Obovoid Oak-Aged Oatmeal Stout - Boulder Beer / Wilderness Pub

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured form 22oz bottle into Globe glass.

A. 1 finger light tan colored head. Decent lacing. Good retention. Color is black.

S. Has a bit of musty smell. Some faint roasted malt and dark chocolate. Not a real strong or impressive Imperial Stout smell. Some bitter coffee lies beneath.

T. Taste is pretty smooth. Some coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malt. Finishes with a bit of sweetness. I don't know if I would really call this an Imperial stout other than the abv. If it was in the regular stout class I would say its pretty damn good. As is its a little underwhelming. I do like the chocolate flavors that come out.

M. Medium bodied. Not full enough for an Imperial Stout. Medium/low carbonation. Lingering sweetness.

O. Overall not quite big enough to hang with even the smallest of the big boys. Not a bad beer by any means. Very drinkable, and one that I would not have any issues picking up again.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 23:42:22 | More by siradmiralnelson

kenito799

New York

4.33/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

20 oz bottle poured into a Fin du Monde chalice.

Inky dark brew with a rocky tan head.

Oaky vanilla immediately apparent in the nose, malty and chocolatey.

Smooth, delicious with an excellent smooth balance on the palate. The barrel age brings a lovely woodiness to the party. Great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 02:31:26 | More by kenito799

ImpairedPirate

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big bottle poured into a glass Feb 2011.

A - No light shines through. The bottle reads, "as dark as deep space". That's about right.

S - Roasty chocolate and malts. This has more of an earthy nose when compared to others in the same group.

T - Like it smells. There is some complexity to it, but it doesn't lose focus. I can't really distinguish any oak-aged-ness, but I'm sure it's there... EDIT: If you like the oak notes of this beer, you absolutely without a doubt must sample Yeti Oak Aged Imperial Stout (or the Espresso version of the same) by Great Divide Brewery.

M - Well-rounded, smooth finish.

D - This is very drinkable. I wish it had a higher ABV.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 19:55:12 | More by ImpairedPirate

Brooks44

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A. From the bottle poured a jet black pint with a very light tan head of about a finger and a half.

S. Smell was faint in the nose but picked up the oak first and foremost, and also picked up notes of vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and no hop presence in the nose to me.

T. Taste was quite good, i actually like this stout quite alot, the taste follows the nose with the oak the fore runner, the roasted malts give the beer a complexity of chocolate and coffee, the oats give it a sweet almost creamy body and taste to the whole brew with not what i would call a hop presence but enough that its never overly sweet at all. Nicely balanced and well rounded beer with alot of flavors coming at you.

D. Really enjoyed this stout i would recommend it to someone especially to try atleast once, a good offering from boulder that in my opinion hasnt let me down before, hazed and infused from them i would also reccomend... my fav beer from boulder

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 03:53:06 | More by Brooks44

BMoney575

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on 2-26-11

Pours completely black and opaque, with a filmy tan head and a thick coating of lacing. The smallest bit of light barely filters through the edges.

Smell is sweet and malty, aromas of coffee and smoke dominate. The oak comes next, adding a woody, earthy quality. The oak dominates after it warms.

Taste is all oak, covering all other flavors for the first few sips. Eventually, the oak gives way to flavors of molasses and smoke. Still very sweet, but the oak character helps.

Mouthfeel is good, slick and thick to help the malty flavors, and right for the style.

Drinkability is good, although the sweetness does build after awhile.

Overall, a good beer that's worth trying, and maybe even a better candidate for aging.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2011 21:28:58 | More by BMoney575

quine

Colorado

4.05/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark brown with a nice lacing. Head is a light brown, edging on white.

S: Smells quite strongly of coffee and bitter chocolate.

T: Tastes like coffee, dark chocolate, roasted malts, with a definite hint of oakiness in there as well. Well balanced flavors.

M: Fairly carbonated, more than I would have expected. Feels a little thin for the style.

D: Very drinkable beer. Alcohol is barely there, and the balance of flavors makes this a really drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 00:57:10 | More by quine

Spider889

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Bodega, review from notes.

