Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Not as chewy and more drinkable thant St. Ambroise. Dark brown with sudsy head. Drink your oatmeal! Taste is strong in-you-face. Almost thought it was a higher alcohol content. Nice with my roast beef lunch. Had a second almost two years later and my mates didn't like it, but I liked understated stout taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2004 03:58:48 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.43/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Deep, dark mahogany brown with lighter brown, almost ruby, highlights. The cap has the color and surface texture of a freshly-baked oatmeal cookie. It's frothysticky, reasonably persistent and leaves a few small sheets and a few wisps of lace behind when it fades.

The nose is a little more subdued than some stouts, but a chocolate-covered coffee bean character is evident. Flavors include warm molasses cookies and coffee, along with very little chocolate. Oatmeal comes to the forefront as it warms and the beer becomes even more delicious as a result.

The mouthfeel is medium in heft, smooth and not especially creamy. There's a little too much carbonation for my tastes.

This is supremely drinkable beer that I'm enjoying immensely. Here's the short version of this review: Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout is a widely available, easy drinking, delicious version of an oatmeal stout and is one that will always have a place in my beer fridge.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2004 18:37:14 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am sorry but this has to be one of the best beers ever made. A staple of my early craft years, I had long forgotten how good it was. I picked up a bottle on the local shelf on my way home tonight and cracked it open after dinner, poured into a pint glass and consumed on 08/13/2010.

Perfect dark brown color with a creamy tan head that reached about an inch up the side of the glass and had incredible retention. One of the best looking beers of any style I have ever seen, looking at it now some twenty minutes in the thick coating all along the glass is immense.

Aroma is sweet roasted malts, oasts, chocolate, rich an creamy caramel and vanilla. So full and rich, with a creaminess to the feel that is unmatched in the style. Each sip starts with a smooth, almost mousse like feel across the tongue, which evolves into rich chocolate and incredible depth of roasted malts. Light touches of hops come across on the finish giving it the slightest hint of bitterness in the finish before the final taste of sweet malts wrings itself out across the palate.

Overall it really does not get better then this, the hallmark people should strive for.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 01:05:58 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice, dark brown with a fairly-nice tannish head with some lacing. The smell is lots of malty bread with a bit of a roasted character. Taste adds a little bit of chocolate to the mix. The mouthfeel is very, very nice with a beautiful smoothness from the oats. Very drinkable. A beautiful cold weather session brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2010 11:52:01 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours an opaque black body with a small, creamy, light yellowish head.

Smell: Sweetish, malty aroma with hints of milk-soaked, cinnamon-sugar coated bread crusts and red wine.

Taste: The flavor is predominately sweet with flavors of chocolate, coffee, and molasses. There's also a slight roasty balancing bitterness, though it still manages to finish semi-sweet as the chocolate emerges once more.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body with a soft carbonation, but its silky smooth, I must say!

Drinkability: A nice, light, sweet stout fit for any time of day, including 8:30 in the morning!

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2007 03:28:24 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A creamy tan head tops the dark chocolate liquid that, despite its color lets some ruby highlights through; plenty of lacing webs the glass

Smell: Very roasty, with dark chocolate, mocha and oats

Taste: The cereal flavor is present up front, with roasted grain and oat flavors, joined by the mocha and dark chocolate, by mid-palate; after the swallow, dark fruit flavors arrive to add complexity, but the balance in the finish is remarkable

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body, with a creamy texture; moderate carbonation

Drinkability: The balance of this stout really sets it apart from most other renditions

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2009 20:23:01 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours the color of dark coffee with a cola fizz colored 2 inch head. There is good lacing on this beer as I drank it down.

S - Smells of oats, chocolate, and black licorice as it warmed.

T - Coffee, oatmeal, with a bittersweet chocolate finish.

M - This beer is extremely rich, smooth, and creamy. The carbonation on this beer is not very noticable.

D - This is a very easy to drink stout. There is a certain tasty thickness to it but that doesn't deter from the fact that it is extremely quaffable. There is little bitterness to this beer and it makes itself known as more of a bittersweet chocolate flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2010 05:31:42 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle – Poured a pitch-black brew with a nice dark foamy head. Aroma is very sweet with linger of maltness. Taste is very sweet with some coffee and chocolate. No strong aftertaste or bitterness. This is a very creamy, easy beer. You can go wrong with that oatmeal stout if you’re a fan of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2004 18:01:03 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The bar that I compare other Oatmeal Stouts with. Pours a nearly opaque black. Only very dark ruby highlights shine through. Forms a stiff tan head that remains and laces. Smells mildly of barley malt, roasted malt, chocolate, and cappuchino. Throw in some mild souring as well. No hop aromas. Flavors are similar to those in the nose, only much more bold, rich, and full. Never gets astringent or grainy. Big body finishes with flavors of plumbs and grapes (not wine). Finishes silky smooth, modestly sweet. The oatmeal rarely shows flavors but adds to the richness and smoothness of the beer. I highly recomend.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2005 20:47:02 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I think the best of the oatmeal stouts out there,pours a deep brown with a nice tan colored head that sticks very well.The aroma is very much like brown sugar and and roasted malt.The taste also has a brown sugar taste but a little more subdued with a nice roasted coffee taste ending nice and soft.Drinking this beer is a beer lovers experience.

