Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout - Flying Dog Brewery

chodinheaven

Maryland

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very dark brown in color with cola highlights around the edges when held to a light. There is a nice 1.5 finger or so head that sticks around for awhile after the pour, dissapating into a sea foamy tan sheet. The nose is sweet and very pleasant, with a rich coffee aroma around the edges. Smells creamy with a touch of grain in the sweet chocolate and coffee combo. Nicely aromatic.

There is a sweetness to the taste again, in a form that is reminiscent of a mocha latte. The malts give a subtle chocolatey side to this beer, with some pleasant roasted coffee-like tones mixed in. In the back is a touch of hops and maybe even a little saltiness that give the beer a bit of prickle on the way out. This saltiness is subtle but definitely there, a touch from the oysters I'm sure. Mouthfeel is smooth and somewhat slick, and this is a very pleasant and drinkable stout. Nothing over the top or out of this world exciting, but this is a solid stout for sure. Definitely worth the pick up.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 04:20:26 | More by chodinheaven

JasonTaverner

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-24-2013 03:12:21 | More by JasonTaverner

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.71/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A- Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass with a black body reminiscent more of thinner, lower ABV stouts than motor oil big ones. A nice cap forms on the beer to about two fingers in size with a frothy texture, some big bubbles throughout. Head retention is good and a foamy ring leaves small spots of lace.

S- Roasted grains make up the bulk of the aroma for me with chocolate, coffee and dark caramel hints coming from the grain bill. Nutty, spiced dark fruit and sweet hints beyond that.

T- The flavor is also led forward by the roast specialty grains used in the recipe. This barley lends roast, cocoa, coffee and burnt notes. The roast grains are certainly not dominating and raisin, nutty, caramel, fruit esters and mineral hints to come through and balance. Hops flavor is low but I get some earthy and grassy hints in the finish.

MF- Body of low-medium thickness with low-moderate carbonation. Definitely a bit thinner feeling than most stouts due to these aspects but it hardly hurts since it is only 5.5% and not just a roast bomb. Roast and hop bitterness in the finish at a lower-end level.

A good stout to drink anytime. It brings enough roast flavors to be interesting but doesn't have a super high ABV or extremely thick body; drinkable. The oysters lend just a tiny bit of mineral flavor that almost reminds me of collecting seashells/being by the sea, random but it's what comes to mind.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 02:36:07 | More by cbutova

tadmuchowski

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-23-2013 23:43:05 | More by tadmuchowski

Leitz

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-23-2013 21:38:17 | More by Leitz

buckyp

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-22-2013 23:13:25 | More by buckyp

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a pitch black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a dry, earthy black malt scent along with a hint of chocolate malt sweetness. There is a creamy character that really enhance the dark malt feel. The oysters lend a bit of depth to the aroma that really rounds out the aroma. The taste is good as well. It has a smooth, earthy black malt flavor that goes down easy and finishes dry. There is a bit of chocolate malt in there as well that provides some added sweetness and complexity. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a terrific seasonal beer. It's quite drinkable and is full of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 22:09:35 | More by WesWes

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured into nonic pint glass. Jet black with a thick brown head that dissipates after a bit, leaving nice lacing. Smells of chocolate and bitter coffee. Taste is roasted coffee, a lot of open, watery taste to it with a bitter chocolate/hop finish. I haven't had oysters before, but I don't taste anything out of the ordinary or shellfish-y in this beer. Perhaps it's in that sort of open slipperiness. Either way, it's still a great stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 03:06:10 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-21-2013 02:16:11 | More by Kingcurio

xacidx

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-20-2013 22:36:36 | More by xacidx

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-20-2013 20:24:14 | More by BeerForMuscle

BigTrubble

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-19-2013 21:50:24 | More by BigTrubble

KTCamm

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass.

Pours very dark brown with purple tints, some red. Ring of tan foam. Malty dark nose. Some dark chocolate too. Taste is a gritty burnt coffee. There is something a touch different, probably influenced by the title. Somewhat earthy. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 21:48:27 | More by KTCamm

AL89BR

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-15-2013 16:21:01 | More by AL89BR

drgonzo2k2

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-11-2013 15:20:57 | More by drgonzo2k2

harrylee773

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-10-2013 02:03:38 | More by harrylee773

SirWalkAbout

Texas

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-09-2013 20:49:39 | More by SirWalkAbout

bh123

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-09-2013 04:57:17 | More by bh123

firstlighthiker

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -12.9%

05-09-2013 03:11:22 | More by firstlighthiker

dalepryor

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-07-2013 21:27:04 | More by dalepryor

pirmannt1

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-05-2013 20:04:12 | More by pirmannt1

plaid75

New York

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a deep black hue with a one half finger frothy tan head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured roasted barley and the typical accompanying aromas.

The taste consisted of an upfront roastiness tempered by a touch of caramel but with a finishing smoke and charcoal.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty well crafted stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-02-2013 23:20:46 | More by plaid75

ilikebeer03

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-02-2013 16:49:37 | More by ilikebeer03

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.64/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

"Proceeds benefit Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration. Brewed with Rappahannock River Oysters." Brewed in the style of an Oyster Stout, available exclusively in the Shock And Awe Variety Pack.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Served north of 56º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a billowing medium brown head of a very active foamy consistency. Retention is slightly above average and holds steady when it thickens to a moderate smooth foam. Body color is a dark brown, still slightly translucent even at the thickest points. Carbonation is active and plentiful. Not a bad stout appearance, but it has its shortcomings. 3.75

(Smell) Aroma consists of medium roasted caramel, semi-sweet chocolate, a mild butter character compliments a subtle bread malt profile overall. A tame hop aroma with a mild dry yeast acidity. The oyster character comes through only in small traces but does add a touch of welcome complexity to this beer. 3.5

(Taste) A much more pronounced roasted char front with a moderate chocolate malt sweetness and a pronounced dry finish. Only a touch of oyster flavor carries through for a slight oceanic touch and accents the chocolate notes. The flavor is overall a lot rougher than the aroma gave off with much sharper roasted grain notes, and less emphasis on the coffee and chocolate accents. Also shallow was a solid malt body. The roasted malt could have toned down a touch to bring more attention to the oysters, or the latter upgraded with the malt sweetness to meet a more concentrated balance. 3.5

(Mouthfeel) Very smooth with a mildly creamy, oily slick carbonation presence. A burnt malt profile accents an otherwise mild dry finish. Medium bodied for an English Oyster Stout, medium/heavy bodied overall. Alcohol presence is mild/medium. The textures for this beer are quite fine for the style. 4.25

(Overall) English & oyster stouts are growing on me big time, but my demand for either better balanced or more complex stouts comes with this change. I liked the potential that this beer had, but questioned the importance of the overly smoky, charred specialty malt profile to compare with the oyster inclusions, it seemed they were inevitably in conflict. The residual sweetness was rather mellow for this beer but overall I think that the oyster character was a much shallower player in this beer than it could have been. I can't admit to regretting purchasing the pack for this beer. 3.75

Flying Dog Brewery's
Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout
3.64/5.00

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 01:53:36 | More by Jadjunk

DaKur

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +13.9%

05-01-2013 00:50:03 | More by DaKur