Dive into craft stout beer: Zennor Oatmeal Stout
When we people think of modern craft beer they inevitably head straight to hop heavy IPAs and craft lagers, but there are other styles to explore, beers steeped in centuries of brewing tradition. These other beers are rich and dark, and are back to captivating craft beer drinkers around the world, it's time to re-imagine the humble stout.
Historically speaking, the stout's origins begin in the 18th-century here in the UK, with the rise of a style known as a 'porter'. It's a dark and robust beer that was hugely popular in London, a beer for the working class. As its popularity continue to rise brewers started to brew ever stronger and bolder versions of the porter, labelling them as 'stout porter', just meaning a stronger porter, but over time the word porter was dropped, and they became a beer unto themselves. Say hello to the stout.
As style, these early stouts were known for a hearty roasted character, utilising dark malts that bought flavours of coffee, chocolate, molasses and burnt sugar. Moving into the 19th -century the stout began to evolve into its own sub-styles, cream Irish stouts or sweet milk stouts of the Victorian era. It's a rich history to draw upon for modern craft brewers.
The core difference to other beers is malt, and more specifically the use of roasted barley and dark malts that define both colour and taste. These darker ingredients are kilned at higher temperatures, which helps to create those dark colours, ranging from deep mahogany to jet black. Their use also serves up super rich and intense flavours, with tones of espresso, cocoa, toffee and roasted nuts. This gives the beer a fuller mouthfeel and velvety feel, and the inclusion of things like oatmeal (like in our Zennor Oatmeal Stout) add to the smooth and creamy finish. Unlike other styles, the bitterness of the beer doesn't come exclusively from the hops, the malts give a gentle bitterness to ensure perfect balance. Brewers will experiment with things like burnt toffee in the brewing process, to make those flavours even more intense.
Currently, the world of craft brewing leaves plenty of opportunity for fans to slip into different types of stout. From silky smooth oatmeal stouts like Zennor, via high ABV imperial stouts, to dessert inspired Pastry Stouts or Dry Irish Stout.
Zennor Oatmeal Stout is our take on this classic beer style.
She is velvety smooth, with flavours of coffee and burnt toffee, Inspired by the rugged cliffs near the village of Zennor, she is dark and mysterious and oh-so moreish.
If you've never been a stout fan, we'd implore you to give it a go. The style has evolved and Zennor is hugely palatable and drinkable beer.
