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

esprit

United States

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

When my mom used to try to shovel down the Quaker stuff I would gag...if only she'd known about Mr. Smith....this is wicked stuff and, without question, one of the finest stouts I've ever tried...big, bold and beautiful...the Irish drink pony pee by comparison!

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2002 16:55:05 | More by esprit

Wildman

Ohio

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

This beer poured a medium brown color and formed a light tan bubbly head that left trace lace as it subsided. An aroma of malt and hops with a touch of oatmeal. A flavor of malt, hops and lightly of oatmeal. I love the color of this beer. I have always liked Samuel Smith beers, even if they are a bit pricey. I love oatmeal stouts and feel some people are put off by the name oatmeal thinking it is something there mother is trying to shove down their throat. I would recommend this to people trying to get a feel for this type of stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2002 20:07:29 | More by Wildman

frank4sail

New Jersey

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

This is a quality brew. but, I was not as impressed as others on this site. It is dark black, opeque with a sweetish cherry like nose. Dark tan head. Roast malt flavor with a sweet coat of the tongue. The mouth is very smooth. It was good but not quite good enough to give it 5's.. I did have 2 of these in a hotel bar... so I will taste again in the future and modify my rating if needed.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2002 11:06:50 | More by frank4sail

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Oh me oh my. Believe the hype! This Oatmeal Stout looks so delicious...black, big frothy head...and then you have a sip! Ohhhhh mmmmm. Wow. My favorite beer in the entire world. Words cannot express how I feel about this beer. Words would not do it justice. Just get a bottle for yourself and experience ecstasy.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2002 13:22:29 | More by IrishRedRock

StevieW

Florida

4.9/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

As near as perfection as I have had. Pours a midnight black, with a nice fluffy beige head. The smell is sweet and strong, but not overbearing. I loved the sweet first taste and the wonderful easy smoothness of this beer. Nice thick, almost chewy feel to it. The roasted chocolate and slight bitterness toward the end, was just right. I tried this based on the beer advocates rating, and it was better than I thought it would be. Of all the beers I have had, this is the most memorable. Of the Stouts I have had I would rank them: 1. Sam Smith Oatmeal 2.Young's Double Chocolate 3. Young's Oatmeal. 4. Old Rasputin Imperial

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2002 11:53:34 | More by StevieW

jreitman

California

4.6/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was skeptical that this beer could live up to it's reputation, but it truly is a wonderful stout. The color was spot on and the head nicely colored and creamy. Nice full body with a fair amount of complexity. Chocolate and roasted malt flavors mixed with flavors I could not identify. The beer finishes smooth and dry with only the slightest hint of bitterness. Overall, the best oatmeal stout I have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2002 18:29:36 | More by jreitman

cokes

Wisconsin

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

This one may have been victimized by the light. Why the clear bottles? Still, the impact seems to be very small...quite good anyway.
Pours deep translucent ruby-black with a nice retaining pale-tan head.
Milk Chocolate sweetness on the nose wit hints of roastedness. Some light stuck smells too..fortunately, not very much.
Taste is chocolately and roasty. Phantoms of dried fruit in the background. Nicely hopped. Balanced well, without being dominant or submissive. Finishes on the dry side, with lingering burnt qualities and a milk-like sourness.
This baby is smooth...very nice to drink.... and one could drink quite a bit of this. Especially if it is fresh.
It is an elite oatmeal stout. Best in the world?...probably not.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2002 22:23:30 | More by cokes

pbrian

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

As luck would have it, my local packy just got a fresh shipment the day I noticed it was at the top of BA's Top Beers list. Giddy-up! Pours black(duh) with thin tan head. Roasty aromas with a slight Yorkshire yeast "twang". You can almost smell the smoothness. The stuff slips down your throat so quick you become thankfull it comes in a big-ass 550ml bottle. The contrast between sweet, smooth and silky mouthfeel and the drying bitterness of the burnt malt and hops is amazing. I haven't had this in many years but will most definately buy it again very soon.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2002 07:45:20 | More by pbrian

budgood1

Minnesota

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

pours out an opaque murky brown colour with a huge rocky head that reduced quickly but left lots of patchy lace. aroma of dark roasted malts, ripened fruits and butter. full bodied mouthfeel is complimented by the roasted malt. incredibly silky smooth and satisfying. chocolate, caramel, toffee and some fruitiness in the taste profile, and the use of oatmeal really takes the edge off any bitterness that is present, and makes the drinkability all the better. certainly worthy of all praise and deserving of it's high rating.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2002 16:58:20 | More by budgood1

