Black H2O Oatmeal Stout - Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap @ the Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery (Minneapolis, MN) on 8/10/10. Served in a pint glass.

Pours black, with a finger of dark mocha colored head. This retains with a thin creamy layer of foam that leaves thick swathes of lacing back. The aroma has a nice thickness to it, with notes of coffee, roast, and sweet chocolate. The oatmeal is really sticking out strong here in the nose, adding a smooth feeling sweetness to the proceedings.

The taste is sticky sweet up front with chocolate, caramel and some earthy fruit, while roasted malts add a dark tangy feel to the profile. Nice feeling moderate bite of hops here, which leaves lingering roast and earth in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp upon first sip but then gets a little stickier and softer feeling as you swallow. Pretty overall smooth on the palate though from the oats and drinks really nice despite some size to the body.

Full flavored and very drinkable, this may well be one of the best Oatmeal Stouts that I've had in a long time. I could just work between glasses of this and the Masala Mama and be a happy man here!

Serving type: on-tap

08-26-2010 19:35:15 | More by Kegatron

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

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours about a finger of tan head. Not the best retention. Color is black.

Aroma: A big roasted malts with oats and chocolate. Some coffee shows. Pretty malty.

Taste: Coffee, roasted malts, creamy chocolate, oats, and cocoa powder. Light grassy hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, smooth. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. Ends pretty clean.

Overall, a nice easy drinking oatmeal stout. Good amount of roast and creaminess to it. Decent drinkability as well.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2010 22:01:11 | More by mothman

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Color is nearly opaque black, some hinderence of light passing through the edges, solid thick and creamy light brownish head looking like whipped watery oatmeal, crumbles slowly into some lumps and lace in rings that breaks into spots and strings. Smell is roastly sweet malts and oats and tanged of light bitterness, a bit subdued, very sweet chocolate chip-like notes and a touch of dark coffee with hints of hops and yeast. Taste picks up some from the smell with a pretty nice amount of darkly roasted malts, maybe some black malts as well, with a twinge of chocolate, quite a nice sensible sweetness derived from the oats, a light hoppyness thats very easy and mellow located near the middle areas and a light coffee sense dancing around in there as well. The sweetness varies some from sip to sip, its quite subtle and complex throughout, its a little hard to grasp cuz the coffee keeps creeping in just when I'm getting use to the milky choclate. Feel is sweetly smooth and solid medium body with a nice finish that ends nearly just as smooth as the beginning.

Pretty nice oatmeal stout, I think maybe the nitro might be sucking some of the life out of the flavors, could be richer, it reminded me a bit of a good dark dunkel minus the coffee. Soothing and drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-tap

08-03-2003 00:04:17 | More by tavernjef

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

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

Presentation: A brown Grolsch like, flip top, EZ Cap brown glass bottle. Simply has the letter ‘O’ in black pen scrawled on the white ceramic top. A fine and very welcome present that found its way to Long Beach all the way from Minneapolis thanks to one of the Sites most awesome BA’s.

Appearance: A nice reassuring but controlled “phrourp” excites me, filled to perfection the bottle has retained the draft brews conditioning. Black, Black, Black……as classic a Black as in Back in Black and Black Sabbath. Yes it’s official, this one is Jet Black! Lovely tan brown head, smooth creamy appearance with a well aerated upper surface. Cascading conditioning forms a 3” transient belt of ether that is neither head nor liquid. It all settles down to form a beautifully smooth and awesome looking ½” cap, but it does take a little time and leaves some spotted lacing as it does so. Looks great. Even bottled from draft, this is in excellent condition.

Nose: Dark creamy malts, milk chocolate, some dark chocolate covered hazelnuts, mild hints of ground coffee – all wrapped up in a chiffon smooth silky aroma.

Taste: Creamy roasted oats and malts soaked in a freshly boiled milk frothy base with a middle of the road milk chocolate, well lubricated bitterness. Lots of creamed coffee in the finish that has some light bitterness to balance. Ends up with a resounding lip-smacking, silky smooth phase that begs you to top the mouth up with another sample. It’s damn tasty and very smooth.

