, pairing well with your favourite comfort foods, while more specifically being an excellent dance partner with savoury foods, grilled meats, roasted chicken and turkey, Cajun dishes, and pasta dishes with white sauce. Heck, even the empty sturdy brown half litre bottles are perfect for you home brewers in the crowd to hang on to. Is there anything that London Pride can’t do? I don’t think so.

The next steps in the cooler:

From This Brewery:
ESB Ale
Vintage Ale
Organic Honeydew Ale

In-Style:
Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery Pale Ale
Pedigree Pale Ale
Bass Pale Ale

Lateral Steps:
Innis And Gunn Oak Aged Beer
O’Hanlons Yellowhammer
Hobgoblin - Wychwood

For The Adventurous:
Lead Dog Ale - Yukon Brewing
Brooklyn Monster Ale
Maximus - Lagunitas