I had made a delicious Sea Clam Pie, and needed something to complement it for a light dinner. The pie is lightly sweet, with few seasonings and a flaky crust. I selected the Belfast Bay stout because it had enough flavor to make a slice of pie feel like a full meal, and the oatmeal stout would be mild enough to round out the flavors without stomping on them, the way I feared an IPA or a bitter might.
It worked out pretty well. The stout was a bit hoppier that I expected, but it was still a good match. I would pair these again.