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2003 03:02:34 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black in color and topped by a creamy dark tan head that holds well and leaves very good lace. When held to bright light ,some clear, brown highlights can be seen. The aroma offers a bright fruitiness, some light chocolate, a mild roastiness and a hint of butterscotch. The body is light-medium with a very fine, restrained carbonation that gives it a silky smooth mouthfeel. The flavor is sweetly malty with a good dose of fruitiness up front, followed by some bittersweet & dark chocolate notes as it crosses the palate, and finishing with a more noticeable bitterness, some nuttiness, and a long lasting gentle roastiness. Clearly balanced toward the sweet side. There's a mild diacetyl here that seems to pull the whole thing together. It never appears to become more than just a light butterscotch note, but it helps to round everything out so nicely - smoothing out the roastiness, and maybe even helping to keep the sweetness in check.(?) A very nice, and highly enjoyable beer, that is soft & sweet & light but also offers alot of character - allowing it to fill a variety of different roles. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2002 19:47:23 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Big, booming tan head, and a color as black as the darkest night. Aroma is all things good: fresh, nutty, dry, coffee, espresso, the very essence of roastiness. Texture is smooth, with late bitterness coming through on the palate, very chewy and substantial. Comes on sweet, warm, and wonderful, a comforting stout.
Honestly, how do they do it? There are many who attempt this style, but no one comes close to Samuel Smith's when it comes to flavor, to taste, to utter perfection. Nothing less than happiness can result from drinking this fine brew. Always to find a spot among my Top Five. Absolutely perfect!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 23:51:25 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.13/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours black witha full tan head that is well retained. The aroma is of dark malts. There is something in it that I just can't put my finger on; maybe it's the yeast or an aromatic specialty grain. The taste is excellant. A good stout with that oatmeal flavor. Chocolate malts overpower me in a good way. It is such a balanced ale. A real pleasure to drink. The mouthfeel is med/heavy body, but a real drinkable beer. A low abv. (5%) means that many can be had without getting too loose. Another great brew from this respected brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2003 10:30:19 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into an imperial pint glass. There is no date on the bottle so I will assume it is relatively new. This is a beer I've had on several occasions but have never bothered to review it. Here it goes.

Beer is dark black and forms a brown head of medium and small bubbles. Head dynamics are pretty good, and it leaves some lacing on the glass. I don't know about carbonation.

Aroma is a little weak. There is a mild roast to the aroma, disturbing the beer produces some more, its smells fine, its just small.

Beer is medium bodied and has a great flavor to it. I can't taste the oatmeal as much as some other beers but it gives it good body. Nice roast in the back. There is nice connectivity in the palate but not a lot of carbonation in the mouth. It doesn't really need it. Drinkability is high. I like this beer and highly recommend to everyone interested in stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2010 15:05:19 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glad to see Samuel Smith switching to brown bottles.

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with a tan head. The aroma is chocolate and roasted malt. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of chocolate and roasted malt notes, with some lactose and oats mixed in. I also somewhat surprisingly get some cinnamon notes which go very well with the other flavors. Medium to thick mouthfeel and low carbonation. A very nice Oatmeal Stout.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 02:53:29 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.22/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured dark black with a creamy tan head. There's a moderate level of carbonation and a good amount of head retention.
S: There are light aromas of dark malts, oatmeal and some sweetness.
T: The taste has a good mix of flavors including chocolate, nuts, oats and roasted malts. The overall taste is somewhat sweet.
M: It feels medium-bodied and slightly creamy on the palate.
D: This beer is very drinkable and would be an easy one to put down a few of when the temperature is cold.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 02:25:12 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a dark, dark brown color with a foamy, capucino-like head that left soapy rings of lace.

S - It smelled of chocolate, hazelnut, and coffee beans.

T - Great chocolate and caramel flavors blend with a mild bitterness from the oats. It also had a slight nutty quality and floral notes.

M - It was soft, smooth and creamy. A medium-bodied beer.

