I can’t say that I’m impressed with draft choices at restaurants around here. However, some have a nice selection of bottled beers. Last weekend, we went to Jim N Nick’s and they had one dark bottle selection (other than Guinness, of course). It was Samuel Smith Tadcaster Oatmeal Stout.

It’s about on par with the other English stouts we’ve tried. Sweet but tangy, its flavors are slightly juxtaposed and pleasantly confuse the taste buds (which, at the time, were inundated with barbecue sauce). It’s a bit spicy and savory. It doesn’t have much fizz, so it’s smooth on the tongue and throat. There is a fairly sharp aftertaste, and overall it faintly reminds me of toast.

M: 7.5

N: 7.5