Brewery: Lost Coast Brewery, Eureka, California
Beer: 8-Ball Stout
Serving: 12 oz bottle
Glassware: snifter
Information: 6.2% ABV, no date.
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Price: $7.99 / 6-pack
Availability: Year-round
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Sartori Raspberry or Merlot BellaVitano cheese, coffee cake
Appearance
A tall but quiet pour releases a thin tan head. The loose foam fizzes away rather quickly leaving a little ring on top of the clear deep chocolate brown color.
Smell
Low notes of creamy chocolate and coffee subside to dry cocoa and surround the robust malt nose. Creamy oats give the aroma an inviting, smooth appeal that finishes out with an earthy American hop nose.
Taste
Rich roasted malts with potent notes of coffee and smooth dark chocolate give way to a drier, dusty cocoa flavor, mirroring the aroma. Stronger than the aroma lets on, it’s creamy and smooth tasting with a very light earthy hop finish.
Mouthfeel
Smooth in texture, the dry roasted malt finishes the beer dry and lightly acridly bitter. An abundance of carbonation keeps the oatmeal from really adding a nice creaminess to it.
Overall
It’s a solid stout offering but provides little depth; not much is alluded to but, still a fine beer regardless. 8-Ball Stout’s real short-coming keeping it from greatness is the higher level of carbonation, obstructing the oats from fully participating in the mouthfeel. The creaminess is there in the nose but doesn’t carry through to the palate.
Score: 77 / 100 - Good
Cheers,
-Andy
