Oatmeal Stout and Hops for Roasty Romance with Your Taste Buds

Reading Time: around 8 min

Diving into the world of oatmeal stouts is like giving your taste buds a bear hug with a beer. Let’s say you’re gearing up to brew a batch of your own. And you’re on the hunt for hops that’ll harmonize with the creamy, chocolatey vibe…

…of this liquid breakfast of champions.

Oatmeal stout is your smooth, dark, charming friend in the beer world. Boasting a sweet spot between the chewy richness of a good dessert and a comforting, warm loaf of oat bread.

But hops – oh, hops – they’re the secret handshake between you and your oatmeal stout. Too much and you’ve got a bitter brawl on your hands. Too little, and your stout is as lonely as a pancake without syrup.

You want the Goldilocks of hops that’ll whisper sweet nothings to the oats.

Without stealing the spotlight.

You might not have an encyclopedic hops knowledge dropping out of your back pocket, but fear not! There are a few tried-and-true hop varieties that play nice with the oatmeal stout’s smooth character. Imagine them as the friendly next-door neighbors.

Who always bring the good snacks to the block party.

Key Takeaways

Oatmeal stouts mix the silky smoothness of oats with the darkest depths of beer.
Hops for oatmeal stouts should complement, not overpower the malt’s rich tapestry.
Brewing this beer is like a sweet symphony, where each ingredient gets a solo.

The Oatmeal Stout: A Liquid Ode to Porridge

The Oatmeal Stout is not just a beer. It’s a rich tapestry of history and taste, combining roasted flavors with a comforting smoothness. The one that can win over even the most skeptical palates.

History and Heritage: From England to Your Local Pub

You might think oatmeal is just for breakfast, but back in England, they decided grains needed a promotion. Enter the Oatmeal Stout, a traditional British beer boasting a lineage that would make any family tree green with envy.

The style was popularized by none other than Samuel Smith.

A name synonymous with quality beer across merry old England and beyond. In the olden days, stouts were considered nutritious, even doctor-recommended. The Scottish were particularly ahead of the game…

…brewing with oats long before it was cool.

Sensory Delight: Appearance, Aroma, and Taste Profile

When it comes to look and feel, think of a cross between your morning cup of joe and that decadent chocolate dessert you pretend you don’t crave. Dark as a moonless night, with a foam cap smoother than a velvet robe.

An Oatmeal Stout hits your nose with a one-two punch of fresh-brewed coffee and melted chocolate. But wait, there’s more! Dive in for a sip and your palate is greeted by the smooth symphony of oats and grains dancing in roasted harmony.

Michael Jackson might say it’s a thriller in the glass.

The Beer Hunter, not the King of Pop.

Brewing Nuances: The Oatmeal Stout Grain Bill

Let’s talk shop: grains are the backbone of any Oatmeal Stout. Picture this: roasted barley and chocolate malt belting out roasty tunes on the stage of your brew kettle. These malts set the stage for a full-bodied mouthfeel.

As comforting as your favorite fuzzy blanket.

In crafting your own liquid tribute, aim for 15-20% flaked oats in your grain bill to achieve the signature velvet-smooth touch. And while you’re weaving in those dark malts for a complex roast flavor, remember: balance is key.

You want just enough bitterness to cut through the sweetness.

Without turning your brew into a hoppy horror show.

When selecting hops, you’re not looking to steal the show from the grains but to complement them. Varieties like East Kent Goldings or Fuggle can add a subtle earthy or herbal touch to your brew. And don’t worry about going heavy on them.

They’re there to support, not overshadow.

Raise your glass and toast to the Oatmeal Stout. A brew that celebrates grains in all their roasty, smooth, chocolatey, and downright comforting glory. Cheers to the ultimate liquid porridge!

Hops & Their Chummy Cousins: Best Buds for Oatmeal Stouts

When brewing an oatmeal stout, you’re crafting a beer that’s like a bear hug from an old friend. Welcoming, warm, and a tad sweet. Picking the right hops is like choosing the perfect wingman for this malty shindig.

The Balancing Act: Bitterness vs. Sweetness

Oatmeal stouts are crafty characters. They mix a silky texture with a smidgen of sweetness, thanks to the oats. Now, it’s your job to find hops that can tip-toe on the tightrope between bitterness and sweetness without stealing the show.

Fuggle hops, with their woodsy charm, or East Kent Goldings, flaunting a touch of spice. Consider them as your go-to for this balancing act. Most reliable hoppy friends. Aiming for an IBU range between 20-40 is a solid bet.

