A Nitro Oatmeal Coffee Stout. We selected a cold brewed coffee from Metric Coffee Roasters (Chicago, IL) with a pleasant sweetness and chocalateforward flavor and aroma. We then nitrogenated the beer to create a silky mouthfeel.
Welcome to my Table, here in the corner of this cafe. Today we’re sipping the Nighthawks Nitro Coffee Stout, from Like Minds Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Feel free to pull up a chair.
THECOFFEEDETAILS
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THEBEERDETAILS
style: Oatmeal Stout
abv: 7.2%
ibu: N/A
color: Black
stemware: Brandy Snifter
CUPPINGNOTES
Like Minds Nighthawks is black as night. There’s not even a hint of light around the edges of the snifter. The foam was fairly easy to rouse on the pour. It’s somewhat soda looking, especially the foam. After lingering for a few seconds it falls to a chunky ring and a couple islands that leave behind patchy lacing. Good looking beer.
The nose is welcoming if a little unexpected. The roast is moderate plus with tendril of smoke. The unexpected quality is a fairly bold anise note that runs start to finish. The coffee is subtle with a touch of spice and a dark roast. There is none of the berry notes like found in larger stouts, instead it takes on notes of baking spices: nutmeg, baker’s chocolate, earthy cinnamon. It has a comforting nose. I like it, though the coffee is the least noticeable of all aspects.
The flavor follows the nose pretty closely. A moderate roast runs from front to back before segueing into a softly nutty finish, hazelnut to be exact. Coffee is surprisingly light with a roast on the darker side and a soft spiciness. Those baking spices, again, play a big role in this beer and they’re very ell integrated. The anise is bold again and one of the main flavor components. This is a good beer that I would have liked to see the coffee shine through a bit more.
The mouthfeel is the one weak point on this beer. It’s moderate in body, maybe a touch lighter, and that’s where the problem lies. It’s not all that bad but I expect a little more weight, a little more plushness coming from a 7%+ oatmeal stout. Carbonation feels soft upfront but becomes a little prickly on the swallow. With the light body this beer is supremely easy drinking.
FINALTHOUGHTS
Nighthawks Oatmeal Stout is highly aromatic with notes of cocoa, earth and roasted malt. Soft, subtle nitrogenation along with oatmeal makes for a rich and creamy mouthfeel that complements an indulgent finish reminiscent of chocolate covered coffee beans.
Nighthawks Nitro Coffee Stout is a good beer from Like Minds. The roast is at a good level while the anise and spice notes are welcomed and comforting. The body takes away a bit and I could use a touch more coffee but with that said, it’s still good.
What were your thoughts of this one? Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome! Feel free to enter a comment below. Also remember to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and follow us on Instagram!
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Andrew is a husband, father, dog lover, craft beverage enthusiast, content creator, and niche market Internet celebrity. Formerly of A Table in the Corner of the Cafe and The Pulitzer Project and contributor to Barista Magazine and Mental Floss, he’s been writing on the Internet for years.