Black H2O Oatmeal Stout - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

beernbbq

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Man is this good! A perfect stout to stand alone or enjoy with dessert. Powerful espresso like flavors hit you upfront but the mouthfeel is smooth and makes for easy drinking. A dark chocolate finish lingers and definitley had me looking for more. Another fine beer from Town Hall.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2003 12:19:03 | More by beernbbq

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Edit on 11-7-04. Had a growler of this last night and it was awesome. I'm upping my scores. This is one of the very best oatmeal stouts I've had the pleasure of consuming. So milky smooth, chocolatey and delicious.

This beer is black. No ifs, ands or buts abotut it. Nice tight compact creamy light brown head. Good retention. Lace is more than adequate. Aroma consists of milk chocolate, coffee bean, lactic sweetness and cocoa. Mouthfeel is silky smooth. About medium full in body. Taste is milky. Lactic sugars and vanilla bean qualities are nice. There's some bittersweet chocolate as well as cocoa bean and roasted malt. Good combo. Very smooth. Enjoyable. Good Oatmeal Stout.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2003 03:12:45 | More by Bighuge

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.47/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Oatmeal stout ranks high among my favorite styles, and I'm up to try any example, but this one went far beyond any expectations!

Appearance: a very perfect darkness, but perhaps soft around the sides, and not fully black, though entirely opaque, with a solid, standing 1/2" head of cocoa-colored foam.

Aroma: light and creamy on the very first sniff, but thereafter, bitter, but softly so, and rich and redolent with espresso character. This has to be the coffee-est of non-explicity-coffee-stouts I've encountered, and it's no wonder that Town Hall's Coffee Stout, made with this beer, drenched in grounds and such, has to be ranked as my favorite coffee stout of all, beating out Bell's Java, Z St. Mocha, and any/all comers.

On the tastebuds, every flavor found in the aroma has it's way with the senses.
Fully flavorful, all the way, not too bitter, not too sweet, just perfect!
Rich, roasty, rewarding. Malt is huge, hops small. Body isn't exactly full, finish is smooth and coffeeish to the last. A very easy-drinking stout, and extraordinarily packed with flavor for a style that doesn't often live up to it's potential, in many examples. This is definitely my kind of stout.

And this new assessment makes it harder to decide on my favorite beer from Town Hall. Too many good ones!
I took notes on a cask version at the end of last year...infinitely smoother, and the coffee character still stands tall.
P.S. I still don't know if the Doobie Brothers inspired the name of this beer, investigation is still pending...

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2003 06:25:43 | More by feloniousmonk

yamar68

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Truly a pitch black body, a few fingers of fluffy khaki head recede to a thin cap that goes on to retain from start to finish.

Loads of fresh oatmeal, milk chocolate, some faint dry flaky hops, fresh cream, some brown ale characteristics.

Super smooth and velvety, oatmeal, slightly bitter chocolate... incredibly smooth and easy to drink. I think this growler’s gettin’ kicked tonight no problem.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2012 00:00:34 | More by yamar68

herman77

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Black with a light brown head. Decent lacing

S: Dark roasted malts with some sweetness. Smells like a lactose like sweetness. Some nutty characteristics and a bit of chocolate and vanilla as well.

T: Nice blend of roasted malts and a bit of chocolate sweetness. A bit of coffee and a small dose of hops come through as well.

M: Medium to lighter body. Smooth and a bit creamy. Lower carbonation.

O: Good drinkability. Well done, not my favorite oatmeal stout, but better than average.

Serving type: growler

05-14-2012 00:30:40 | More by herman77

Agold

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thus beer pours nice and dark with a finger of off white nice head that recedes to nothing fairly quickly. Aroma is mild sweet caramel with roasty coco and roasted barley. Flavor is creamy roasty and has a bit of coco/milk chocolate. Mild astringency, but otherwise very nice. Mouthfeel is very smooth and creamy. Medium
Bodied with nice carb. Awesome beer.

Serving type: growler

12-25-2011 20:55:42 | More by Agold

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

64 oz. growler poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Black body, but not total opaque, with a huge mocha head. Great retention and great lacing. Love it. It looks luscious and rich.

Smell - Not a whole lot on the nose. Some roasted malts in the form of coffee, but it's faint.

Taste - Much better flavor. Chocolate primarily, with a lactose sweetness in the back end. It's coupled with a slight bitterness that prevents either flavor from coming through too much.

