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

ChugMan

Washington

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Food Pairing - Fresh banana turned out to be a bad choice, just amped up the bitterness and muted nearly everything else. Don't do it!

A - Dark but not quite opaque brown. Large pillowy head with excellent lacing
S - Soft, sweet, bready, inviting
T - Smooth and not nearly as complex as many American contemporary stouts, but what it does it does right. Some fig, faint chocolate and molasses. The aftertaste of oats is especially soft and pleasant.
M - Refreshing, but a bit on the thin side for my taste. A little soapy but not bad. Fairly creamy finish.
O - Very drinkable and a good choice for beginners. Years ago, this beer was my introduction to beer made by people who care, and I'm glad to see that it holds to this day.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 23:54:08 | More by ChugMan

SmashPants

Australia

4.25/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: very solid 550mL embossed brown bottle. An old-school medicinal-style label - a quirky and, to be honest, awesome package.

Appearance: deep jet black with hints of ruby-brown highlights against the light. A perfect one-and-a-half finger tan head sits on top. Good retention and fantastically heavy lacing top the appearance off.

Aroma: one of my least favoured aspects of any stout. Always very demure, and this one is no different. Has a good combination of malts, however, no matter how light. Coffee, chocolate, caramels and some light spices to back up. Quite nice.

Taste: good quality malts again, a bit sweeter than the nose. It still has a bite, but has a creamy smoothness as well.

Aftertaste: lingers for a good long while, but a touch of bitterness hanging on. Also some of those heavier malts at the back of the mouth, which is a rare thing.

Mouth feel: the mouth feel is spot on. Medium-to-heavy, thick and creamy body. A low carbonation helps it glide down, and the creamy head offers just enough bitterness. Perfect.

Overall: sure, it's expensive, but it's a bloody good beer. You get what you pay for in this instance. It'd be nice if Australians didn't get quite so bent over when it came to beer, imported beer and, really, commodities in general, but hey. This one is worth the extra.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 23:55:08 | More by SmashPants

DenverLogan

Colorado

3.84/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Poured from bottle in Belgian Scotch Silly tulip glass.
Big aroma of milk chocolate, hot chocolate, dark chocolate.
Near black with substantial amber-brown head.
Modest to light carbonation and mouthfeel.
Flavors of light chocolate, minerals, dark roasted malts...rust.
OK...I've had this brew for perhaps 30 years...always a modest body and flavorful beer. Perhaps the standard bearer for oatmeal stouts...tasty and respectable on a consistent basis.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 04:50:59 | More by DenverLogan

Biermiester

3.65/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A - when poured into a pint glass this beer looks great, dark brown/black appearance is amazing.

S - a little disappointing I really had a high expectation on this one. Sweet smell not to over whelming but still the look doesn't fit the smell.

T - not what you would expect, very nutty, sweet taste, pretty good but not knock out.

MF - darn good

O - I like it, and you will too. It is not one of those stouts that will have you telling your friends but it is good enough to drink on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 00:42:51 | More by Biermiester

kawilliams81

Illinois

4.11/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 350 ml bottle into a Half Acre tulip.

A- pours black with a huge 3" tan head. Big clumps, trails, and bubbles of lacing cover the glass.

S- lots of chocolate notes, slight roast and pine.

T- sweet roasted malts, chocolate, with a light pine bitterness.

M- light body and medium carbonation. Nice smooth and easy drinking beer.

O- good beer. Has nice chocolate and sweet malts with just enough bitterness to balance the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 03:45:29 | More by kawilliams81

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.79/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured 550mL bottle with foil wrapped top into 34oz mug. Oily brown pour, jet black in the glass with thick tan head that sticks around. Smell is creamy coffee with a bit of chocolate. Taste is like the smell; creamy and sweet at first, then roasted coffee and bitter chocolate, with a bittersweet finish. Mouthfeel is creamy and full. It's no wonder this is the top rated beer of its style on here.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 02:29:39 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

sethcroisant

Nebraska

4.2/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A- impressive, dark head with persistent lacing

S- fruity and sugary. hint of roasted malts. scent is similar to their imperial stout.

M- perfect amount of carbonation. smooth and somewhat thick.

T- sweet and sugary right away that fades away and the roasted malts kick in. roasted malts linger as the bread malts sneak in to pull everything together. dry in the finish.

O- lives up to the reputation of Samuel Smiths.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 02:19:52 | More by sethcroisant

smokinyodas

Florida

4.99/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Picture yourself sitting back with the cigar in one hand and this beer in the other and let your mind relax into a world of simple pleasures, this is the quintessence of Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout. Once long ago, subjected to a sheltered life of Guinness stouts, oblivious of what the real world had to offer, I now know the true meaning of beer excellence and the cost it takes to be enlightened yet again and again. The questions in my mind spinning around like a hamster wheel on steroids. Is the cost worth the roasted malts, tan head, creamy sweetness, roasted coffee, chocolate flavors and a balanced taste so good it makes your tongue slap your brains out? Yes!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 18:44:32 | More by smokinyodas

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Absolutely dark, the appearance is certainly elegant, with such beautiful tanned neck. You can identify caramel and expresso. The taste is sweet, with slight bitterness, where you can tell the oatmeal and the expected caramel/coffee. The full, silky body also has high drinkability, with a very comforting, malty, bready, aftertaste. Absolutely excellent for a session drinking with your best friends.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:44:46 | More by HabiMendes

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

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

This is a good stout if you are a fan of the sweeter milk style oatmeal stouts. So what do we have here? We have a very brown black beer with a nice light contrasting creamy head with good sustenance and lacing.

i gave high marks on the aroma. I get a strong malt roast and chocolate note coming up.

