Short's Brewing Company- Mystery Oatmeal Stout: Michigan Spring Break Day One
Monday, April 25, 2011 at 6:02PM | by Wes 
So my spring break is extra late this year because of Easter being pushed back and I was not able to go snowboarding in Montana. Instead I decided to visit my bro Ryan and is wife Amy in Michigan and check out their new house. It was a great and relaxing weekend and I love every second of it. Naturally I brought plenty of beer back (about $150 worth) including Bell’s, New Holland, Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company, and of course tons of Short’s. Over the next five days, I am going to review five Shorts Brews in a segment I am calling, “Michigan Spring Break.”
Day one will be Mystery Oatmeal Stout by Shorts Brewing Company, which is an imperial stout brewed with cocoa and molasses. This beer is thick and heavy with a viscosity like motor oil. I was surprised by the abundance of foamy head that reminded me of a coke slushee. The aroma was actually very traditional with a dense dose of roasted grains. I was surprised by the lack of sweetness or chocolate in the nose.
This is a criminally smooth beer. It rocks a 10% ABV and goes down clean and crisp. The cocoa ramps up the bitterness of Mystery Stout slightly, but that gives way to a dry, warm and roasted finish. This is a stout lovers dream! Unfortunately I am not really a stout lover. However, I can still respect this brew and I think it would make a perfect winter time beer, which is fitting because I am on spring break and it is freaking snowing outside… Much like me this beer gets nicer as it warms, this is a must find for any stout junkie. If Short's keeps this up, they are going to knock Bell's off there throne...
ABV: 10%
Consumed: Shorts Ionic Pint Glass
Verdict: Buy A Twelve Pack