D - This is a great oatmeal stout with a wonderful balance of sweet and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2008 02:21:08 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

An opaque dark brown color, just about black. It is topped by a frothy, creamy brown head. Thick malty aromas mixed with burnt toast, expresso, toffee, and chocolate are all found in the nose. The taste is sweet, creamy, chocolately, and slightly viscous. I get notes of milk chocolate, and espresso. There is a bitter component that is derived from the roasted malt, but it is not enough to balance the sweetness that is found in this beer. For some reason I was expecting a bit more out of this beer. It is quite decent but seems a little dumbed down, which makes sense given this beer wide availibility & popularity.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2004 16:32:43 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from an 18.7oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Pours to a very dark brown with a thick, beige head and a decent amount of lacing on the glass.

S: You smell a chocolate & coffee sweetness and a roasted malt aroma with just a bit of alcohol.

T: The taste isn’t as sweet as the smell containing a smoky coffee flavor. No bitterness at all and a slightly sweet after-taste.

M: Very smooth, with a heavy body and light/medium carbonation. I’ve seen the word “chewy” thrown around in other reviews and this is the first beer that I’ve had that identifies with that term. I’m considering that a good thing.

D: Despite being heavy and a bit filling, this beer goes down very easy. It’s very flavorful and not over-powering. This is a beer that you can just chill out and relax with.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2006 05:33:07 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer was good, first time I had it was at the Braveheart Highland Pub in Hellertown Pa. The beer is nice rich and dark. The aroma and taste reflect the look of te beer. This beer had a bit of a metallic flavor at first which faded in time. I liked the strong roasted flavors it had running through it. It was a good beer for sure. Enjoyed it even more the second time I had it.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 02:41:32 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.65/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours dark mahogany/black with a thick, creamy tan head. Very good lacing and head retention

Smell; Chocolate, honey, fruiity & vanilla notes

Taste: Bitter choclate, licorice & grainy bitterness. Fruitty/quinching finish

MF: Perfect, silky smooth & great carbonation

Great quaffability, I highly reccomend this ressurection (decades ago) of a classic from sam smith's

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2006 03:52:21 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.58/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

18.7 oz. English bottle,

A: Pours a very dark brown, looks black at first sight, but when tilted it shows its true colours, with ruby-red highlights. The head is a light brown colour, which stays around for the whole of the drink, and leaves some nice lacing.

S: Not over the top, an understated, subtle, coffee and mocha smell, with a bit of chocolate and cola.

T: Definitely a sweet stout, lots of residual sugar, a nice milk chocolate main flavour, with a hint of coffee, some cherry notes as well.

M: Relatively light for a stout, almost spritzy, but a nice amount of carbonation definitely adds to the flavour of this beer.

D: A great drinkable lighter stout. When I first had this beer on my 21st birthday it really stood out from the other drinks I had on that day, and almost 2 years later it still stands up. One of the best all-around stouts that I have ever had, certainly a joy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2007 05:45:16 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black in color with a thick fluffy tan head that sported some large bubbles. There was some lacing through the drink. The aroma is of roasted malt, with earthy and sweet tones. The taste is wonderful as roasted malt and chocolate cause a nice sweetness, but is balanced with some light coffee and very light oats. Very minor bitterness is detected.

The body is medium-heavy with nice carbonation. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy at the start and finishes creamy and dry. The roasted malt and sweetness lasts shortly on the tongue.A great drinking brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2004 01:44:13 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured very dark brown, almost black with well-retaining head.
Smelled of molassass and chocolate with bread-like background.
The taste was mildly sweet molassass, chocolate and oats. Not as sweet as other oatmeal stouts I've had, but some sweetness was evident.
Very smooth mouthfeel - quite drinkable!
This might not be the best example of this style, but it is certainly a great beer. However, I've had some regional and local oatmeal stouts that were almost/just as/slightly better for less money. This is a special treat - and a bit different than most others - nevertheless.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2006 22:17:17 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

550ml bottle, something to sip whilst dinner melds...

This beer pours a deep, dark brown, with red edges, and three fingers of thick, foamy beige head, which renders some random blots of lace around the edge of the glass. It smells of fruity, musty, lightly roasted malt, and a wee bit of dry chocolate. The taste is barley malt, oats, milk chocolate, dried orchard fruit, and some very mild earthy hops. The carbonation is on the low side, the body creamy, smooth, and on the north end of medium weight. It finishes off-dry, the fruity malt pushing through.

A lovely, sipper - quaffer - drinker - whatever, this goes down very well, the oatmeal softening the way.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 02:47:28 | More by biboergosum