DrewS

Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this last night and realized how good this beer is. It had been awhile since I drank this stout and decided to pick one up after seeing it sitting near the top here for some time. I should have done it sooner. I actually had a Youngs Double Chocalate Stout afterwards and this is the one that was rememberable enough to review tonight. Quick overview - Deep dark color, ruby tint when held to the light, rich, creamy tan head. Roasted malt aroma, rich and creamy taste with notes of coffee and chocolate. No decernable hop bite, and goes down smooth as silk. I will pick up some more tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2002 18:36:37 | More by DrewS

jackndan

Illinois

4.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Sam Smith’s Oatmeal Stout: 550 ml clear bottle, gold foil top. Rich, dense foam head stands a good inch and half over the rim of the glass. Very light aroma, with a hint of coffee with a drop of cream. Very smooth, rich creamy malt taste, with very little aftertaste. No carbonation. This is a fantastic beer, rich and creamy. This beer will definitely replace your dessert after a big meal, although a slice of tiramisu might be nice on the side. This has to be in my top five, and is highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2002 19:18:39 | More by jackndan

Pegasus

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: This beer is a dark mahogany brown color that might as well be opaque. The tan-colored head is initially quite thick but dissipates rather quickly, with lots of sticky lace.

Aroma: The aroma is sweet, with roasted malts predominanting and a slight earthy tone.

Taste: Upon tasting, a burst of mellow roasted malt flavor is followed by dark chocolate and coffee flavors and a sweet finish.

Mouth feel: The mouth feel is smooth and creamy, though not quite as good as Young's Oatmeal Stout, for example.

Drinkability/notes: A truly exceptional beer.

Presentation: Packaged in a custom 550ml (1 pint, 2.7 ounce) brown glass bottle, sealed with a pry-off crown, served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2002 18:56:09 | More by Pegasus

packetknife

Idaho

3.88/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is an excellent beer. A meal itself. The smell turns me off slightly but it is quite tasty and feels good in the mouth and throat. It feels like it hits lighter than a 5% though, which is good IMO. I suggest having it without a meal, it's deserving of attention.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2002 10:29:30 | More by packetknife

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big bubbled head, softly persistent and light tan in color. Slightly less than jet black color, muted aroma. Pleasant creamy malt flavor, no hint of a hop bite. Long on mouthfeel, short on super interesting flavor. Nice beer and example of style, love the pillowy globs of foam on the pint glass, but it needs more flavor. There is that characteristic nuttiness to the profile that I find interesting and nice to note. This beer review might suffer because of a back-to-back comparison with Rogue Shakespeare.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2002 08:14:38 | More by ADR

marc77

California

4.5/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The thick beige head tops the nearly black hued brew-- a hint of a deep but clear garnet color is discernable when held to light. It's appetizing in appearance. The very pleasant aroma is comprised of chocolate, butterscotch, mild roasted barley and a hint of yeast - derived fruitiness. The meager hint of Kent Goldings is dominated by the malt notes. Silky smooth mouthfeel like a good outmeal stout should have. Bittersweet in flavor from a superlative balance of residual sugars and bitterness from roasted grain and moderate hopping. The mild diacetyl combined w/ the chocolate malt flavors lends a rich, dark chocolate note. Finishes w/ sweetness on the tip of the tongue and a mellow bitterness that coats my palette. Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout is the epitomy of balance. Compared to many microbrewed versions it's quite sophisticated. It's worth the extra price. I've forgotten how good this is.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2002 19:02:03 | More by marc77

proc

Michigan

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

Excellent. There is such a nice balance to this stout. It has a slight sweet taste that combines with that of lightly rosted coffee with a molasses finish. Man, I sound like a food critic from a fancy restaurant just now. Ouch. I've said it before and I'll say it again...the oats make beers of this style like a meal.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2002 07:01:34 | More by proc

