Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout - Rogue Ales

Labeorphile

Texas

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Heavy pour from bottle into a pint glass yields a thick, creamy, brown head. Beer almost black with very little light getting through. Head hangs around for a long time.

Nose is inviting, with strong coffee, chocolate, and caramel, but with a hint of hoppiness sneaking through.

Taste is even better. The malt, chocolate and oats lead the way with the hops finishing on the back of the palate. Excellently balanced with none overpowering the other. The rich, creamy mouth feel really works great with this beer.

Overall, a really great stout that I will definitely be buying more of. Delicious and well-balanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:19:55 | More by Labeorphile

tectactoe

Michigan

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours jet black, with very nearly no other shades of color, even at the edges. Huge, dark tan head tops this one off with fine bubbles, lasting for quite a while and leaving some small bits of chunky lacing behind. Aroma full of sweetness and roasted grain, and surprisingly a small dose of ashy, leafy hop on the nose. A faint, light cocoa aroma is present and becomes a little stronger as it warms up. Oats are also very apparent on the nose, adding a creamy and milky sweet aroma to buckle everything together. Should be a nice ride.

Shakespeare hits the palate with a very creamy body and a silky mouth feel - somewhat on the heavier side, but not quite chewy or "thick". The flavor is very robust and commanding - deeply roasted malts begin to lay the foundation for a nice collage of flavors. Nutty and woody flavors come marching through along with bittersweet cocoa powder and maybe the faintest hint of coffee or espresso on the very back of the tongue. The hop character is actually quite strong, and works surprisingly well; earthy, leafy, floral - they provide a nice, offsetting bitterness. The oats are also noticeable on the palate, more so in the aftertaste - but really, their biggest role is adding to the creamy mouth feel of the beer. Aftertaste is a bittersweet cocoa and earthy, roasted malt flavor with just a slight touch of left-over hop. Carbonation was medium, enough to produce a gigantic head upon pouring this one.

Solid oatmeal stout here, and actually one of Rogue's less expensive bomber offerings. Nice, robust flavors along with a friendly mouth feel and a low ABV make this stout super drinkable any time of the day.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:13:13 | More by tectactoe

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.25/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Stout poured out from the bottle extremely black in colour. There was no hint of clarity to it when held up to the light. Smelled of sweet, dark malt notes, which carried over into the taste. Tasted sweet, dark, and malty with notes of chocolate. Bitter chocolate finish. Roasty aftertaste.

Would I buy this beer again? Maybe.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:52:06 | More by NilocRellim

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a jet black color with large mocha head. Some decent lacing & foam clings to the glass. Smells chocolately first, then roast character really takes over as it warms. Slight burnt character. Earthiness aromas as well, likely from the hops. Tastes a tad acrid from the roast. Subtle chocolate, caramel, light vanilla notes. Tastes bitter but not a ton of hop flavor. Again, the earthiness comes into play. Feels about medium to medium-full. Oats give it a nice velvety creamy feel. Overall, this is a quality beer I've been looking forward to trying for awhile. Would love to try this one super fresh when the hops are more fresh and in your face. (Didn't see a bottled on date.)

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 01:00:36 | More by jwhancher

AC-Mivsek

Ohio

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22 0z. Bomber poured into an imperial pint glass.

A- Pours an opaque black with a thick brown head leaving good lacing.

S- Roasted malts, oatmeal as expected, and some chocolate hints. Coffee also is there, as well as some toffee. Brown sugar adds some sweetness to the nose.

T- Creamy dark roast coffee, chocolate, oatmeal, and a bit of caramel. Overall it tastes pretty sweet but with a firm hoppy aftertaste.

M- Quite slick and creamy, but with some hop bite. Low carbonation.

