McNeill's Oatmeal Stout - McNeill's Brewery

ScreamForMe

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Joe for this extra!

A regional/local from the sender. Poured black. Medium body. Mouthfeel was a little on the thin side. The company I shared this with enjoyed it as did I. Very drinkable. Perhaps a nice beer to session on - if I could get it out here.

Next review!

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 01:42:59 | More by ScreamForMe

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

05-27-2013 16:54:58 | More by InspectorBob

Dope

Massachusetts

3.74/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Old bottle, probably 3 years old.

A: Pours a dark brown with an extremely large and effervescent light brown head. Head fades slowly, leaving big chunks of very fluffy and light lacing behind. Great head retention.

S: Mild roasted malt and oatmeal. A little bit of char.

T: Mild, smooth roasted malt. Bits of char and chocolate mixes with smooth oatmeal. Very smooth and mellow throughout. A little bitter in the finish with the oatmeal and char again. Slightest hint of oxidation in the aftertaste with a little bit of dusty cardboard.

M: Fairly light but not watery. Smooth and creamy.

O: Huh, not bad. Did not expect this to hold up. It's a nice, mellow, easy drinking oatmeal stout. Very smooth and goes down easily. Simple.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 02:36:20 | More by Dope

redfox405

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%

02-17-2013 00:18:18 | More by redfox405

Orbfan

New York

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

04-19-2012 00:56:54 | More by Orbfan

jawneyt

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%

03-26-2012 02:54:59 | More by jawneyt

jsboates

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%

03-11-2012 18:39:53 | More by jsboates

djrn2

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -26.9%

03-11-2012 04:12:35 | More by djrn2

beer272

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz bottle at room temperature. I think room temperature is a true testament for any beer.

A - pours like a black liquor. The head is not notable and quickly subsides. Jet black color. No lacing. hardly any foam except initial pour. So lacing

S - roast smells dominate. No hop aroma observed. Definitely has a smell. Another smell can not ID.

T - superbly balanced between hops and malt. A neutral beer with a roast character. You can easily drink this. The hops and roast are left at the end, the roast wins, however you can pull out the even neutral hops.

M - balanced

O - a nice example of an oat black stout. I am guessing the oil of the oats is what killed the head. Leaves the roast flavor on your tongue and if you play around with your tongue you can pull out the hops. Nice for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:34:56 | More by beer272

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-28-2011 20:39:38 | More by Rochefort10nh

BeerLover99

New Jersey

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: midnight black, 2 finger tan pillow, splendid lacing

S: oats, bitter chocolate, mild citrus

T: hint of citrus, mild dark choc.,
nutty, malt, oat mild bitter finish

M: med body, slightly smooth,
hint of bubbly on tongue

O: very nice oatmeal stout session
brew from US craft scene. Would
recommend. Wish it was a little
more creamy/chewy.

QUITE NICE, WORTH TRYING!

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2011 21:32:12 | More by BeerLover99

brandoman63

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -13.6%

11-22-2011 03:18:46 | More by brandoman63

Bilco

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-18-2011 11:36:28 | More by Bilco

Lawnboy33

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +6.4%

11-15-2011 05:54:31 | More by Lawnboy33

yankeej13

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Never heard of these guys so figured I would give them a shot.

A- Dark as night, with a small lacing on the top. little to no carbonation.

S- Has a much different smell than other oatmeal stouts. I get a very sweet scent with hints of chocolate and minor coffee notes.

T- More on the thin side for an oatmeal stout has a very sweet taste. Can't really pick out the oatmeal but get a note of coffee n chocolate.

M- Pretty thin and goes down nice and smooth, good drinkability.

Overall- It was pretty good, I don't regret buying it and still would like to try other beers. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 21:56:43 | More by yankeej13

FickleBeast

New Jersey

2.15/5  rDev -42.8%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2

22 oz bottle. Best Before July (no year) is notched.

When opening the bottle, the beer let out a violent gust of CO2 as soon as I broke the seal. As I poured into a pint glass, it instantly filled to the top with foam... uh oh.