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

Black in color; nice tan head leaving a lot of lace on the glass... Coffee-toasty nose, albeit mild. Medium-body and smoothness; could be perhaps fuller? More coffee-ish tastes, with burnt, roasty flavors. Finishes with a bit of a dry, sourish taste... Decent bier, though I expected more body and roasty-malt flavor.

overall: 4.1
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

90

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2002 19:23:55 | More by Bierman9

aracauna

Georgia

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

Doesn't have the burnt bitterness of the dry stouts, but it has the other flavors typical off a stout. I like it, but it doesn't floor me.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2002 17:34:55 | More by aracauna

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

This beer appears black and has great tan head with great retention (which I have not seen lately from a bottled beer). Beautiful cocoa/coffee aroma. The brew rolls over the tongue like velvet. Taste of coffee beans and bittersweet chocolate dominate. There's a nice bitterness here. The hops aren't distinguishable, but the bitterness is. I think the bitterness is probably more due to the roasted malts. Great Oatmeal Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2002 00:15:04 | More by Bighuge

mophie

Delaware

4.7/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the best beers I have ever tasted. Beautiful black/ruby color with a lacy tan head. An initial tanginess that gives way to a deep chocolate and sweet coffee taste, finishing so smooth and creamy you feel you're in total beer bliss. Absolutely wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2002 22:06:08 | More by mophie

bmills1608

Pennsylvania

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

Pours dark black, brownish good thick head. Smells bitter, with coffee grinds, dried fruit and chocolate.

Has a full rich flavor, brown sugar sweetness in the middle mouth filling and fudge-rich.

Finishes with a slight coco bitterness . Quite complex and on the heavy side.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2002 12:57:18 | More by bmills1608

Thrasher

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is a fine, fine beer. Damn near perfect but I have to fault Sam Smith for using clear glass bottles. Despite that, this sweet stout holds its flavor pretty well. Creamy beige head atop a black beer although not as dark as SS's Taddy Porter. Very sweet, an excellent dessert beer; a marked contrast to the equally pleasurable but much spicier Imperial Stout. The oatmeal is detectable but insignificant compared to the amount of sugar, which puts a nice cap on the warm malt character. The beer equivalent of coffee with cream and lots of sugar. Low in alcohol but too sweet to drink lots of.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2002 20:48:59 | More by Thrasher

ZAP

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

1-4-05

New notes...still consider this one of the best in the world...clearly better than their Imperial Stout and Nut Brown...great stuff..
---
3-2-02
I can not even begin to describe how spectacular this beer is. I had to go back and change (lower) my ratings of the Bell's Oatmeal because it is not in this league...not many beers are...everything about it is fantastic....great sweet scintilating aroma...black-to-very dark ruby reddish in appearance with a soft lace...sweet, creamy and smooth...delicious!!! with just a hint of hop bite on the finish...I taste the oats strong and almost a "cream" sweetness to it..I have yet to try the SS Imperial but it would be tough to top this...

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2002 01:28:53 | More by ZAP

mickeymac

California

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

After years of meaning to try this stout I finally got around to it recently and am left wonder what all the fuss is about. It may be a better than average stout, but plenty of less expensive stouts are better. Considering expecations, I found the taste to be rather bland and lacking in subtlety.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2002 00:51:36 | More by mickeymac

BeerAngel

Texas

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

Overall pretty good. My first stout to drink, so keep that in mind when reading this. I love the look, the smell, and it has a creamy mouthfeel. I wasn't overly impressed with the taste though I still consider it to be pretty good. I will drink it again, but probably won't purchase it again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2001 00:38:46 | More by BeerAngel