O- Overall this is a fine and very tasty stout. I love how the oats, coffee, and hops blend with each other. I would definitely get this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 02:46:02 | More by AC-Mivsek

TBoneJones

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black beer pours into my pint and nearly flies out the head develops so fast! Some foam spills over, this head is tan.
Smells of milk chocolate, coffee grinds. A hint of citrus fruit in there.
First taste is smooth and creamy and I get coffee right away, then a pleasant bitterness that lingers for a long time on my palate. The coffee is surely there, but not so much the chocolate (my way of saying this isn't real sweet). Hop bitterness.
This is great as far as enjoying a stout goes, and only my second beer tried from Rogue (the other being their chocolate stout). I recall more sweetness with their latter, and that's a quality I prefer in stouts. But all in all, surely try this if you haven't. I would again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:31:36 | More by TBoneJones

sevenarts

New York

4.14/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: Very dark brown, almost black. Huge and very fluffy tan head. Some lacing.

S: Oaty and malty, with strong coffee and chocolate notes.

T/M: Creamy, malty, coffee-rich goodness. Lots of milky coffee up front, with rich layers of oatmeal and sweet malt. Some roasty, mildly bitter flavors in the followthrough. Super creamy mouthfeel, with some alcohol warmth.

O: A great oatmeal stout with wonderfully subtle flavors, goes down so creamy and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 00:44:01 | More by sevenarts

Melicita

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a rich dark brown with a nice froth. Smells exactly like most stouts--malted with some hints of dark chocolate and honey. A little yeast as well. Taste is very roasty with dark chocolate flavor throughout. There is a hopped zing in the finish, which is subtle but evident. Good.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 19:55:43 | More by Melicita

DocJitsu

California

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque very dark brown with an Irish coffee froth colored head. Aromas of chocolate and coffee bean. Mouthfeel is a little thin for the style. Not unappealing, just not complimentary of the flavor. Nothing like a good, creamy, viscous fluid to deliver flavors of chocolate and coffee so nicely. A lot of chocolate flavor is noted with some underlying coffee. Coffee bitterness lingers long after the beer is gone. I'd been really excited about trying this one, but I'm disappointed.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 01:36:38 | More by DocJitsu

Maltmaiden

Alabama

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Black. Small head but strong retention and lacing.

S: Dark roasted malts. Coffee. Alcohol. Dark Fruit.

T: Rich, dark brown sugar. coffee. Some sweetness but lots of bitterness. Edgy. Touch of black pepper. Very interesting take on the style.

M: Smooth and thick. Nice bite. Perfect mouthfeel.

O: Orgasm in my mouth :)

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 13:37:01 | More by Maltmaiden

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dark dark, perfectly clear brown. Some nice lacing on the side of the glass. Head is small and the color of coffee with a touch of cream. Drops to a tiny cap with decent retention.

Smell: Roasted barley. Layers of chocolate, hitting some nice dark cocoa and sweet milk chocolate. Dry oatmeal. Typical Rogue yeast in the back. Slightly earthy and grassy. Loads of chocolate. Some day old coffee. Vague mineral finish.

Taste: More roasted barley and chocolate. Slight bitter cocoa edge. Slightly overcooked malt sweetness. Some caramel backing. Biscuit. Rogue Paceman yeast is present, dropping some earthy and grassy flavors that seem to be a trademark. Hints of old coffee and sweet chocolate. Nice roasted profile.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a nice smooth creaminess. Lightish carbonation. Very clean.

Overall: Hey, I don't hate this.

Probably the best offering from Rogue. A nice take on the style, but there's that problem of the house yeast. Nice depth. It could be a lot worse.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 18:33:48 | More by Goblinmunkey7

Greywulfken

New York

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

A: center-poured the shiny black beer into a tulip; finger of dark tan foam; modest lace motes trailed behind

S: roasted and chocolate malts predominate, creating a very mild espresso aroma

T: roasty, dry cocoa, coffee bean; bitter

M: smooth, creamy, medium-to-full body; bitter dry coating-feeling on finish

O: it's not that this stout does anything special, as much as this stout does everything well - a great oatmeal stout, creamy and smooth as you'd expect, with understated roast malt flavors.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 21:01:15 | More by Greywulfken

Danny1217

Florida

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Almost pitch black with a big, foamy tan head. Nice lacing and retention.
Smells of roasted malts, nuts, some coffee and chocolate.
Very smooth feel (thanks, oatmeal.) Tastes of roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee once again. Nice bitterness, but balances out by the smoothness of the beer and just a slight roasty sweetness. Very balanced beer.

