Beer Review: Prairie Noir (2012 vintage)

Reviewing the Prairie Noir from Prairie Artisan Ales out of Krebs, Oklahoma.

Score: 95

2012 vintage caged and corked bottle served in a Bourbon County Brand Stout Black Friday snifter and enjoyed on 12/10/13.

Appearance: Pours a black coffee color, with highlights of brown at the edges of the body, with a half finger of khaki head that settles to a thin layer that coats the top of the glass. Very good lacing, excellent retention with a slow cascading quality. 5/5

Smell: Roasted oats, caramel malt, coffee grounds, a little brown sugar. Nice light roast backbone. Milk chocolate too. Just a kiss of vanilla, and a very faint bourbon character. A little oak as well. As the beer warms up, a light cereal grain aroma comes out of the woodwork. 4.5/5

Taste: Oats, vanilla extract, oak woodiness upfront, and bitter coffee throughout. Dark and bitter milk chocolate. A lot more wood character than in the nose, but it marries nicely with the dry finish and bitter character. Hint of brown sugar, dried dark fruit and whiskey towards the finish too, with a light burnt quality. Very bitter leaning, with a few mellow sweet notes overlaying. Quite excellent, and not a hint of booziness. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, minimal carbonation. Thinner than expected for an oatmeal stout. Bitter, lightly roast and dry. Love the bitterness and dryness here. 4.25/5

Overall: An excellent, bitter-forward barrel aged stout with subtle barrel characters than compliment, rather than overpower, the base beer. This was a nice change of pace from the usually sweet barrel aged stout. I will be seeking out another bottle or two when the 2013 vintage releases.

Cost: $15 for a 750 ml bottle.