Enough to whisper of bitterness without waking the neighbor’s dog.

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Oz per gallon	Max of Oz per gallon	Min of Oz per batch [5gal]	Max of Oz per batch [5gal]	Average of Oz per gallon
East Kent Golding	Aroma	0.03	1.03	0.13	5.17	0.16
	Bittering	–	0.8	0.01	4.01	0.26
	Dry Hop	0.1	0.2	0.48	1	0.15
	First Wort	0.09	0.61	0.45	3.03	0.26
	Flavor	–	0.58	–	2.9	0.15
	Whirlpool	0.07	0.8	0.35	4.01	0.24
East Kent Golding Total		–	1.03	–	5.17	0.21
Fuggle	Aroma	–	1	0.02	5.01	0.19
	Bittering	0.01	0.71	0.05	3.57	0.25
	Dry Hop	0.1	0.5	0.5	2.5	0.25
	First Wort	0.22	0.5	1.1	2.5	0.33
	Flavor	0.02	0.58	0.1	2.9	0.16
	Whirlpool	0.05	0.8	0.23	4.01	0.2
Fuggle Total		–	1	0.02	5.01	0.21
Willamette	Aroma	0.04	0.67	0.21	3.34	0.16
	Bittering	0.06	0.73	0.28	3.64	0.25
	First Wort	0.08	0.36	0.38	1.82	0.19
	Flavor	0.01	0.39	0.03	1.97	0.15
	Whirlpool	0.08	0.27	0.4	1.34	0.13
Willamette Total		0.01	0.73	0.03	3.64	0.19
Cascade	Aroma	0.02	0.5	0.09	2.5	0.18
	Bittering	0.05	0.62	0.23	3.08	0.19
	Dry Hop	0.11	0.53	0.56	2.67	0.25
	First Wort	0.02	0.18	0.11	0.91	0.13
	Flavor	0.03	0.4	0.15	2	0.17
	Whirlpool	0.07	0.5	0.33	2.5	0.2
Cascade Total		0.02	0.62	0.09	3.08	0.18
Golding	Aroma	0.05	0.4	0.26	2	0.16
	Bittering	0.04	0.53	0.21	2.67	0.25
	Dry Hop	0.13	0.18	0.64	0.91	0.16
	Flavor	0.02	0.33	0.1	1.67	0.15
	Whirlpool	0.1	0.18	0.51	0.91	0.14
Golding Total		0.02	0.53	0.1	2.67	0.2

Hops Name	Brewing Stage	Min of Grams per liter	Max of Grams per liter	Min of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Max of Grams per batch [20ltr]	Average of Grams per liter
East Kent Golding	Aroma	0.19	7.75	3.74	155	1.21
	Bittering	0.01	6	0.19	120	1.96
	Dry Hop	0.71	1.5	14.29	30	1.11
	First Wort	0.68	4.54	13.62	90.78	1.98
	Flavor	–	4.35	0.1	86.96	1.15
	Whirlpool	0.52	6	10.42	120	1.83
East Kent Golding Total		–	7.75	0.1	155	1.6
Fuggle	Aroma	0.04	7.5	0.71	150	1.41
	Bittering	0.08	5.35	1.6	106.99	1.88
	Dry Hop	0.75	3.74	14.98	74.89	1.87
	First Wort	1.65	3.74	33.02	74.89	2.44
	Flavor	0.15	4.35	3.08	86.96	1.21
	Whirlpool	0.34	6	6.81	120	1.48
Fuggle Total		0.04	7.5	0.71	150	1.59
Willamette	Aroma	0.31	5	6.24	100	1.23
	Bittering	0.42	5.45	8.39	108.93	1.91
	First Wort	0.58	2.72	11.52	54.47	1.46
	Flavor	0.05	2.96	1	59.12	1.11
	Whirlpool	0.6	2	12	40	0.98
Willamette Total		0.05	5.45	1	108.93	1.44
Cascade	Aroma	0.13	3.74	2.67	74.89	1.37
	Bittering	0.34	4.61	6.81	92.17	1.41
	Dry Hop	0.83	4	16.67	80	1.91
	First Wort	0.17	1.36	3.33	27.21	0.95
	Flavor	0.23	3	4.55	59.91	1.26
	Whirlpool	0.5	3.74	10	74.89	1.52
Cascade Total		0.13	4.61	2.67	92.17	1.35
Golding	Aroma	0.38	3	7.69	59.91	1.21
	Bittering	0.31	3.99	6.25	79.88	1.89
	Dry Hop	0.95	1.36	19.05	27.23	1.16
	Flavor	0.15	2.5	3.08	49.93	1.1
	Whirlpool	0.77	1.36	15.39	27.23	1.04
Golding Total		0.15	3.99	3.08	79.88	1.53

*This data consists of hundreds of thousands of manually input recipes and, despite best efforts, they may contain errors leading to very high max amounts, or be someone’s attempt for experimental brew. You should consider this data more as an overview of how different ingredients were used for different styles to get inspiration. Please do not attempt to add up different lines as it’s all about proportions.

