Ninkasi Brewing Company - Vanilla Oatis Stout

Oatis, Oatis, baby.

Is it Monday again...already? Really? Man, the weekends really blast by fast, especially when there are a multitude of fun beer-related activities to fill those two short "S" days. Gratefully, this Monday went by without too much sh*t hitting the fan, and I had a fine craft beer waiting for me when I got home.

I found a bomber of Ninkasi Brewing Company's Vanilla Oatis Stout in the fridge and popped that sucker open soon after my jacket hit the hook. It boasts a respectable 7.2% ABV and the 22 oz. bottle was a very reasonable $3.49 at Freddie's.

The beer poured from bomber to shaker pint a solid black color with a creamy, mocha head. The head was a good finger thick and dissipated slowly. Copious amounts of webby lacing was left behind all over the glass.

Aroma was luscious vanilla bean, cocoa and roasted malt. A little bit of brown sugar in the background.

Taste was mildly bitter chocolate, coffee and vanilla bean. The vanilla flavor was pleasantly subtle, but noticeably present. Not at all artificial or over-powering. Not a hint of alcohol to this brew that I could detect.

Mouthfeel was medium, but just a bit thinner than I expected. Finish was creamy with the bitter cocoa and vanilla flavors the last to leave the palate.

This is a very drinkable stout. I could just as easily sip it as chug it. The Wonder Beagle was mildly interested in the aroma and just a little bit of drool was coaxed from her muzzle. I'm giving Vanilla Oatis Stout a BeerGuyPDX rating of 3 1/2 crushed cans out of 4 AND a Droolie.