Mercury Brewing Company's Ipswich Oatmeal Stout

Wanting to recover from a disappointing Palo Santo Marron experience, I went to a standby style from a brewery I've never tried. Mercury Brewing Company's Ipswich Oatmeal Stout was a huge improvement.

Pours an inky black with an almost cascading medium tan head. Looks great. Like all stouts, it's not too sexy in appearance. It pours more opaque than many regular stouts, but the head is big and that's what sets this one apart from most.

Smell is a little light at first--come to find out it was too cold right off the bat. As it warmed the smell improved, and was much more substantial. Grainy and roasted, with a little alcohol. Kind of close to a Ten FIDY, which is saying something because that's a huge impy stout.

Wow, great roasted bitterness that tastes like it comes more from the malt than hops. The 60 IBU's are very well balanced. Smooth, substantial feel, like some impys. Slightly sweet hint from the oatmeal but that's gone in a flash when the roasted flavor hits. Big taste in this one, and the smell opens up as it warms to match the bigger taste, and a coffee flavor comes out a bit when it warms as well. One of my favorite stouts so far.