Traditional Compadres: Fuggle and East Kent Goldings

Fuggle hops: These are the bread and butter in the hop world. They keep things traditional with their earthy and mild floral notes. Steep ’em in your brew, and they’ll compliment the malt like cheese on toast.
East Kent Goldings: Picture yourself in a tweed jacket with a pipe; that’s East Kent Goldings. They have a refined, slightly sweet floral aroma that screams ‘English gent’ and keeps it classy.

American Twists: Introducing Cascade and Willamette

Cascade: Want to throw a little party in your oatmeal stout? Cascade hops will RSVP ‘yes’ with their grapefruit-zesty vibes. But go easy, a dash will do it. Or you’ll be drinking an IPA in stout’s clothing.
Willamette: Ever the supportive sidekick. Willamette hops have a spicy and dark fruity number that complements the oatmeal stout without eclipsing its glory.

Remember, you’re the maestro here, orchestrating a symphony of flavors. Choose your hoppy lieutenants wisely, and your oatmeal stout will be the toast of the town. Or at least your taste buds. Keep it fun and let your hops harmonize with the malty melody!

The Mad Scientist’s Workshop: Brewing Techniques

Buckle up, brewmaster, we’re about to dive into the wild world of oatmeal stout crafting. Where precision meets playful experimentation. You’re not just making beer; you’re concocting a liquid masterpiece.

Mashing Madness: The Oatmeal Enigma

Forget about the witches’ cauldron. Your mash tun is where the real magic happens. Aim for a mash temperature of around 152°F to 154°F. This sweet spot encourages those crucial enzymes to break down starches into sugars.

Creating the perfect feast for your soon-to-be best friends, the yeast.

That oatmeal isn’t just for show; it’s the secret ingredient that’ll make your stout smoother than a jazz saxophone solo. Alright, enough with music references for today, but you get the drill.

Mash Time: 60 minutes (just enough to binge-watch an episode of a series about a particularly unruly chemistry teacher.)

Fermentation Follies: Yeast Endeavors

Let’s talk about your microscopic party guests – yeast. Pick a strain that complements the oatmeal stout’s profile. Here’s a cheat sheet of yeast strains fit for royalty:

Wyeast 1318 (London Ale III) – it’s like giving your beer a British accent.
White Labs WLP002 (English Ale Yeast) – as reliable as a London bus schedule.

Fermentation Temp: Keep it cool at around 68°F to avoid any funky, unwanted off-flavors – that’s a no-no in the game of taste you’re aiming for. Trust me, not that kind of a beer.

Final Touches: ABV, IBUs, and Gravitational Shenanigans

Alright, you’ve made it to the final round, the home stretch, the last dance. Measuring the original gravity (OG) and final gravity (FG) isn’t just for nerds with pocket protectors. It’s your window into the soul of your beer.

You want an OG at 1.038 to 1.065 and FG at 1.008 to 1.020, simple.

In result that means you’re aiming for an ABV (alcohol by volume) typically between 3.8% to 6%. Enough to warm the pipes but not so much that you’ll forget your own name.

Now, keep the IBUs on the down-low, around 20-40, since you’re not trying to punish anyone’s taste buds here. And for hops? English varieties like East Kent Goldings will treat you right. Giving your brew a touch of class without stealing the spotlight from the grains.

Hops Cheat Sheet: Aim for subtle bitterness; vital but not hogging the limelight.

Ah, one more thing – color. I know the Stout is primarily associated with black and more black. But it can also be dark brown. With the Oatmeal version you want something between 20 and 40 on the SRM scale.

Alright, grab your beakers and Erlenmeyer flasks, my friend.

You’re not just brewing beer; you’re engineering a velvet elixir. Ready, set, brew!

Damian

A lifelong learner, hop enthusiast and a lover of the state of extreme exhaustion.

Finance Analyst in the Investment Bank and co-founder of hopsmatcher.com