This is a simple yet satisfying brew. What I love here is the classic oatmeal stout with a strong malty roast flavor and a chocolate. The flavor is strong and well-balanced.

The carbonation is mild. The beer is more creamy than thicker. This is a smooth drink but filling.

I think this stout goes with some London avant-garde very well. I suggest Derek Bailey's duo cd cd with Evan Parker. "Arch Duo"

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 18:55:05 | More by frankiepop

Knaub

4.81/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer is simply amazing. Try it to find out. People who hate dark beers love this one... you will too!

It has a slightly fruity smell, that is low on malt and hop profiles, but has a nice oatmeal scent. There is a hint of coffee and bitter chocolate as well.

The taste follows more into the coffee and chocolate, bitter at first, sweet like butterscotch, and than bitter from the oatmeal at the end. The finish is dry and chalky, but in the best sense of the word.
It is hardy and satisfying, with no watery feeling to it at all.

The mouthfeel is pearly and rich from lots of carbonation and oil from the oatmeal.

Best beer ever. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 05:58:31 | More by Knaub

jucifer1818

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

A: a medium brown in color, almost approaching dark red in appearance. It has a very ample carbonation and a nice, fluffy head indicative of the style. Its a very welcoming looking beer
4.5/5
S: Simply amazing. this beer pulls your nose into it, and wont let it go. Soft, almost bublgummy aromas leap out of this beer (from the oatmeal), with slight caramel and fruity hoppy aromas working out ot make a almost perfect oatmeal stout smell
5/5

t: it hits you with a very breif smoked malt flavor, but quickly moves on to chocolate and caramel malts, and finishes with a firm but restrained hoppy bite that is very refreshing. their is somthign for everyone in this beer flavor, appealing to both the malt and hop lovers in a beautiful compromise that any beer drinker can enjoy.
4.5/5

Mouthfeel: the combination of this beer excellent head, carbonation, and full body lead to a excellent creamy mouth feel that is almost as enjoyable as the beers
4.75/5

overall: I summed the final ranking of this one in my taste comment. A beer with a rich reputation, and a well deserved on. I could drink pint after pint of this excellent, affordable brew and be happy all night.
a beer that picks no sides, that anyone can enjoy.
4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 18:14:00 | More by jucifer1818

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Very dark brown, almost black looking, with no light coming through. Fluffy tan head that lingers around and leaves a lot of lacing.

S- Roasted malt, flaked oats, grainy bread, slight note of sweet bread.

T- Huge roasted malt flavors, grainy bread, rolled oats, hint of cocoa powder, mineral finish. A lot going on for a low abv beer.

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation, slight carbonation tingle

O- Very good oatmeal stout. Smooth and grainy, extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 23:51:38 | More by stephenjmoore

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Giving this icon a day in the Chaney court.

Served in a Port City snifter.

A: Poured as black as night, with a slight off-white mocha head that looked pretty cool to my mind. Sticky!

S: Pretty fruity in the stout realm. Dark fruit that is, along with a nice malt back backbone.

T: How to describe this... hmmm...: Dark malt, almost in the Baltic Porter category, but not quite. A bit of licorice combined with dark chocolate.

M: Nice carbonation, sweetness, ridiculous lacing, etc. In a few words... very nicely done.

O: For about $3.99/bottle, this was a steal. Excellent UK import.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 05:41:48 | More by Chaney

WillCarrera

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

550 ml bottle, no bottled-on date, poured into a pint glass.

A- Pours a dark brown with reddish hues, topped with a thick inch of creamy, cake-like tan head, which has excellent retention and leaves lots of lacing.

S- Mild aroma of chocolate, coffee and roasted grain, a bit of fruity sweetness.

T- Sweet milk chocolate, oats, mild coffee flavors, along with roasted grain and mild fruitiness. It's a nice balance of sweet chocolate and fruit flavors along with roast and hop bitterness. Also has a milky, creamy flavor to it.

M- Medium-bodied, has a wonderfully smooth, silky and creamy feel.

O- A great beer, it's very flavorful but also balanced and drinkable enough that I would recommend this very highly to someone who had never had a stout before, it's worth buying and then buying again.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 10:28:35 | More by WillCarrera

acsprouse

South Carolina

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

A- pours black. dark khaki head with retention and lacing

S- chocolate, roasted malts. Some coffee, rich and complex. Some dark fruits in there.

M- excellent carbonation for the style. Smooth thick but not overpowering. Silky but not milky

T- sweet malts. Its roasty, its chocolatey. But it has some bitterness. Its bold and it stands out.

