Looking for a good non-alcoholic stout is a bigger ordeal than it should be. For some reason, breweries have struggled to capture the dark, creamy, full-bodiness of a stout.
Bravus Oatmeal Dark caught my eye after winning the Silver medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival.
Will this Oatmeal Dark stout check all my boxes for a stout, or will I be disappointed? Read on for my full Bravus Oatmeal Dark review, nutritional information, and where to buy it.
A Quick Look At Bravus Oatmeal Dark Stout
Bravus Oatmeal Stout is Bravus’ attempt to be a Guinness alternative. Brewed in California, Bravus Oatmeal Dark stout took home the Silver medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival, which is one of the highest honors in the beer industry.
This non-alcoholic stout is vegan-friendly too, since it does not contain milk, unlike many other stouts.
Bravus Oatmeal Dark Review
Looks & Aroma
The Bravus Oatmeal Dark stout pours a beautiful black with a thin foam head that disappears quickly.
I was disappointed that I wasn’t able to replicate the thick Guinness foam head, which I associate with creamy stout beers.
On the nose, I could smell strong roasted, bready, malted barley aroma notes. There is a smell of sweetness, as well as oats, chocolate, and caramel.
Taste
On the palate, that strong roasted malted barley presents strongly too.
I can also taste some hints of sweet coffee toffee flavor, caramel, and chocolate, which I absolutely loved because I am a fan of chocolate notes in dark beers. The flavor *almost* reminds me of chocolate mixed with coke.
What was delightfully surprising was the body. It is medium-bodied and rich, especially for a non-alcoholic AND vegan stout. There is a slight creamy mouthfeel and you almost don’t miss the milk.
The finish is dry and this stout goes down easily, leaving an aftertaste of malts, coffee, and chocolate.
Comparing the Bravus Oatmeal Dark stout to a Guinness, the bitter aftertaste is a little weaker. That said, I think Guinness lovers will still enjoy this non-alcoholic stout.
Bravus Oatmeal Stout Customer Reviews
The Bravus website shows a 4.33 rating out of 5 stars from 363 reviews, while customers on Amazon gave it a 4.4 rating out of 5 stars from 28 reviews.
The customers who gave the stout a 5 star rating enjoyed the taste and creaminess, while some customers found the taste of molasses off-putting.
Bravus Oatmeal Dark Stout Ingredients
Bravus Oatmeal Dark is made with water, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
If you have a gluten intolerance, you’ll be pleased to learn that this non-alcoholic IPA is gluten-reduced, containing less than 20 ppm. For more gluten-friendly drink recommendations, check out our articles here.
Bravus Oatmeal Dark Stout Calories
A can of Bravus Oatmeal Dark has 110 calories and 25 grams of carbohydrates, which makes it a high-calorie non-alcoholic beer.
If you’re looking for low-calorie non-alcoholic beers, then check out our article ranking the calories of different non-alcoholic beers.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (355ml/12oz) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 110 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 25g |
| Protein | 1g |
| Fat | 0g |
Final Verdict Of Our Bravus Oatmeal Dark Review
For a non-alcoholic stout beer, I really enjoyed the Bravus Oatmeal Dark stout. It has a strong flavor profile with different flavor notes, and it is an easy beer to drink.
Bravus Oatmeal Dark is on the sweeter end for stouts, and the chocolate flavor with hints of toffee and caramel sealed the deal for me.
It is not as full-bodied as I would like in a stout, but it still makes for a good non-alcoholic stout.
Great For:
- Those who like sweeter stouts
- If you’re looking for a Guinness stout replacement
Not Recommended For:
- If you don’t like the taste of molasses
- Those who prefer bitter stouts
Where to Buy Bravus Oatmeal Dark?
If you’re in the United States, you can order Bravus Oatmeal Dark directly from Bravus. They offer one-time purchase and even a Subscribe & Save option.
Other Bravus Oatmeal Dark FAQs
Is Bravus Oatmeal Dark Vegan?
Yes, Bravus Oatmeal Dark is vegan as it does not contain milk or any animal-derived ingredients. The creaminess of this non-alcoholic stout comes from oatmeal.
We know it can be a challenge finding vegan non-alcoholic beers, so we put together a list of The Best Vegan Non-Alcoholic Beers We Love to help you discover even more delicious options.
Is Bravus Oatmeal Dark Gluten-Free?
Bravus Oatmeal Dark is gluten-reduced and has less than 20 ppm. Bravus does not share the process they use to remove the gluten. However, a common method involves using an enzyme called Clarex to break down the gluten proteins. While very effective, this process doesn’t completely remove gluten and those with a gluten allergy may still experience from drinking gluten-reduced beers.
We hope you enjoyed our Bravus Oatmeal Dark review. If you’re craving even more non-alcoholic beer reviews, click below:
This non-alcoholic stout checks off many things for me - the flavor profile, the amount of sweetness, the smoothness, and the medium body.