Lost Coast 8 Ball Stout
Behind the eight ball? Nah, not yet.Once you finally come to the realization that you may have an issue, there’s just no denying it’s pull on you. For me, that issue is the stout. It’s deep, roasty character and full presence on the palate is something that I just simply cannot do without — even in the humid heat of a Virginia Summer. I go out of my way to grab a bottle of something new in the style at the detriment of another bottle that I may already have in a mixed six pack ready for the checkout line.
Lost Coast’s 8 Ball Stout (an oatmeal stout) is just such an example of this happening. The six pack in my left hand was already full of tasty treats that I was very much looking forward to enjoying, when I caught this small bottle of stout out of the corner of my eye making my way to the register. I knew nothing (and pretty much still know nothing) about this brewery, but I had never had this brew before. I must have it.
Well, long story short, I debated for a good long while on which beer this recent San Diego International Beer Festival & Competition bronze medal winner was to replace in the mixed pack. In the end, 8 Ball Stout wasn’t necessarily the better of the two beers, but I fully enjoyed its rich, roasty character.
Appearance
This stout pours like any other stout — dark, dark brown with a dense, mocha head that fell slowly.
Aroma
You can smell the oats and roasted malt almost immediately upon opening the bottle but there’s also a fairly decent grassy hop presence in the mix as well.
Taste
Very similar to the nose, the flavor profile of this brew is dominated by the roasty malt that has a touch of char to it as well as the earthy oatmeal. The hops in the aroma do come through toward the end of the finish, acting more as a compliment to the coffee bitterness that is typical of most stouts. The mouthfeel is a little thin for a beer of this style, but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of it any. At 6.3% ABV, the alcohol is hidden well, making for a pretty drinkable stout.
Overall
I tend to like my oatmeal stouts a little fuller on the palate, but Lost Coast’s 8 Ball Stout was still a tasty little brew. For the most part the beer is well balanced despite leaning a little heavily on the hop side of things, but what the hops bring to the table only makes the beer that much more unique. All in all, a decent beer that I would have no problem purchasing again.
Rating: 3.5/5