This was a black as night beer with a dark mocha head, even in the crappy 'dega 10 ouncer in which there's never any damn head... damnit. But yeah, this one somehow had some minimal head, which equates to about four fingers in the normal tulip/snifter with a reasonable pour.

Ohh, and this one left an excellent lace blanket.

The smell was slightly smoky with bitter espresso notes and roasted barley.

The taste was deeply seeded in smoky flavors. Slightly acidic, with some dry smoke twanginess. Sweet milk chocolate, coffee, and very light oak make up the rest of the body here.

Creamy with mild carbonation, medium bodied, just about right for the style.

Definitely a solid stout. Not quite sure why the beer is called an oatmeal stout but listed as a RIS though. Some over-anxious ticker I presume. Damn tickers. Wait... damn... me? Oh, and once more for good measure - damn the glasses at Bodega.

Damnit.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2011 11:18:24 | More by Spider889

haazer

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled at the Philly Winter Beerfest. Served once again in that classy plastic goblet.

A- This beer had the best head at the entire festival. It made about a fingers worth of thickness in the tiny serving goblet, that lasted for several minutes. The head was the color of milk that had cocoa puffs served in it. The brew itself was black, with no light getting in what so ever.

S- Smells of coffee, with rich chocolate and espresso notes. Dark roasted malts highlight all the aromas as they linger in the background.

T- Chocolate flavor mixed with burnt toast. Along with burnt dark malts. Has a dairy feel to it, kinda milky. I could see this pairing well with cheese.

M- Medium bodied, creamy brew. Also this is not drying or astringent as some stouts can be from the abv, or the dried out burnt malts. This does not do that. Pleasant.

D- Great stout, one to savor. I enjoyed this one and thought it was one of the better beers at the festival.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2011 00:31:55 | More by haazer

Brewmeist

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a 16 ouncer on tap.

A- opaquish black, consonsiderable lacing and head at first that dissipated rather quickly.

S- heavy of chocolate malt. Oak barrel aging is somewhat present from the nose.

T- a typical yet good tasting stout. Some complexities in the malt, very tasty, slightly sweet, presence of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla.

M- not too thick or syrupy, slight bitterness from te choice of hops.

D- pretty drinkable stout for an 8%er. Might be a sweet food
Item or a steak.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2011 00:19:11 | More by Brewmeist

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours black with ruby highlights. Two fingers of tan head that dissipates slowly. Great lacing.

N: Bakers chocolate, oak, cookie dough and caramel.

T: Water, some roasted barley, caramel and maybe citrus upfront followed by some toffee that finishes with some bitter espresso and a hint of oak.

M: Medium bodied but kind of watery.

D: Very session-able but lacking flavor.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 00:24:19 | More by justintcoons

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.3/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Obovoid has a dark brown body with a tan head. As soon as the pint hits the bar in front of me, I can see by the waterfall effect that this beer is on a nitro-tap.

The aroma is a bit muted. Roasted malt rules the aroma, with only hints of coffee and chocolate in the background.

I don't pick out any oak or woody flavors in Obovoid. Maybe it is me, maybe the flavors are wear, or maybe the nitro-tap has succeeded in washing out some of the flavor, which is possible. What I do notice is the dominance of roasted malt, with hints of coffee and even weaker chocolate. A brief burst of hops rounds things out.

My guess is that this beer was thrown on nitro because it was lacing in the body department. For whatever reason it ended up here, the addition of nitrogen gives Obovoid the expected full, creamy, mouthfeel.

I'll probably give Obovoid a try out of a bottle at some point just to compare to the nitro version. To be honest, however, I am not really in a hurry to do so. The fact that this beer hides its alcohol fairly well is a positibe though.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-01-2011 21:55:34 | More by Hojaminbag

OnThenIn

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: It has a tan head a finger high and a black body.

S: Some vanilla and roasted malt notes, as well as milk chocolate. Maybe some fruits as well.