One of the best non-imperial stouts out there. Unfortunately bottles in the 22 oz. format and more expensive than it should be.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 04:34:02 | More by Danny1217

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.58/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Big light brown head slowly settles into a nice lacing above a clear (I think) super dark brown to black colored stout.

Dark roasted malts with coffee, dark chocolate and oatmeal coming through nicely, also more subdued smells coming through that get overpowered my the malts.

Big full dark roasted malts taste with dark chocolate, coffee's and the oatmeal combining in a full rich tasting stout.

A smooth and dryish aftertaste with the dark chocolate and coffee tastes hanging around on this full bodied beer.

Very well done, smooth and full of rich roasted tastes, this is when drink beer for the sake of just having a beer is so worthy.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 22:55:58 | More by LXIXME

mjtiernan

New York

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

22oz bottle poured into an oversized snifter. Didn’t find a bottled date.

A: Poured smooth and creamy. One finger of gorgeous chocolatey brown head sits on top of a thick black body.

S: Wonderful milk chocolate and some nice roastiness. Some grassy English-style hops are also present.

T: The chocolate and roasted malt from the aroma are all there in the flavor. The hops are there but no more than I prefer. There is a little bit of bitterness. It all plays extremely well together. Terrific.

M: So smooth and easy to drink. Full bodied and creamy. Slight chalkiness on the finish.

O: An awesome example of the style. This has everything I want in an oatmeal stout. Smooth as silk, well-balanced roast and chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2012 02:06:05 | More by mjtiernan

Roose13

New Jersey

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

Appreance- Dark in color, much like regular stouts. Chocolate-colored head.

Smell- Roasted malts, coffee, oatmeal and a slight hint of brown sugar.

Taste- Incredibly easy to drink. Taste of coffee lingers on the tongue and coats the mouth. The taste of oatmeal also lingers in the smell.

Mouthfeel- Incredibly smooth

Overall- Great stout. Easily my favorite at the moment. Has set the bar for my expectations in other stouts.

Serving type: 22oz bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 19:31:25 | More by Roose13

tviz33

New York

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle to pint glass

A- Pours jet black with a tall creamy brown head that sticks around for a while, leaving lots of nice lacing

S- Brown sugar, roasted coffee, oats, and a noticeable hop presence.

T- Fairly sweet, very roasty and earthy. Brown sugar is also detectable. Little alcohol burn, if any, and finishes with some balancing hops.

M- Quite creamy and smooth with a medium body. Low amounts of carbonation. Despite the sweetness, it's not too sticky.

O- A very good oatmeal stout that is about as balanced as can be. Not quite as good as Sam Smith's in my book, however.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 21:50:51 | More by tviz33

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep black color with thick brown head. Smell of dark roasted malts predominantly. Taste is like a strong cup of french roast coffee - that level of roasty, bitter flavor. Surprisingly bitter and well-balanced by the hops. Pretty smooth and creamy feel too. Just what I expect from an oatmeal stout. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 17:01:13 | More by TheRealBigC

vfgccp

New York

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Midnight brown with cola highlights. Fine bubbled khaki head with great retention and lace.

S - Delicious fresh milled oats with sweet malt and a touch of bitter cocoa and milky sugar.

T - Huge oat profile balanced with dry, bitter dark chocolate. Lightly woody hop center with a kiss of lemon acidity. Chalky chard oats and dusty cocoa powder backend.

M - Medium/light frame. Nice carbonation. Nice smoothness.

