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Softly Falling Darkness

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Velvet notes of dark chocolate run through this deep, rich oatmeal stout, softened by heaps of flaked and malted oats and built on hearty caramel and chocolate malts. It arrives as the days grow short and winter settles in around the brewery, a seasonal from November to February at 5.9%. From the family-run Pennsylvania brewery Sly Fox.

ABV
5.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatecaramelmalty
chocolate
caramel
malty
roasted
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
Roasted dark chocolate and cocoa dominate the nose, layered with warm caramel malt and subtle notes of dark fruit.
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Softly Falling Darkness

◎ Appearance

Deep mahogany to near-black in the glass, with excellent opacity and a rich tan head that builds quickly and clings persistently to the walls. The body appears full and substantial, with fine carbonation rising steadily through the dark liquid.

deep mahoganydense headexcellent lacing

◌ Aroma

Roasted dark chocolate and cocoa dominate the nose, layered with warm caramel malt and subtle notes of dark fruit. Beneath lies a gentle coffee earthiness, with the oats contributing a soft, almost creamy sweetness that rounds the overall aromatic profile.

dark chocolateroasted maltcaramelcoffee notes

◐ Taste

Velvety chocolate and caramel malts coat the palate immediately, followed by a creamy mid-palate where flaked oats soften the roasted character. Bitterness remains restrained at 30 IBU, allowing the malty sweetness and chocolate notes to shine without harsh edges; coffee and subtle dark fruit emerge as the beer warms slightly.

silky mouthfeelchocolate-forwardbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with chocolate and caramel lingering gently on the palate. A pleasant, dry aftertaste follows, leaving behind traces of roasted grain and subtle coffee without astringency.

warming finishroasted grain aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
84
Appearance
85
Finish
78
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Softly Falling Darkness

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About Oatmeal Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Oatmeal Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Oatmeal Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, rich, caramel character as Softly Falling Darkness will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Oatmeal Stout beers in hopIQ →New to Oatmeal Stout? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →