Gray goodness with the lavender lapels
Written: May 26 '01 (Updated May 26 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Another Midwestern-brewed sweet stout contender worthy of your attention.
Cons: Limited to regional distribution, natch.
The Bottom Line: Another notch on my belt for this award-winning Wisconsin brewed stout; rich, hearty and full of flavor. Yep, she's a keeper.
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| sleestakk's Full Review: St Ambroise Oatmeal Stout |
Yet another Wisconsin bred oatmeal stout to capture my fancy here with Gray's contribution simply classified as Gray's Oatmeal Stout. Easy enough. Gray's addition to the stout family is rich in flavor and dark in color tempered with a pleasant lightly sweet, buttery characteristic. In the land of oatmeal stouts (a branch of the sweet stout species), Gray's has produced a winner.
So much so that this little baby with the attractive violet tubetop and skirt to match has won a number of awards including both Bronze and Gold medals at the World Beer Championships as well as a Gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in '94. The light purple decorated bottle also boasts a Bronze medallion from the '97 World Beer Cup. Winning awards is always impressive but matters little if folks don't like it [RE: all my reviews on Rogue Ales].
At least I can say that I dig this crazy baby with the tan and purple hazy label. If nothing else, she looks purrty, she does. And tastes great too. Bonus. Like all good sweet stouts, Gray's pours an ultra-thick, ultra-black glass of bubbly brew with a lathery light brown hair... er, head. Hmmmm, is that mocha shampoo with the oatmeal base that I smell? I whiff a strain of raisins in the stiff malty nose but it really seems like I'm drinking a cold cup of joe as the coffee aroma feathers around my nostrils.
The drink is like that first bite of bitter-chocolate coffee cheesecake. Big, robust flavor yet not overbearing and evenly mild despite its full-bodied heartiness. The sweet caramel tones smack up against bitter hops making creating an overall enjoyable experience. The dark coffee character is the strong point and sometimes buries any hint of sweetness in its rapid surge across the palate; it's clingy and wants to be needed.
A surprisingly clean finish follows that mildly intense yet flavorful mouthfeel that was packing bitterness units as though you expected them to unload in the swallow. Uh-uh. Doesn't happen. Gray's Oatmeal Stout is as smooth as a whistle on a warm autumn day. And she's good chilled or just slightly below room temperature. Either way, that big malty mouth was enough to light up my cheeks and still make my cheekbones all tingly.
Six varieties of 2 row malted barley bring about that deep, java sensation and the creamy texture while three varieties of hops fill out the fullness you feel. The AVB is a minimal 5.6%, which means you can enjoy a few of these at once as a meal replacement or something. I say that because it's easy to achieve that taunt belly effect after having a couple of these. If you do decide to eat while drinking this - not giving it your complete, undivided attention, stick with lighter fare or desserts. I really wouldn't want something this robust while dining over equally appetizing entrees.
Gray's Brewing Company is located in the quaint village of Janesville, WI, a half-hour or so south of Madison. And it's one of the oldest family-owned microbreweries in the country managing continuous beverage production for over 138 years. Not bad. Besides their wonderful oatmeal stout, Gray's produces a nice array of ales and non-alcoholic soft drinks. Someday I'll get over there and visit the brewery... haven't been to Janesville in some years but I don't recall much else to do in town.
I suppose the only real downer outside of the seven greenbacks it'll cost you to own six bottles with the decorative attire is that, like with many fine Midwestern brewed selections, it's only available regionally. And that's a drag for those living coastal or bi-coastal even. Ah, well. That's the way of the world when it comes to domestic microbrews; you enjoy yours and I'll enjoy mine. But if you're a stout connoisseur visiting in the area, grab a six of Gray's Oatmeal Stout. You'll be glad you did.
Cheers!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
sleestakk
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Member: Jay Stakk
Location: Chicago
Reviews written: 186
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