It was 11:33pm, but since we lost an hour Saturday make that 12:33am. While the drunken masses celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, I’m wrapping up my night with wonderful glass of stout and a book on brewing. I’ve had my fair share of stouts, of all types, and determined that my favorites are ones brewed with oatmeal. I love the flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, and aftertaste they have. I’ve sampled a good number of Oatmeal Stouts and thought I had found a winner in Lost Coast’s 8-Ball. After trying this beer, I stand corrected. As a matter of fact, I believe Down ‘n Dirty takes the cake as far as Oatmeal Stouts go. To date, it is the best I’ve tasted.

The aroma from this brew was pure intoxication without even taking a sip. The cereal notes reminded me of Golden Crisp or Honey Smacks while the chocolate aspect appeased sweet tooth in me. The oatmeal flavor and aroma were the best I’ve experience in a beer. It tasted just they way I’d (key factor there) want an oatmeal stout to taste like. Southern Tier makes an oatmeal stout and brags that it’s like sticking you head in a bag of oats. However, they brew an imperial so you lose some of the grainy aroma to the alcoholic strength. This beer however, has an abv of 6.3% allowing all the rich grain properties to shine through.

I was like a meal in a glass reminding me of Founder’s breakfast stout minus the higher ABV and coffee ingredient. The chocolate and oatmeal work well to lend a creamy, viscous mouthfeel that is full bodied and very rich. The color was garnet and produced a gloriously frothy mocha/tan colored head that settled like a Guinness. There were great roasted grain aromas and smoothness to the nose. I could detect a sweetness from the chocolate (both dark and milk), bitterness from the malts, and a Quaker Oat-like quality. Although it is full-bodied, the mouthfeel is on the lighter side of heavy. The aftertaste was amazing with a delicious harmonization of oats, chocolate, malts, and bitterness. It was not overly astringent making it very drinkable. I’d pour this over a bowl of ice cream, enjoy it with a chocolaty dessert, or drink it straight up. Tyranena’s Down ‘n Dirty combines Guinness quality with Midwest American style.

ABV: 6.3%

Grade: A