Every now and then, it’s good to revisit an old favorite, and this week, that’s exactly what we did. Mike took a step back in time to brew a classic oatmeal stout that has been a cornerstone of his brewing journey.
After years of tweaking and experimenting for the sake of our audience, he decided to go back to an old recipe. This time around, there were no adjustments or tweaks. He brewed his oatmeal stout that he perfected in the early 2000s. Let’s see if his memory served him well for this brew.
Classic Oatmeal Stout Recipe
This recipe is a culmination of 25 plus years of brewing well-balanced, flavorful oatmeal stouts.
Ingredients
Grain Bill:
76% Brewers malt (Briess)
9% Flaked oats
4% Roasted barley (575L)
4% Carastan (35L)
3% Crystal 60
4% English chocolate malt (450L)
Hops:
58 grams of East Kent Goldings (4.2% AA) – 60-minute addition
Yeast:
Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale yeast (repitched)
Water Chemistry:
Spring water
1 grams of magnesium chloride
3 grams of calcium chloride
Brewing Process
Mash Schedule:
Mash in at 150°F for 45 minutes
Ramp up to 156°F for 25 minutes
Mash out at 168°F
Boil:
60-minute boil with a single hop addition
Fermentation:
Pitch Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale yeast
Ferment at a suitable temperature for the yeast strain
Stats
Starting Gravity (OG): 1.066
Final Gravity (FG): 1.015
ABV: 6.5%
Tasting Notes & Final Thoughts
Pouring this stout, it had the deep, opaque color you expect. We saw brown highlights and a tan head that left some nice lacing. The aroma was a balanced mix of caramel, toffee, and subtle roastiness, with just a touch of milk chocolate.
On the palate, the caramel and toffee notes really stood out, giving the beer a smooth, rich flavor. The roastiness provided a great backbone without being overwhelming, and the EKG hops did their job balancing the caramel malt.
The finish was moderately dry, with lingering caramel and roast flavors. Overall, tasting this beer again felt like a homecoming. Mike wondered aloud why he stopped brewing this recipe to the letter.
It’s one for the “locked recipes” folder!
If you’re looking for a flavorful oatmeal stout with smooth caramel, toffee, and roasted malt notes, this is a recipe worth trying.
BREW ON!