T: The beer starts out roasty and slightly chocolatey. The oak is present. There is a slight bitterness and astringency. Not really that interesting.

M: Full body and very creamy. nice.

D: Pretty drinkable, but has a slight astringent quality that hurts the drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2011 20:04:38 | More by OnThenIn

thain709

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - The beer had a deep and dark black body...the head was brown in color and stood about one finger...it fell rather quickly and didn't leave much lacing

S - I picked up dark chocolate notes along with some roasted malts...the oak is apparent in the nose but it is subtle

T - The flavor starts off with a nice roasted flavor from the malts...there is a touch of vanilla before a quick blast of oak hits your palate...the oats round out the middle of the beer and set you up for a nice finish of bitter dark chocolate

M - Medium bodied...smooth and silky from the nitro...coats the palate nicely

D - I don't see this being an RIS when it says it's an oatmeal stout right in its name...the beer was decent for me...the flavors worked together and made that aspect good...but I feel it feel short everywhere else and it's probably something I wouldn't get again...but it's worth the try

Serving type: nitro-tap

01-28-2011 11:53:12 | More by thain709

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not sure why this is categorized as a RIS, so I'm rating it as an Oatmeal Stout.

Pours with a thick, foamy tan head over a deep brown body. Tons of lacing.

Aromas are very sweet and inviting. Molasses, oak, and dark chocolate are all there.

Creamy on the palate, with the oaky / vanilla-like qualities shining thru. Roasted oats and malts, with a nice level of bitter-sweetness. Decent citric hop pull in the finish. Finish is smooth.

Drinkability is quite good.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 18:38:08 | More by BeerImmediately

Gobzilla

California

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

good lookin out for this tick bobbizzle

A: poured a very dark brown in color with maroonish brown highlights and had a very thin head leaving very little lacing sticking to the glass.

S: coffee, caramel, and roastiness are apparent on the first whiff with some oaky, malty sweetnes, hints of toffee, and vanilla.

T: The taste sweet chocolate flavor upfront with mild coffee, oaky, roastiness, caramel accents but some variuos grains coming through and had a touch of underlying vanilla.

M: the brew was medium to full in body with a low amount of carbonation which had a sweet, roasty, slight astringent, creamy, finish.

D: it was drinking better than your average RIS with a good body and decent taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 02:52:47 | More by Gobzilla

Troegman

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the Spinnerstown.
Great dark color, almost black with a nice long lasting off white head.
Picked up some chocolate and a bit of vanilla late in the nose as well as a slightly nutty aroma. Like a proper oatmeal stout.
Tasted of chocolate, a little vanilla, some nutty oak and even some coffee flavor was detected. But all in a very subtle smooth way.
It's on the lighter side of the stout spectrum which makes it, with a 6.8% ABV a more sessionable stout if so desired.
Really nice brew and I will gladly order again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2011 14:19:55 | More by Troegman

CampusCrew

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

appearance: deep dark black, nearly ebony, loaded head

smell: loaded coffee, and heavy chocolate aromas

taste: silkly smooth stout, not a malt bomb, great flavor from barrel aging. touch a vanilla, nothing dominant

mouthfeel: low body for imperial stout, medium

drinkability: under rated beer. Just because it was not an extreme imperial. It had fantastic flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2011 16:14:47 | More by CampusCrew

mgoblue5743

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

This is an 8% abv stout that is very flavorful.

It's a little thin, but I am a big fan.

At the Boulder Event at Pony Bar on 1/18/2011, I put the Nitro version of the Oak Aged Oatmeal Stout against the regular Obovoid.

On Nitro, this beer has almost no carbonation and drinks very easily, but ultimately, the non-oaked, regular version reigned supreme.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2011 22:28:24 | More by mgoblue5743

tchenery

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Extremely dark in color with a nice off-white head on top that laces the glass.

Beer has a nice chocolate smell much like dark chocolate. Has a subtle viney smell probably from the oak aging. It's not overly effervescent though.

It tastes like a malt milkshake with a slight fruit twinge to it, almost like raspberries - it might just be me though. It tastes like bitter dark chocolate but is very smooth as well.