Mouthfeel - Thick, despite the low ABV (it's not that low, really). That lactose sweetness does it in a little bit for me, but it's still good. I had no problem putting away 32 oz. of this.

Overall - Nice, but not something I'd seek out again. Something I'd drink if I was in the area, for sure.

Serving type: growler

11-12-2011 02:59:16 | More by Alieniloquium

beenitty

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Recieved Growler from Rebis1bear, thanks Dave

A: Pours like the name, Black, with nice light brown head and not much lacing at all, but slight swirl reconsititutes and settles into nice layer that eventually becomes a decent size ring of sitting head.

S: Roasty, Malty, very nice. Slight coffee notes.

T: Creamy malt, roasted barley, and coffee. Extremely nice.

M: Creamy, Smooth, wish this came in bottles.

D: Super high, could drink this 6% beer all night

Serving type: growler

06-21-2011 23:04:02 | More by beenitty

circlenine

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed this fresh from a growler Dec. 15 and 16th 2010 compliments of mnbearsfan.

A: Deep dark brown/black pour with minimal (1/4 inch) light brown head and little lacing - head swirled and slowly formed as beer was poured.

S: Heavy and robust malt aroma, slight hint of coffee present.

T: Overall rather enjoyable. Slight taste of coffee, definitely resembles an oatmeal stout. While not terribly bitter, it did have a tad level of sweetness to it.

M: Not bitter at all. No aftertaste.

D: Very easy to drink. Overall rather enjoyable. Wouldn't mind drinking again.

Comments: Very happy to have received this as I have heard many good things about Minneapolis Town Hall. It's nice to know not all government is burdened by red tape! (And yes, I know it's just the name of the brewery.)

Serving type: growler

12-19-2010 02:35:54 | More by circlenine

acurtis

New Jersey

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

mnbearsfan hooked me up with a growler of Black H2O Oatmeal Stout. Drank from snifter and pint, just polished it off. Syrupy thick black pour with super dark brown head. Nose of roasted nuts, bread. The hops really come through. Taste of roasted malt and barley with a strong earthiness. Finishes with some vanilla. Thick but smooth, lots of carbonation. Very flavorful and quite drinkable.

Serving type: growler

12-12-2010 20:35:40 | More by acurtis

ccrida

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On draught at the brewery, Black H20 is black with a small tan collar that leaves on a wisp of scattered foam - one drop.

Smell is darker malts, a little char, some crystal.

Taste is pretty good, a solid stout. Full flavored but smooth, clean. One the sweeter side with the crystal malts, not a ton of roast, really more porter in my book.

Mouthfeel is slick, the oatmeal showing up to help it slide down here. Medium bodied.

Drinkability is pretty good, this is a well made stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2010 02:21:12 | More by ccrida

dirtylou

Washington

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

on-cask at the brewpub

cellphone notes

appearance: served in a standard pint - rich dark mahogany, creamy chocolatey head with great retention

smell: the creamy head of this beer gave hints of whiskey and peat, below is lush chocolate and roasted malt. nice

taste: I enjoyed this oatmeal stout late-night on the patio and it went down easy - rich and chocolatey with nice contrast provided by the oats and light alcohol presence.

mouthfeel: velvety, rich and creamy

drinkability: high

Serving type: cask

08-30-2010 16:28:06 | More by dirtylou

FreshmanPour77

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed on 5-26-10
Reviewed cold from a growler to a glass

A - Black pour, 1 finger of foam, nice brown with a tint of red lacing ring, couldn't tell if there is any carbonation present

S - Vanilla, brown sugar, and malt of course, some coffee notes

T - Oatmeal and malts, some coffee aftertaste

M/D - Another winner from Town hall Minneapolis, a very smooth and drinkable Oatmeal stout, highly recommend trying this brew and picking up a cheap growler

Serving type: growler

06-02-2010 16:31:46 | More by FreshmanPour77

taylorhamrick

South Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on cask @ Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

