Red Velvet (Nitro) is an English-style Oatmeal Stout brewed by Ballast Point Brewing Company, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, was served in a mug from a bottle.
Appearance
Beets give its appearance a watermelon-red hue with an oh-so-thin head of bright-pink bubbly froth that dissipates slowly. A smattering of foam coats the glass.
Aroma
Chocolate lends to a sweet aroma; akin to a sugary cake.
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Flavor
The palate begins just as sweetly with chocolate and beets atop a base of malty oats that seemingly cake on the tongue. Taste profile is balanced with a mildly bitter finish of piney hops.
Mouthfeel
Mouthfeel is silky smooth with a medium body and low carbonation.
Overall
Overall, a nicely balanced brew, but one that might be better served if the recipe went all-in with its red-velvet cake theme. As is, this beer is just a novelty and not much more than an intriguing variant of an oatmeal stout.
Recommended Pairings
Ballast Point recommends the following food pairings with their Red Velvet Oatmeal Stout: Humboldt Fog (Fresh Goat Cheese), chipotle barbecue sauce on baby back ribs, and rhubarb pie with strawberry ice cream.
How to Pour the Red Velvet (Nitro)
Watch this video below from Ballast Point for pouring instructions:
