Anderson Valley Brewing Company Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

No Sunday beer tasting is complete without a wide selection that represents the myriad spectrum of brewing styles and flavors the beer world has to offer. Picking out the white ales was easy, but we needed a dark beer like a porter or stout to provide balance for our palettes. I really enjoyed Maui Brewing Company's Coconut Porter (see review from July 12), but BevMo was out and we wanted something new, so we decided to give the Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout a try.

Anderson Valley Brewing Company Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

The Anderson Valley Brewing Company hails from Boonville, California in Mendocino County and is known for their award winning Boonville Beers. In fact, the Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout won the brewery's first gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival--the only medal awarded in the stout category.

Appearance: Rich, deep and dark espresso color with a moderate amount of khaki colored head

Aroma: Burnt hops with mocha and cocoa overtones

Taste: Deliciously thick with a sweet oatmeal and cocoa start and a subtle burnt hoppy finish, subtle notes of caramel and malted barley

Alcohol: 5.7%

This beer was definitely a jump from the styles I normally gravitate towards, but at $4 for 1 pint 6oz it was worth the risk. It was a very delicious stout that was nice and thick, but not overwhelming. I would recommend this for people who enjoy dark, malty beers or anyone with an adventurous palette.