Pours a dark brown, pretty clear, almost black, but lets enough light through that you can see bubbles cascading up through the beer. The head is densely packed, about 1-2cms, brown colored, and it leaves bits of lacing as I drink. Looks nice. The primary smells are coffee and chocolate - a good bit of roasted malts, and not leaning too heavily in any one direction. There's also the sort of standard sweetness mixed with the kind of smell I can hardly describe as anything but the oats. The taste is right on. It tastes kind of slick, nearly syrupy with a tiny bit of esters, but it's nice and sweet. There are hints of coffee, but really it tastes more like roasted, not quite burnt or charred malts, fresh cracked. At times it feels a bit too slick, and the cask doesn't contribute much to the flavor, just the feeling, but it does serve to balance out the flavors a bit in the beer. Especially when you can get a sip of the creamy foam on top. The low carbonation in the beer itself leads to a more full feeling as well, but it also exposes a bit of thinness in the finish. Still this one is right on for an oatmeal stout. The beer is enjoyable, it's nice and smooth, just complex enough to keep me interested, and not too much of a heavy hitter - though a bit higher in ABV than I expected. Overall, and enjoyable beer, and definitely worth a shot on cask.

Serving type: cask

07-08-2009 11:51:02 | More by taylorhamrick

spointon

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this one from a growler into a shaker pint glass on 5/11/2009 (part of a great beer trip with BA roadhouse).

A= This stout poured a jet black color (no light passing through this baby) with a 1.5" chocolate brown head. The head dropped slowly and left behind some pretty lace on my glass.

S= Heady aroma of roasted grains, chocolate, treacle, and a bit of coffee. Overall this smelled rich and sweet.

T= Much like the smell, this had a bit of roasty flavor up front, followed by the smooth chocolate and mocha notes. I also found a hint of ripe black-cherry fruitiness in there that clashed just a bit with the roasty malt. Mild earthy hops lead into a sweet finish.

MF= Medium bodied, with the oatmeal giving a significant slickness. Carbobation was moderate to high for the style.

D= A damn drinkable oatmeal stout. The only thing I would change would be to remove that little black-cherry flavor nuance but otherwise this is top notch and would happily drink another growler of it if I could!

Serving type: growler

05-14-2009 04:12:51 | More by spointon

roadhouse

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had from a growler shared with spointon on 5/11 into a pint glass

Poured a deep black color with a two inch tan head. It retained well and left quite a bit of lacing on the glass.

Aroma was heavily of chocolate and mocha coffee, but there was also some detectable oatmeal aroma.

Taste had lots of chocolate up front with a slight sweetness that comes in before a strong roasty coffee-like flavor comes in to last until the finish.

Mouthfeel was medium-light bodied, very smooth and slick, though perhaps a touch thin.

Overall a very good oatmeal stout. I only wish we had had more time to spend at Town Hall so I could have tried more of their beers.

Serving type: growler

05-13-2009 05:11:11 | More by roadhouse

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Black with deep brown highlights. Thin tan head reducing to spotty lace.

S-Light roasted malt and caramel.

T-Good flavours of roast/burnt malt but muted. Kind of disappointing.

M-Medium-light body. Not a full as I would expect. Actually somewhat thin.

D-Good, but not what I was hoping it would be. Lacking body and balls. I certainly am one that can get behind a sessionable stout but this simply seems to be lacking.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-24-2008 08:15:24 | More by Deuane

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.58/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a very dark brown, almost black color. The head is one inch in height, and recedes slowly into a nice cap of lacing. The aroma is of chocolate, graham crackers, vanilla, cream, and roasted malt. The taste is full of roasted malt, with chocolate, and vanilla in the start, and graham cracker in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a low level of fine carbonation. Overall, this is one of the better oatmeal stouts I have had. I will certainly drink this again at the pub, and at home in growler form.

Serving type: growler

03-20-2008 17:41:42 | More by KarlHungus

BeerTruth

Connecticut

4.53/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got a growler of this from todd1, thanks a ton man. Sampled with my buddy Kaleb.

64 oz. poured into a pint glass.

Pours an absolute onyx black with a fluffy dark tan one finger head that dies down to a thin layer. Thin lacing left behind on the sides of the glass. Smell is rich caramel and sweet toasted oat. Roasted barley with chocolate and molasses malt. Some coffee and cream with cane sugar. Just an overall complex smelling beer. Silky smooth all the way, such an amazing feel in the mouth. Pretty hefty for an Oatmeal Stout, but I like it...alot. Thanks again Todd, I think the Masala Mama is up next. Time to go kick Kaleb's ass in Cricket.