Mouthfeel: Oh sheer liquid milk chocolate delight with some creamy low level bitterness. Milk shake like consistent mouthfeel, solid body, silky smooth, exceptionally luscious s-m-ilky feel with some puffy melt-in-the-mouth chocolate marshmallow malts. Bloody Gorgeous!

Drinkability: How sad, just the one bottle….soon gone. :(

Overall: One day, when beer geeks rule the World, someone will create edible Oatmeal Stout Panties, my oh my, if they smell and taste as good as this, I’ll even take on a hairy Hungarian Woman. Very tasty and exceptionally drinkable (the beer that is).

A massive tip of the hat to the “Hugest of the Big’s” for this most wonderful Oatmeal Stout, truly a very suppable marvel indeed. Town Hall does it again it seems! Wonder if they are twinned with a Hungarian Brewpub?

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2005 06:56:34 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Damn near black...small light when held up to the lamp...small burgandy notes....big burnt malt and java notes on the nose...wonderfull sweet milk stout flavor characteristics...sweet milk chocolate..the mouthfeel is creamy and smooth...outstanding oatmeal stout...creamy....finishes a little on the dry side...substantial too...

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2004 19:28:21 | More by ZAP

jrallen34

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brew pub...Pours black with a medium tan head that rises a finger and stays a decent amount of time. Thick lacing...A decent aroma of sweet chocolate, roasy and the oatmeal comes through nicely. Could be a bit stronger and more roasty to really get me excited...The taste is on the sweet side, needs more roast to balance it out more. Light hops on the back give some balance, just not enough.

Worth trying but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

10-28-2010 14:52:37 | More by jrallen34

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

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Very serious chocolate aroma. Tastes sweet, like a milk stout, with a creamy, scintillating mouthfeel and a dry finish. Opaque with a hint of maroon. Scant head and lace.

Overall, a smooth stout, abundantly creamy, with a strong taste of chocolate. A challenging session brew but highly drinkable in every sense.

Serving type: cask

04-11-2004 00:21:29 | More by RedDiamond

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

mynie

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

2 day old growler.

Pours nitrous smooth into an imperial pint glass. Not really opaque, but there's a nice big brown head that sticks around for a respectable amount of time. Probably a nicer pour on draft.

Smells of very distinct coffee and big huge milk chocolate all backed up by an oatmeal rawness that would make me think this was a porter if it wasn't so guldarn smooth. Seriously sweet, in a wholesome way. Reminds me of a certain popular Breakfast Stout...

Tastes not quite as great. Still very good. Wonderful milk chocolate starts things off, which moves quickly into roasted malts which disolve into oatmeal rawness. The front is smooth like a coffee/milk stout, the back is rough like an oatmeal stout. Both are good, but the front is much nicer than the back, and the two sides are too much of a juxtaposition to really work. Still, it tastes pretty friggin good.

Where this brew really stands out is the creamy mouthfeel. It's just perfectly smooth--there's no other way to describe it. That smoothness works to perfection with sweetness, but doesn't work quite as well with bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2006 04:55:55 | More by mynie

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

grub

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours an opaque black colour with a deep tan head. the head is very fine and forms a thin layer on top of the beer.

the aroma is malty, roasty, and a bit of sweetness. maybe just a hint of sourness too.

taste is roasty and slightly smokey with a great malt background and moderate bitterness level. the malt character almost reminds me of rye bread. really nice. there's some definite residual sweetness, but not to the level of being sticky or cloying.

the mouthfeel is big, which i'd expect from an oatmeal stout, and has a nice smoothness from the oats.

drinkability is good, but it's a big enough beer that you're not going to have more than a pint. that's fine with me and seems correct for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2006 03:49:40 | More by grub

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Nitro tap at the brewpub...

Almost opaque black color, downward carbonation is somewhat brief but a sturdy and persistant 1/2 inch creamy head remains on top. Fat ring laces that drip. Very little aroma, just slightly malty without being roasty. Flavors lean much toward milk chocolate, with just a slight sense of darker grains. Finish has elements of some caramel along with the chocolate. Overall, a little thin in body but a faithful representation of a non-dry Stout.

Notes on regular tap: Body is similar, far more coffee flavor.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-06-2003 11:35:19 | More by ADR

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

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

Sampled from a growler. This stout held up remarkably well, and even after a month in the refrigerator after the initial opening, it still tasted good despite having lost its initially great carbonation.

