A summertime stout, sacrilege some would say. Sometimes I am out to sea, adrift, unsure and not on shore, that’s for sure. Blown off shore perhaps but more likely through wandering, that being a wandering of the mind variety. Here is my quandry. A stout by the fire is ok, but one by the pool is not? Some say that a dark toasty roasty flavoured brew will warm for winter and prepare you for hibernation. But others say that stouts are the surprise drink of summer. I think when it comes to such a contentious issue one thing we can all agree on is we will never reach a consensus. *
Lock Street has us blown off shore with this full sail stout posing as summertime and the livin’ is easy ** suds. It pours dark, how dark? If darkness had a son it would be this beer, or a close relative. Looks like that off shore wind blew off my froth, because no head was aboard. An oatmeal stout aroma, I didn’t catch the coffee or vanilla on first sniff. But I sure did on first taste. Strong coffee, mild vanilla and coffee grounds bitters. By second quaff the coffee bitters had mellowed out and a great roasted malt coffee vanilla balance emerged for a nice tasty stout. The vanilla is just right, a bit of sweet, subtle enough that if it didn’t say vanilla on the can you would just call it subdued sweet.
A thoroughly enjoyable well balanced any season stout, no matter which way the wind blows.
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