El Toro Negro Oatmeal Stout

El Toro Brewing Co.
Morgan Hill, CA

Available: CA

The El Toro Brewing Co. operates a small 17-barrel batch system located outside of the San Fransisco Bay area in California, where brewing is performed on the owner’s rural residential property. El Toros Negro Oatmeal Stout is a traditional English-styled oatmeal stout using 10% flaked cold rolled oats.

ABW: 5.5
Color: n/a
Bitterness: 30
Gravity: 1057

Good name, great beer. Satisfying just to look at, and smell, this beer is absolutely black even when held to the light. The dense, long-lasting head of amazingly tiny bubbles is sensual, almost sexual. A nose of espresso, chocolate and honey precedes a taste of rich roasted malt beautifully balanced with bitter hops. The finish is surprisingly refreshing and clean on the palate. Delicious with enchiladas, with egg dishes at brunch, or with fresh stone-fruit for dessert.
- Charles Finkel

I wonder about the oatmeal in this stout. It isn’t listed as an ingredient. Is there or is there not oatmeal in this stout? A spot-on-black stout with a hint of highly roasted malts in the aroma and flavor. Rich and creamy flavor, but my glass isn’t holding the head I’d expect with an oatmeal stout. Somewhat on the dry side and light bodied in texture. A good stout but on the lighter side of the palate.
- Charlie Papazian

Jet black with a superb barley white head, the stout has a rich, complex aroma of dark malts, cappuccino coffee, bitter fruits and hops. Bitterness in the mouth comes from both hops and dark malts, with a tantalizing hint of herbs. The finish is packed with creamy, slightly sweet grain but finishes bitter and fruity. Stunning!
- Roger Protz

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

Roger Protz
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.