O - An excellent example of the style. Delicious, raw oat flavor counter balanced with rich roasty cocoa and just enough brightness from the hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 01:14:53 | More by vfgccp

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Consumed 8/25/12

Appearance: Black, jet black at its core - pours with a creamy, beige head - fades quickly to a little ring, leaves a few spots of lacing

Smell: Roasted malts, lightly toasted grains, and oats - actually, lots of oats - dry chocolate, minimal sweetness, some burnt - very clean overall

Taste: Solid - great malt profile, roasty, lightly burnt - chocolate malts and some baker's chocolate - a moderate amount of bitterness - some coffee, and some creamy oats - clean

Mouthfeel: On the heavy side of medium, silky smooth thanks to the oats, nicely carbonated

Overall: Sets the bar

This is a well-rounded, well-balanced oatmeal stout. It certainly doesn't break any ground, and it's probably not going to blow anyone's mind, but it stays very true to the style. It's a great example of what all oatmeal stouts should be, and it's one of the most solid offerings I've had from Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 05:12:30 | More by angrybabboon

Jdouble777

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Appreance- Looks absolutely scrumptious with choclately tones and smooth stout medium head

Smell- Aromas just do not match the look, there is a faint nutty choclate mix, hazelnut maybe, but overall the smell is not punctual or alluring

Taste- Smooth, easiest to drink stout I have ever experienced; however, it does not pop at all and finishes kinda boring

Mouthfeel- Goes down soooo smooth, gentle and light

Overall- Good solid beer, but not Rogue worthy and defiantly not 90+...great winter drinking beer

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 18:47:19 | More by Jdouble777

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color. The beer has a three finger tall creamy dark mocha head that slowly condenses and reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer with a medium sized thicker patch and a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Moderate to significant amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark roasted (almost burnt) malts and bittersweet chocolate. Just the tiniest hint of coffee.

T: Very similar to the smell, the taste of this beer has a strong dark roasted malt body that just borders on being roasted to the point of being burnt. There are moderate notes of bittersweet chocolate, light notes of coffee, and just a hint of citrus hop. There is a moderate to strong bitterness in this beer but it does not linger very long.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth with just a hint of dryness in the finish.

O: I find the flavors and aromas of this beer though the bitterness does make it a little tough to drink. Very enjoyable and one I would have again but this is not a sessionable beer - between the bitterness and the dryness.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 19:50:20 | More by dbrauneis

Burlyn

2.83/5  rDev -32.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Black/Dark Brown with a super thick, creamy, and persistent latte head.

Smells malty sweet light coffee and a little hops

Tastes are malty and light coffee as well. Not as full in flavor as I hoped for. The funky acid taste towards the end was also unwelcome.

Very smooth and greasy. Ends dry. the taste of alcohol is faintly present.

Not as good as I was expecting it to be. The full and roundness of a great or even good beer just weren't there. Decent and palatable.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 17:38:35 | More by Burlyn

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber, a gift from a friend of mine, poured into pint glasses and shared with the wife.

A: Pours a very dark and opaque with an oily body, dark brown head and modest lacing.

S: Dark roasted malt, acrid burnt notes, anise & licorice, modest hopping, dark caramel, slight herbal oiliness.

T: Mostly dark malt with well-rounded hopping and earthy/herbal notes. As strong as it is there isn't a strong roast or coffee presence until a moderate bitter finish and aftertaste. Faint smoke and earthiness. Light tart cherry? Very faint alcohol burn.

MF: Moderate body with some slickness, light to medium carbonation.

O: A decent oatmeal stout, not earth shattering but pleasant and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 15:34:48 | More by Scotchboy

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams "Perfect Pint" glass.

Appearance: Pours dark and black with only a light light of reddish brown color at the bottom. Huge six fingers of deep tan head with decent retention. Leaves a lot of lacing around the glass.

Smell: Big aroma of deep roasted malts. Big hints of chocolate and oatmeal. Coffee, nuts, and a good amount of molasses and brown sugar. Hints of burnt caramel and toffee. Fairly sweet and creamy. Also a noticeable presence of earthy hops in the background.

Taste: Like the smell leads, very roasty and pretty sweet. Big taste of roasted malts with big notes of chocolate, oatmeal, coffee, cream, and nuts. A pretty sizable load of brown sugar and molasses adds to the sweetness. Some earthy hops add a little balancing bitterness in the finish. Very solid.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Very creamy and slick. Sweet and slightly sticky but not overly syrupy.

Overall: A very good oatmeal stout. One of the better American versions of the style. Good roasted flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 06:38:21 | More by MattyG85