Beer Review: Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

Last summer at a family gathering, the craft beer aficionado of the family brought dozens of craft beers for everyone to sample. After several nights of tastings, one of the clear favorites of the bunch of Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout from Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

After sampling quite a few other oatmeal stouts, I decided to return to this brew and give it another try.  First, let’s get all of the info we can directly off of the bottle. This particular bottle has a wealth of information provided on the label:

Front Label
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Boonville
Mendocino County California
Brewed from only the finest malted barley, wheat, rolled oats, hops, yeast, and pristine Boonville mineral water.

Back Label:
Named in Boontling* for the awesome virgin redwoods of Hendy Woods Forest, located west of the brewery, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is a full-bodied, creamy, sweet stout. Barney Flats is lovingly handcrafted from the finest pale, caramel, and chocolate malted barleys, blended with oats, then balanced with generous additions of our special blend of hops. An intensely rich experience with a gratifying bittersweet finish, we recommend it with or for dessert, or as a nightcap. It’s not just shy sluggin’ gorms neemer! (It’s not just for breakfast anymore!)

*The local Anderson Valley dialect, developed in the late 1800′s.

www.avbc.com

Top label
The Legendary Boonville Beer
Consistently judged one of the World’s Finest Breweries

Cap:
Solar Powered Brewery

Where Purchased
Lee’s Discount Liquor, Henderson NV

Review
While browsing the beer section of Lee’s, I was a little surprised to see this beer as I’ve been to this location several times and never noticed it. Even better – it was on sale.

The beer pours almost completely black, and the aroma has strong hints of coffee and caramel with an added sweetness. You can definitely taste the oats alongside the the coffee and caramel flavors. A slightly dry finish leaves a pleasant balance to the palate.

I rather enjoyed this 12 oz bottle. In fact, I’m quite certain I’ll be reaching for another. This is an excellent, highly-recommended beer.

I would love to find this on tap somewhere around town.

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