Ipswich Oatmeal Stout

Brewery: Mercury Brewing Company
Location: Ipswich, MA
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Brewery Website
Rating: A

For those of you who think of stouts as heavy, "so thick I could eat it with a fork" beers, welcome to the world of oatmeal stouts. Oatmeal stouts tend to be rich and creamy without being overly thick and heavy. The Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is a perfect example of what a great oatmeal stout can be.

The Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is a dark brownish-black, to the point of being opaque. There is a bit of sediment as this is an unfiltered beer, so take the proper precautions if you prefer not to have the sediment in your glass. There is a creamy head the color of a light chocolate milk. The nose is roasted coffee with some sweetness and citrus.

On the palate there are strong roasted notes and a pleasing bitterness, similar to a good espresso. There are undertones of citrus, earthiness and fruity hops. At 7% ABV, the alcohol is faintly noticable and gives a slight warming sensation. The Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is light-to-medium bodied with a creamy mouthfeel. The finish has lingering bitter and roasted notes.

The only thing keeping me from giving this a 5/5 rating is that the strong roasted notes keep some of the complexity from fully expressing itself. Ipswich Oatmeal Stout is a fantastic beer that I strongly recommend.