I got another clean pint glass and poured very carefully. I got about 40% beer and 60% foam. I let the foam recede for several minutes.

Pour is pitch black with a brown foamy head. Aroma is off... kind of metallic, with a hint of malty sweetness.

Thin, dry, watery mouthfeel. Harsh bitter aftertaste. This is not a good beer. I'm hoping I just got a bad bottle. There is little residual sweetness, and none of the creaminess I'd expect in an Oatmeal Stout.

This is disgusting. Drainpour.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 01:10:58 | More by FickleBeast

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A viscose opaque pour, as gentle as can be, yielded a glass consuming (>80% occupancy) with a mocha tinted head that raised some concerns about infections/contamination. The head was rigid and foamy, almost like a mountainous topping of whipped cream that was steady on the hold with no where to go. A good meaty show of concentric circles line the glass of lace. The head doesn’t seem to want to budge much through out the course of the drink and always remains a presence in size.

S: Dark bitter chocolate meets fresh whole coffee roast. Soft fresh burnt wood timbers with a bit of hazelnut completes and makes up the nose of moderate strength. Okay, but nothing that grabs and holds your attention.

T: Coffee roast and bitter chocolate intermingles almost seamlessly together. Dry oats, lightly charred grains and just the right level of bitterness. Overall the flavor is solid, feeling bigger in substance then it should be at 4.9%abv. Soft charred earthy bitterness sure likes to linger around after the swallow.

M: The body is medium in substance, slick and slippery in texture with a quiet carbonation factor. Thought it lacked some chewy oat quality and fullness all around but this may be attributed to its low abv. Alcohol laced dark fruit lace comes on the swallow with a bit of plums and a bit of creamy nature, but again a bit light in serving.

O: Overall a fairly solid take, decent level of drinkability with regards to alcohol but comes with a big flavor per say. Deep sense of bitterness and roasty character makes this a good offering.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 00:53:51 | More by beerthulhu

Gambrinus1184

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22-ounce bottle into a Ro's Restaurant pint glass.

A: Near complete blackness with root beer highlights under a gigantic head of rocky tan foam which looked like a mountain range of carbonation and left piles of lace in the glass. Beer gushed a bit but this head just built volume very quickly.

S: Sweet and herbal with hints of cocoa, roasted grains and weak coffee.

T: Bittersweet and earthy up front with hints of sweet caramel roasted and specialty black malts mixed with with a slighlty smoky sweet and creamy flavor. Earthy and herbal hops build a balance before a smooth, brown-sugar sweetened oatmeal finish with light bitterness.

M: Smooth, medium-full bodied and creamy at just under 5% ABV.

O: The head on this brew could have been eaten with a spoon and the hot, cooked grain and chocolately flavors might require that spoon on the label. Would probably make an excellent beer float with vanilla ice cream.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 01:13:05 | More by Gambrinus1184

biglite351

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A - no red and had a creamy brown head that leaves considerable lacing.

S - great roasted malts and oats. A hint of molasses in the finish.

T - Odd bitter oats and malts. Not off, just odd.

M - medium coating with a lot of tingle on front of tongue and back of throat.

D - odd taste either males it a pass or a one-off.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2011 23:31:57 | More by biglite351

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber bottle, label notched that best before the end of November.

pitch black in color, with tan head that fades into just a collar.
the aroma is a combination of sweetness and bitter roasty flavor.

pretty spot-on for the style in my opinion, well balanced. the label talks about a major hop component, but I didn't pick that up at all.

beer doesn't fell overly thick, but it does coat the mouth well. easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 04:05:19 | More by jmdrpi

Seanibus

California

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Of the McNeill line, this is the best, butthere is still this strange, sour house taste that is neither pleasant nor easy to explain.

Pours a deep rich black with a decent off white tan head. The aroma is roasted, malty, with a bit of chalky chicory. The flavor is roasted and a bit coffeelike. It has some dark toast and burnt sugar. But at its center is the strange, hollow, thin, sourness that seems to be the defining character of McNeills. Another near miss.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2010 00:10:29 | More by Seanibus

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a nonic...