Serving type: growler

01-20-2008 01:38:24 | More by BeerTruth

brewdoc75

Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this one on cask at MTHB last night.

Appearance: Beautiful obsidian black color with a light 1/2 inch brown-sugar colored head.

Smell: Not a whole lot of aroma, but there are nice tones of chocolate initially. This beer has an excellent coffee like aroma. Its almost like an expresso.

Taste: Phenomenal flavors. So rich and creamy. The chocolate and expresso aroma didn't lie as they carry through into the flavor. Not overpoweringly so, but present in a perfect way. Not very bitter or hoppy, which is the way I feel this beer should be.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and full bodied. Of course this is enhanced by the fact that I had it on cask. In my opinion an Oatmeal Stout should be incredibly smooth and soft. This beer exemplifies these qualities.

Drinkability: It's to bad I drove, as I would like to put back a ton of these. This beer was clearly a treat. The non-cask version would rate just slightly lower (only on the mouthfeel portion), but I feel it is definitely worth drinking as well. If you are at MTHB and this beer is on cask, you must try it.

Serving type: cask

11-11-2007 17:25:26 | More by brewdoc75

BeerBelcher

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

There was a lot to like about this beer. I thought it exhibited the dry-roastiness of an Imperial Stout while maintaining a lightness on the tongue and dryness of an Irish stout and delivering the light sweet finish of a breakfast stout. So, I would say this is a very pleasant blend of all three styles!

It pours very dark, although not inky like an imperial stout, with a thick nude pantyhose colored head. Aroma was roasty. Flavor was extremely roasty, with hints of coffee, and some slightly sour sweetness at the finish. Mouthfeel was light yet substantial (and wonderful!), and not at all syrupy the way some heavier stouts can be. I found this to be an extremely drinkable, yet extremely flavorful, stout and enjoyed it immensely.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: growler

08-10-2007 00:29:21 | More by BeerBelcher

BlindPig

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Thicker dark tan head on a black body.
S- Big oatmeal and roasted aromas, some citrus and grass hops, and just a great aroma. Not one thing is to over powering.
T- A blend of oatmeal, coffee, and roasted flavors. Hints of burnt grain comes through too. Citrus hops help balance out and "brighten" up the flavor. Leaves a medium/light bitterness on the tongue. Hops and hints of coffee and oatmeal lingering in the aftertaste.
M- Medium body with low/medium carbonation. I wish it had a bit more smooth-creamy feel to it.
D- I really like it. I think there are some better ones out there but this is a solid brew.

Serving type: growler

05-25-2007 07:40:49 | More by BlindPig

brdc

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked this growler up while in Minneapolis, and although the flavor did not last long, still did not disappoint.
This is a beautiful black brew, with a foamy, sticky and long-lasting tan head.
Very pleasant nose, mostly rich coffee, toffee, caramel.
Rich taste on this very creamy brew starts sweetish, loaded on coffee as expected, full of roasted malts with a mild balancing hops.
Very easy to drink, and very pleasant. Unfortunately, my growler was great on the first night but the following day had to be wasted.
I will, however, try this again when I have the chance.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2007 13:25:53 | More by brdc

aaronh

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep dark color is pretty much black, topped by a medium brown head. Sweet malt aroma is touched by vanilla and bourbon notes. Very appealing. Flavor has a solid roasted note that blends well with a sweet malt character. Silky smooth oatmeal oily texture just adds to the experience. The vanilla and charred malt complement the mix of flavors well. Mouthfeel is smooth and solid. Drinkability is very good. A nice example of an oatmeal stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-03-2007 03:34:33 | More by aaronh

leftmindedrighty

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

64oz growler received in a trade with objectivemonkey

Smell is in line, very sweet with a good oats aroma, very chocolaty

Taste is more of the same, very sweet up front, almost too sweet, but then the oats kick in the deliver that smoothness. Which is a good thing too, because this brew has no bitterness to it at all. Which I really don't like, but the very unique flavors are making up for it. And the ABV is not even there, but being as sweet as this is, I'm not surprised, I'm expecting it.

Overall, a good Oatmeal Stout, and one I would frequent if available to me. Luckily, there are better Oatmeal Stouts within reach. But all in all, I enjoyed a more sweet Oatmeal Stout, if only to remind me what else is out there.

Serving type: growler

02-12-2007 21:41:08 | More by leftmindedrighty