At first, it was the bottle artwork that intrigued me. Then I remembered the run of really tasty brews from Quebec that I’ve enjoyed over the past twelve months. Well, this 5.5% ABV Oatmeal Stout from Le Bilboquet is another notch in the belt of small Quebec breweries.
I also don’t know how or why my local shop keeps getting all this Canadian treats, but I hope they keep it up. This was one tasty stout that had an excellent roasty and earthy character without weighing heavily on the palate.
Appearance
Pouring black as night, the beer sits with a large mocha head.
Aroma
This beer smells great. An earthy character delivers hints of oats, roast coffee bean and a touch of chocolate.
Taste
This is spot on for the style. The levels of oats, roasted malt, coffee and cocoa are all at just the right level to give the beer a well balanced nature. It’s not at all overly sweet and is quite easy to drink with a medium body. As the beer warms a subtle anise character begins to emerge.
Overall
This is my kind of stout. It’s lighter than most, but that only proves to serve the beer for the better. The balanced characteristics of the beer make for one of the more enjoyable oatmeal stouts I’ve had in some time. I will most certainly be buying this one again.
Rating:4/5
