Beer Man: Double Oatmeal Stout will tickle tastebuds
Beer Man is a weekly profile of beers from across the country and around the world.
This week: Rooie Dop Double Oatmeal Stout
Brouwerij De Molen, Bodegraven, Netherlands
Rooie Dop is the name for the company that describes its method of operation as "gypsy brewing." It does not have a full brewery of its own and contracts with Brouwerij De Molen in Bodegraven, Netherlands, to make most of its beers.
A company such as Rooie Dop confounds me because despite not having its own facility and making small batches of beer, it is exported to more than 20 countries. This is not an easy process to set up and maintain.
However it has achieved this, we are the better for it, if its Double Oatmeal Stout is any indication.
Described by Rooie Dop as an imperial oatmeal stout, it has much in common with the intense dark beers that are a staple of the Scandinavian beer scene. Expect intense roast flavor and bitterness, a chewy body and high alcohol content.
The 9.6% ABV stout poured a thick black, forming a creamy tan head that dissipated rather quickly. This is not unusual for a high-alcohol beer. The aroma was dominated by cocoa and roasted malt.
The flavor was loaded with chocolate, cocoa and roasted malt, with background notes of coffee, caramel and vanilla. An espresso-like bitterness was present throughout the tasting and the finish. It also had a slight red wine sharpness that was a nice counterpart to the sweet and bitter characteristics.
At nearly 10% in alcohol content, it was slightly boozy, but in the background in a pleasant way. The use of flaked oats gave the stout a solid and creamy mouth feel.
Rooie Dop has an interesting portfolio, many that are collaborations with other breweries, which include Back to Black, an imperial coffee stout made with Brazilian coffee; Grain and Grape Red Wine Oatmeal Stout; Lapsang Souchong Saison, made with the fabulous smoky tea; Imperial Passion Fruit White IPA; and Final Countdown Saison, made with smoked malt and rye.
Rooie Dop beers are imported by Shelton Brothers of Belchertown, Mass. It has a Locate Our Products link here. However, it is not a true beer finder as it only gives the option of e-mailing the company with inquiries.
Many beers are available only regionally. Check the brewer's website, which often contains information on product availability by mail. Contact Todd Haefer at beerman@postcrescent.com. To read previous Beer Man columns, click here.