This brew pours a pitch black with a creamy, dense one-finger head that is a light brown color. The head fades to a thin, somewhat chunky layer that leaves descent lacing.

Smells of roasted malts, chocolate, oats and coffee bitters.

Tastes of dark sweet chocolates, mild coffee bitters and oats. These flavors seem to become more pronounced as this brew warms. Nice bitter finish left on the tongue.

Thick, chewey, creamy and robust.

This is a highly sessionable oatmeal stout. Not too big... I would have actually hoped for a bit more punch - nevertheless, this is a very good oatmeal stout. If you see it it is definitely one worthy of trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2010 00:31:24 | More by ujsplace

cooch69

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was pretty dark, it was pretty much almost black with a half inch head.
It smelled of hops, chocolate, coffee, and caramel matliness.
The taste of this oatmeal stout was pretty full bodied. I did'nt even look at the alcohol content of this beer yet but it tastes like it's around 6.5% and i'm guessing that it's actuallty about 6 to 6.5 percent, but upon further inspection I can't belive that it's not 5.
It is a pretty burly Oatmeal stout. It has a pretty decent amount of hops in the recipe. Enough to balance out all of the other things going on without dominating anything.
The oatmeal adds a pretty silky texture to the palate, although i've had better in oatmeal stouts. All in all this is a pretty decent beer and I'll have to try some of their other offerings soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2010 04:29:19 | More by cooch69

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark colored fluffy large 2+ finger head rises up in my oversized snifter, and fades very slowly leaving a slight lacing. THe beer is pitch black as the starless night that approaches.

N: Mostly oatmeal, a nice oatmeal stout aroma that is. Some dark malts, a little roast, black patent, heavy lovibond crystal, even a little dark fruit aromas. Some light caramel and fluffy malt aromas. There is also a light hop aroma, with a little aromatic hops, little spicy and floral hop aromas. The nose is harder to get though, even with the oversized snifter I have to really agitate it to get through to the aroma.

T: Starts with a somewhat sweet stout flavor, lots of malts. There's a pillowy fluffy malt taste, that gives me the feeling of nougat and marshmellow, but in dark malt form. Some oatmeal and thickness, more dark malts, a little roast and black patent, and dark crystal, as well as a touch of caramel. A little molasses too. I also get a slight hint of tangy fruit, almost as if this beer is a little too old for itself. It's supposed to be kept and drank fresh, and I bought it recently but who knows how long the store had it. It says best before May 2010, so just missed the date. There is a little spicy and floral hop characteristic with it, and just a slight hint of bitterness from hops, combined with a little bitterness from the roasty malts.

M: Pretty thick and fluffy, oatmeal like, with decent carbonation.

F: Finishes a little more bitter as the hops and roasty malts seem to add a nice earthy bitterness, but it's still light on the bitterness. It dries a bit but keeps some sweetness about it with a little more caramel, nougat, and touch of molasses. It leaves a little syrupy sweet sticky feel as well, that combines with the lingering fluffy oatmeal feel and is somewhat heavenly in the mouth. More roasty dark malts linger too, mostly charred earthy bitterness at this point. A hint of that tangy fruit also lingers too.

If I remove that tangy fruit, this is a really good oatmeal stout. Very tasty, great mouth feel, and best of all super drinkable at <5%. I would put this up to the Sam Smith any day as a great drinkable oatmeal stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2010 00:44:33 | More by jlindros

SIBrew

Illinois

1.95/5  rDev -48.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

So this is not the first of the Mcneill beers I have had. This one does not meet the wants I have for an oatmeal stout. The head is interesting, a smooth tan head, but it leaves you quickly. The smell has a hint of oatmeal stout in it, very weak. The taste is just down right not good. It is drying, and has no oatmeal stout qualities to it. I am very not impressed. Up front is an almost metallic like flavor, and then it just hits the back of my tongue with dryness, almost no appreciable hop qualities. I am hoping, a lot, that this beer has been through a lot considering it was brought to me in Southern Illinois from VT. But all in all, if this is in fact what it tastes like normally, I would recommend not purchasing it.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 16:43:45 | More by SIBrew