This stout poured a very dark brown/black color with red hightlights with tall, pillowy, brown foam that persisted and clung to the glass a bit. The smell was roasted malt and cocoa with some barley and a bit of light sweetness. The taste was lightly sweet with flavors of cocoa, chocolate, oatmeal, and a hint of yeast. The hops were there in the background but were pretty well masked by the malty flavors. The mouthfeel was very smooth and creamy with medium-full body and low carbonation feel. Overall it was relatively clean. This was a very easy drinking and smooth stout.

Thanks to felonioumonk for this one.

Serving type: growler

08-28-2004 19:57:06 | More by UncleJimbo

TastyTaste

Minnesota

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

Nice jet black with a tan head. This is one of the better oatmeal stouts I have had, creamy and thick, with a little oat heartiness. This is another winner from Town Hall (which I just got back from). Definitely get the sampler if you happen there, it is $7, but worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2003 06:37:27 | More by TastyTaste

mcallister

Ohio

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very burnt, rugged, amber brown, very dark, reminiscent of something you would find in the middle of the woods that a "cabin brewer" would brew. Still a nice mocha head very frothy that leaves a fabulous sticky lace behind.

Rich and sweet vanilla, slight coffee, burnt roasted malts, marshmallow, a bit of milk chocolate, and even some melted toffee, with a cherry on top.

Rich, and creamy, smooth as day mouthfeel, flavors of burnt chocolate, roasted malt, smoke, oatmeal of course, sweet heavy cream, and a bit of black currant.

This is an oatmeal stout I could find myself drinking on a daily basis.

Serving type: growler

08-19-2006 00:00:37 | More by mcallister

Redrover

Illinois

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

Served in a standard pint, the beer is jet black with a tan head and nice lacing. Good looker!

The nose is of roasted malts, brown sugar, dark fruit and a subtle hint of smoke.

The beer is as expected a bit sweet. The oatmeal adds nice texture and taste. The malts add a toasted almost coffee like backdrop. There is a bit of wood taste in the background, which is different, and got me wondering of the keg was just about to kick.

The mouth is creamy and satisfying. I had a couple and was pleased with my choice!

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2008 20:39:58 | More by Redrover

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

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

On tap pours an onyx hue with solid khaki headcap.

Deep aroma despite being hidden by a thick coating. Bold toasted malt and baked cake.

First swigs: Toasted and roasted grain with raisins and figs and buscuit. Endless flavors of maple syrup and pecan. Lingering aftertaste of cocoa.

Feel is smooth and milky slick half 'n half.

Last swigs: THis was so good that I had to debate taking back a growler of this and Masala Mama but I opted for two Masala Mama growlers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2006 03:17:17 | More by blitheringidiot

WoodBrew

Illinois

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

Town Hall did a decent job with this Oatmeal stout. It had just enough body to make it palletable. Any less and it would have tasted like typical micro-brew failings. This beer was dark...opaque with nice tan head that laced. The smell included roast and espresso. The taste was nice and balanced...others at the table thought bitter....but I didnt think so. Great balance with the roast, coffee, and enough hops to clean the pallet without being to bitter. The mouthfeel was good....more body would be nice....the ABV was perfect and this is definitely a good stout.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2011 20:47:10 | More by WoodBrew

jera1350

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black as night in color with a thick and frothy head that could almost be cut with a knife.

The smell could use a little bump up, but there is a decent hop scent along with chocolate and a bit of coffee.

Pretty hoppy for the style, which I love. Chocolatey with a hint of smoke and coffee. Ever so tasty with a nice complexity for the style.

Oatmeal smoothness with about a medium body. Carbonation is spot on and creamy.

I would have to call this my favorite oatmeal stout. There is only one other that I could say comes close. It's all around great and has such an outstanding flavor profile. On cask is equal to beer perfection. This is a Town Hall must try for anyone.

Serving type: on-tap

09-20-2010 02:16:55 | More by jera1350

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

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

rtepiak

Poland

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

looks great. almost black with small latte head. creamy and smooth as hell. not complex. malty with a great body. milky sweet. a bit too sweet. too much by the end. excellent example for a brewpub though. seems like a good one to have in the start of winter...

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2008 07:42:29 | More by rtepiak