The year was 1994. Little did I know that my perspective on craft beer was about to change and askew my ability to judge beers forever. I worked nearby Brown’s Brewing Co. “Brown & Moran”, as it was known back then) and every other Friday my colleagues and I would go over to the pub for lunch and a beer. It was unanimous amongst us; Uncle Rodney’s Oatmeal Stout was the beer of choice as it was hands down the best beer ever made.

Sometimes we didn’t go back to work.

It is impossible for me to remember the detailed characteristics of this beer. However, I can try to describe how good it was and how good it made me feel. It was welcoming, like your faithful dog waiting for you to come home. It is what mom would give you to make everything all better. It was rich in life, it had everything, it was perfect; yet no pretentiousness or arrogance. It is because of this oatmeal stout that I cannot find any other stout in existence that can live up to Uncle Rodney’s legend.

It was so good that I knew I would never have to try another beer again; until that dark day… Somewhere in the mid-90′s, we headed over for our Friday lunch and the pub was out of oatmeal stout. *GASP* We didn’t know what to do. I, myself, switched over to the Harwood Porter because it was also a top notch beer (and to this day is still my all-time favorite).

Much to our disappointment, the following (other) Friday, they were still out of the oatmeal stout. We asked when it would be back and we were assured that it would be back soon; but alas, weeks turned into months, and months, into a year. It never came back. The most disappointing part of it all was that the establishment continued to tell us it would be back, and be back soon; but it never did. I changed jobs and I didn’t get to frequent my favorite pub nearly as often as I would have liked.

But, it did come back, I don’t know when, but it is back. The Oatmeal Stout has returned Brown’s Brewery!

Not only has it returned, but it has returned with honors. It has been awarded a gold medal at the World Beer Cup in 2004. I sampled one earlier last year and it was fantastic. It was smooth and creamy, thick, and full of sweet dark malt.

Now, I have to say, the Oatmeal Stout was not quite what I remembered. I know my tastes have changed over the years and I’m a much bigger hop-head these days. Plus, there are also factors such as tweaking of the recipe, brewing equipment alterations, and availability of ingredients with consistent quality. It turns out that this oatmeal stout is a variation of Uncle Rodney’s recipe and it is still great.

So you might be wondering why am I trying to remember a beer I met so long ago? Why make a big deal out of a beer only you can only get in Troy, New York?

Hang on my friends…the answers to all that and lots more as this story just keeps getting better!