Sand Creek Brewing Co. - Oscar’s Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

A World Beer Cup gold medal winner for brewmaster Todd Krueger in 2000, this oatmeal stout pours a very dark, almost black, color capped by a rich brown crop of foam. There’s a creamy impression on the nose along with roasty-toasty malts, big mocha coffee notes, dark chocolate, and the distinct aroma of oats. These oats contribute a wonderful, creamy roundness on the palate (which is why they’re used). Look for flavors of roasted grain with a hint of smoke, coffee, and bitter chocolate. While there are some sweet notes, this stout ultimately finishes quite dry, an effect of both the hops which add some spice in addition to their bitterness, as well as the char-like quality of the roasted barley. We sure do like us a tasty oatmeal stout, and this one hit the spot in a gold medal way. Try this stout with grilled meats, steamed clams, or a chocolaty dessert. Cheers!

Brewmaster Cory Schroeder began homebrewing in his spare time in the late 1980s and soon realized his knack for crafting good beers. In the late 1990s, he teamed up with business partner Jim Wiesender, and the two set out to build a brewery on the Schroeder family dairy farm. A large shed served as the brewhouse, with various scrounged-up materials serving as the brewing equipment, including a refrigerated semi-trailer which became the beer cooler, and pudding tanks as the mash and brew kettles. The Sand Creek Brewing Company opened for business in 1999, marketing their ales in local taverns and restaurants and via promotion at beer festivals throughout Wisconsin, all the while working to expand and upgrade their brewing facilities.

In early 2004 the opportunity arose to acquire the historic Pioneer Brewing Company in Black River Falls, Wisconsin, and Sand Creek relocated their brewing to that facility. It’s an historic building, dating to 1856 when it started life as the Oderbolz Brewing Company. Brewing had stopped in 1920 due to Prohibition, but Pioneer had revived operations in 1995. Cut into the side of a hill, the brewery was built with thick stone walls insulating a beer storage cellar which Sand Creek uses to this day. The move to this facility gave Sand Creek the opportunity to expand their line-up to almost a dozen different beers, not to mention seasonal and limited-run beers. Pioneer’s very talented brewmaster, Todd Krueger, has remained as Brewmaster and is now a partner in the new, combined brewery operation. He is a multiple World Beer Championship gold medalist—quite an asset to the brewery. For more information about Sand Creek, their tap room, and brewery tours, call 715-284-7553 or check out their web site at www.sandcreekbrewing.com.