Central Coast Brewing 'Stenner Creek' Oatmeal Stout. 6% abv. 31 IBU. Black in color. Finger of mocha head. Excellent retention and outstanding lace. Nose of roasted malt, coffee beans. Front taste of roasted malt, dark chocolate, black coffee on the back. Aftertaste is bitter earthy grain, sweet malty sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is silky, warm, smooth.

This is an excellent oatmeal stout, true to its category, with a freshness that rises it above many of its peers. The aroma is roasty malt with coffee notes, while the taste is that same coffee sense misled with chocolate and an earthy sweet finish. The body is rich and smooth, perfect for this beer style. Definitely worth seeking out. Highly recommended.

Oatmeal stouts and coffee stouts are often called "breakfast beers" and I enjoyed this one indeed at breakfast, on a cool morning in San Luis Obispo, home to Central Coast Brewing. We wandered in the small brewery after a night of Downtown SLO's many other breweries and pubs. If you ever find your way there, I encourage this new morning ritual, one that my friends and I intend to experience again.

From the brewery:

"An English seasonal variant of sweet stout, the liberal use of flaked oats adds a silky creaminess to the mouth feel. Packed with notes of caramel, chocolate, and coffee this full-bodied beer is luscious, balanced, and extremely drinkable."

[source: centralcoastbrewing.com]

Firestone Walker 'Stickee Monkee 2015' Central Coast Quad. Bourbon barrel aged. 13.4%. 45 IBU. Black in color. No head, retention, or lace. Nose of rich, sweet malt, dark fruit, caramel. Nose becomes more complex as the temp drops, with emerging port wine grapes and green herbal notes. Front taste of caramel, oak, brown sugar, plums, molasses. Aftertaste of sweet dried fruit, raisins, plums, sweet wine, wood notes, sweet coconut husk in the sustain. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, rich, sticky, thick.

This is an extraordinary, world-class beer. It's very rich, sweet, malty, fruity, and at times is herbal, botanical, woodsy. A complex myriad of flavors dances in the aroma, the first sips, on though the aftertaste and sustain. The barrel aging is expressed throughout, always in the background, with flavors of toasted oak and port wine. Outstanding. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Belgian Quad by recipe, but aging it in spirits barrels garners its own category: Central Coast Quad.  A beer formulated to sit on the sweeter and malty side so that we could utilize it for blending.  Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico and Belgian candi sugar add wonderful molasses flavors.  It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over this beer: toasted oak, coconut, leather and cigar tobacco."

[source: firestonebeer.com]

“Since founding our brewery in 1996, we have specialized in the rare art of fermenting beer in oak barrels. In the Fall of 2006, we embarked on a program to barrel age a series of vintage strong ales that would later be used as components of a blended beer. That blend would become our first Anniversary Ale, ’10’. After the release of ’10’, we released limited amounts of the components beers on draft only. Many of these beers gained a cult following that craft beer fans raved about and begged for us to put in bottle. Stickee Monkee was one of these beers. We present the 2015 vintage of Stickee Monkee, a barrel-aged Quad. It has been said that the only constant is change and the same is true for barrel-aged beers. Cut from a similar recipe, this barrel-aged Quad evolved and shows a different face each year; a result of time spent aging in the barrel. Turbinado brown sugar from Mexico adds wonderful molasses flavors that are reminiscent of Belgian candi sugar. It has a full body and lush texture with barrel expression all over; toasted oak, coconut, leather and rich cigar tobacco. This Central Coast Quad is a one-of-a-kind sipping beer built to last and will reward careful aging for years to come.”
[source: box]

This big beer is best shared with friends

My friends and fellow beer enthusiasts Patrick and Michelle shared their Stickee Monkee with me and some friends for my birthday. Cheers!

Central City Brewing Imperial Porter. 9% abv. 60 IBU. Black in color, with two+ fingers of rich tan head. Superb retention and outstanding lace. Nose of heavily roasted, almost burnt malt, dark chocolate, vanilla cookie. Front taste of bittersweet chocolate, black coffee, bitter earthy hops, sour fruit back end. Aftertaste of burnt dark malt, pungent bitter fruit, espresso, notes of vanilla, with banana peel on the sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, silky, astringent.

This is an outstanding beer that was nearly derailed by a couple of flaws. The high points are the exquisite head and body, the complex and inviting aroma, and the rich taste of dark chocolate, coffee, and roasted grain. The low point is the aftertaste, which starts fine but quickly becomes overly bitter and roasted/burnt, saved only by its pleasant sustain. During the start of that aggressive aftertaste, I briefly wondered if my bottle had expired - it's never a good sign when one wonders that. Still, worts and all, this is a superb imperial porter, one that offers more character than many in its category. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"Deep aromas of roasted malts and bakers chocolate combine with a silky full body, leaving you wanting more."

[centralcitybeer.com]

"This original release of this was a 2011 draft-only batch and is retired. In 2013/2014 bottled beer (also on tap at the brewpub) with a black label was the Bourbon Barrel Imperial Porter, but the label was not clear about that. The Autumn 2014 bottling (red label) is the return of the non-bourbon version."
[source: ratebeer.com]