Very smooth, yet full mouthfeel, very enjoyable.

Completely drinkable especially for an 8% beer. The ABV is extremely hidden.

Well done.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 18:56:33 | More by tchenery

CptBlackBeerd

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a tulip pint glass at the Charlotte Flying Saucer. 2010 vintage. Pours a dark mahogany brown, almost black with a full 2 finger tan head. Moderate lacing with some retention. The aroma is very inviting with roasted malts, dark chocolate, brown sugar, caramel, earthy oak and some dark fruit. Taste is of dark chocolate, sweet roasted malt, caramel and dark fruit. The subtle oak notes add to the great balance this beer achieves. Finish is a nice bitter chocolate with some alcohol warming making this a superb seasonal companion. Mouthfeel is not as chewy as a typical oatmeal stout, but still thick, slightly oily and viscous. Medium to full body with moderate carbonation. This may be billed as a Russian Imperial Stout but it is actually just a very fine Oak Aged Oatmeal Stout. Very smooth and easy to drink for 8% ABV. I would definitely have a few more while sitting by the fire and watching it snow.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 03:03:04 | More by CptBlackBeerd

budgood1

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

pours out an opaque dark brown colour with maroon highlights. frothy tan head. lots of lace. yeast and oak aroma...iced coffee and milkballs make the nose very nice. taste is a conglomeration of malted milk balls, capaccino, chocolate malts and some bright citrusy hops. all these flavours are wrapped nicely around a subtle wood and earth oaken nuance that adds a nice touch to this stout. there is a bit of boozy spice to it as well. nice. rich and luxurious body and mouthfeel in the classic oatmeal stout style. drinkability is very nice...this is a nice tasting beer and quite enjoyable.

overall another acceptable oak/barrel aged beer. oatmeal stout is nice and friendly style to pair with the barrel aging craze. recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2011 22:09:56 | More by budgood1

drummstikk

California

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

At 5.2%, this is not an Imperial stout. Wonderful bourbon and roasted and caramel aromas. Served too cold at ye Boulder Beer taphouse in DIA. Once warm, excellent medium caramel and bready pretzel flavors, mixed with vanilla and aged caramel flavors from oak and bourbon. At times, flavors overpower the light alcohol, but a sufficiently thick body comes to the rescue. Very very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 00:56:10 | More by drummstikk

BigBlacke

Florida

3.95/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours a black color with a light tan head that quickly dissipates down to leave a nice sticky ring. Smells of bittersweet chocolate and oak. Obovoid tastes of dark bittersweet chocolate with oats. Not too much oak flavor, barely noticeable to me. Mouthfeel is very thin and crisp for a RIS. Drinkability is high because of its lightness. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 22:06:20 | More by BigBlacke

beergod1

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at a UPick6 Tasting....Plastic cups. Dark black pour with a nice tan head.Dark chocolate malt and oat aroma, don't really get much oak. Smooth, medium bodied, bittersweet chocolate flavor with a hint of burnt coffee and a touch of alcohol. Once again I don't get too much oak in the flavor, but it makes an appearance on the finish.
I need to buy this by the bottle, I think it would be a great beer, and I would re-rate.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 21:27:53 | More by beergod1

mdfb79

New York

3.78/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle into a pint glass. 2009 vintage.

a - Pours a very dark brown color, almost black, with one and a half fingers of tan head that lasts for three to four minutes and moderate carbonation evident. Little bit of lacing left on the glass.

s - Smells of chocolate, nuts, roasted malts, caramel malts, oak, and light dark fruits. Pretty enjoyable. Not a ton of oak, but it's certainly there.

t - Tastes of bitter chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, nuts, oak, and caramel malts. A step down from the nose. While good, the oak is very light, much less than the nose.

m - Medium to full body and low carbonation. Thick and chewy mouthfeel.

d - A decent oatmeal stout though it only had hints of oak. None the less it was enjoyable and something I would have again.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 15:31:33 | More by mdfb79