O- the celebrated. Its perfection. One of the best oatmeal stouts i have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 08:14:03 | More by acsprouse

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.11/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This Oatmeal Stout had a lightly thickened consistency and a black coloring. The head was thin and fizzy and lacked the creaminess I'd hoped for.

The scent is of sweet chocolate malts and some earthy notes. An interesting bock-like character is present in the nose with a strong barley scent.

The taste is malty and sweet with a bit of prune or date. A touch of chocolate, caramel and molasses stand out in a very smooth easy finish. Very well crafted I'm impressed by Samuel Smith again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 22:22:46 | More by KYGunner

Kevin73

Washington

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This Tadcaster is a Tad over hyped methinks. While it is indeed very smooth and easy to drink there is almost no flavor to it. Light bodied. I get intensely sweet caramel, honey and a splash of espresso on the nose. But the flavor is watery on the start and the finish. The little hops character which is there is well balanced against the unique sweetness the oats add. So I do get why it is a widely enjoyed stout, but I prefer something more flavorful. It is good, just not my favorite.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:19:04 | More by Kevin73

RalphSMouse

3.93/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured into a beer mug, this stout’s head is thick, foamy, and of an inviting, sandy beige color. The body is dark brown, bordering on black. This is a beautiful beer.

Smell: The smell is metallic, but not unpleasant; reminiscent of petrichor (I imagine this is due to the hard water used to brew this beer). There are hints of caramel and roasty malts. There is also a slightly sour “sting” that I am not too pleased with, but overall, the brew smells fine.

Taste: Begins with a slight saltiness that slowly transitions into pleasantly bitter coffee and slightly sweet caramel. Alas--strangely, there is a prominent "mushroom"-like note. I don’t like that very much, but it isn’t a big enough deal to ruin the beer as a whole for me.

Mouthfeel: Rich, silky, and effervescent.

Overall: This is a solid stout. I find that the “mushroom” taste takes away from the enjoyability of the coffee/malt combination, and for me, this is the beer’s weak point. Aside from that, there is nothing much to complain about. Give it a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 23:20:54 | More by RalphSMouse

lawlerj

Nebraska

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass.

A - Pours a nice dark brown with a light brown head. Head seems to stick around for quite a while. Appears to be fairly well carbonated.

S - Dark, bready, oatmeal. Maybe a little chocolate.

T - A little on the sweeter side, with some nice roasted chocolate/coffee notes and a consistent breadiness throughout.

M - medium bodied with a nice carbonation.

O - Overall, one of the better oatmeal stouts that I've had. I'll be coming back for more of this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 21:31:33 | More by lawlerj

catadoraccidental

3.5/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

APPEARANCE: A foam that gives way to a thin layer of light ivory persistent. Foam marks are retained almost from the height reached by the serving. Black as coal. Nothing maroon or reddish tones. AROMA: It has very defined or intense odors. TASTE: Very smooth and creamy, a little sweet, no conflict and, therefore, quite bland. After a few minutes, it leaves a sour taste that is not unpleasant. Despite being an oatmeal stout, I notice no difference with respect to that. Overall rating: Not as good as they say. I thought a beer right, but nothing more. Perfect for those who do not want the ales or protruding tastes or smells of that love or hate. Not worth the expense: 2.95 euros.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 15:50:46 | More by catadoraccidental

TheMarkE

California

3.99/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark, with a nice head

Smell: Oatmeal and raisins

Taste: Oatmeal, raisins, and molasses. Maybe even a bit of coffee.

Mouthfeel: Thick, rich, and creamy.

Overall: Very nice. I'm not sure if I should sip it around a winter's fire or pour it into a bowl for breakfast.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:02:27 | More by TheMarkE

Finn

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Fairly dark, but not as dark as some. Nice wisp of tan head lingers

S: Nice balance of fruit, chocolate, vanilla and cream

T: English yeast stone-fruit blends with sweet malts, and finishes with a little chocolate

M: Medium-Full, with a subtle creaminess from the oats

O: Very Nice, a very drinkable but tasty stout

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:49:53 | More by Finn

Gaben

Florida

3.76/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Very great beer, I always love Samuel smith brews. They are one of the most solid companies around for imports here in the US. I love how they look when you pour into a cup, very bubbly and rich dark color. Smell is always great aswell furkin amazing. So why not grab a sam smiths oatmeal stout from your local store.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 18:32:06 | More by Gaben

RoninTK3

Rhode Island

4.35/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into a Samuel Smith imperial pint glass.

A - Pitch black with a perfect, thin layer of head.

S - Sweet, roasty malts and a hint of cocoa and alcohol.

T - Oats, cocoa, coffee, roasted malts, and just a hint of alcohol. A lot of cocoa in the aftertaste. The oatmeal in this oatmeal stout is very much on display.

M - Very smooth and not heavy at all. This beer is creamy, extremely drinkable, and has the perfect amount of carbonation.

This is just about a perfect oatmeal stout. Very balanced, smooth, and drinkable. Samuel Smith has got to be one of the best bangs for your buck in beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:16:05 | More by RoninTK3