Ken Oats, a maple coffee breakfast stout from Rocky Ridge, is yet another collaborative effort from the Jindong brewers, leaning into their reputation for working with outside influences to produce exceptional beers. For this effort, Margaret River Roasting Co provides the coffee beans, which in turn provide a caffeine kick to an otherwise decadent stout.
A super dark brown pour is a sign of things to come, while a tan, short-lived head leaves behind generous, leggy lacing. Ken Oats brims with caramel and molasses up front, while rich and slightly bitter coffee is dominant on the back palate. The addition of oats contributes a creamy mouthfeel that carries sticky, sweet maple and much, much more of that roasty coffee character. Hops are minimal as expected, with bitterness in check thanks again to robust coffee additions. The 7 percent ABV is barely noticed.
You're always going to anticipate big flavours in such a beer but brazen coffee character is achieved without the addition of astringency or acrid character. Indeed, the result is so smooth and well rounded, you could almost pour it at brekkie and call it an Irish coffee.
Jono Outred
Published September 13, 2021 2021-09-13 00:00:00
