Beer of the Weekend #638: Nibbed in the Barrel Oatmeal Stout
The beer tonight is Nibbed in the Barrel Oatmeal Stout, brewed by the Empyrean Brewing Company of Lincoln, Nebraska.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” notch is marked between “MAR” and “APR”
Appearance: Pours black into a snifter. It seems opaque, but I am not sure. A finger of tan head leaves a skim, spots of bubbles, and a ring around the edge.
Smell: Big and bold. The bourbon from the barrel-aging process is very prominent, as is the cocoa from the “cacao nibs,” which impart a rich, dark chocolate mousse aroma. (Why did they use “cacao”?) The aroma is very syrupy, too, with a scent of molasses. There may also be a little roasted malt.
Taste: Bourbon and roasted malt are most prominent. There are also flavors of molasses, caramel, burnt sugar, and vanilla, which is a nice surprise. A little bit of alcohol is noticeable, but it offers a pleasant warming sensation. The mouthfeel is a little thin, but the flavor is solid.
Drinkability: This stuff aged well, and it disappeared from my glass very quickly. This is definitely drinkable stuff.
Fun facts about NitBOS (which is a damn good acronym):
-Style: Oatmeal stout.
-Price: $2.99/bottle from John’s Grocery in Iowa City. Interestingly, I just noticed on the receipt that I was charged a 20 cent deposit fee for this single bottle. Hmm…
-Alcohol content: 7.4 percent ABV.
-IBU: 35.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+/A-.
Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “ENJOY BY” notch is marked between “MAR” and “APR”
Appearance: Pours black into a snifter. It seems opaque, but I am not sure. A finger of tan head leaves a skim, spots of bubbles, and a ring around the edge.
Smell: Big and bold. The bourbon from the barrel-aging process is very prominent, as is the cocoa from the “cacao nibs,” which impart a rich, dark chocolate mousse aroma. (Why did they use “cacao”?) The aroma is very syrupy, too, with a scent of molasses. There may also be a little roasted malt.
Taste: Bourbon and roasted malt are most prominent. There are also flavors of molasses, caramel, burnt sugar, and vanilla, which is a nice surprise. A little bit of alcohol is noticeable, but it offers a pleasant warming sensation. The mouthfeel is a little thin, but the flavor is solid.
Drinkability: This stuff aged well, and it disappeared from my glass very quickly. This is definitely drinkable stuff.
Fun facts about NitBOS (which is a damn good acronym):
-Style: Oatmeal stout.
-Price: $2.99/bottle from John’s Grocery in Iowa City. Interestingly, I just noticed on the receipt that I was charged a 20 cent deposit fee for this single bottle. Hmm…
-Alcohol content: 7.4 percent ABV.
-IBU: 35.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+/A-.
