Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout - Rogue Ales

PaterMorse

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A good to very good stout (getting progressively better as warms). Doesn't so much stand out due to any particular attribute so much as because it's so very well balanced. No instrument gets too loud in this one (unlike Rogue Double Chocolate); everything working in near perfect harmony.

A: Hard to describe the head because it's gone in a blink. (A later "hard pour" revealed a camel-colored head, still pulling a disappearing act after brief cameo. What emerges from beneath the vanishing head, though, is a nice dark stout -- essentially think "Coke, no ice". Some crimson coloring if you look deep. A nice web of suds stretches across the surface, with semi-moderate stickiness on the sides after a sip.

S: Earthy, oats/barley. Faint hint of chocolate chip oatmeal cookie, but all very, very faint (so much so that the foregoing description was a bit strained -- and perhaps even subject to wishful thinking). NOTE: A nice roasty, red fruit, and chocolate aroma kicks up after the beer breathes/warms for a while.

T: The subtle, nearly non-existent aroma precedes what I thought was a subtle, nearly non-existent taste. Even at that, I wasn't complaining. Too many beers seek to be too cute by half (with an overly artificial or "try too hard" infusion of ths or that -- Rogue Double Chocolate among them, in my estimation). This started out as just a nice, pleasant, smooth stout with a velvety, balanced taste. GIFT FOR THE PATIENT: However, as with the aroma, the beer takes on a more lively, forward nature after it warms a bit. Again, roasted chocolate / coffee aftertaste, with faint hint of vanilla. Very nice.

M: Extremely well balanced; excellent feel. Medium to full bodied. Thick, rich, creamy. Ranks among the most memorable in this category.

O: Again, it's a beer that pleases the impatient, rewards the patient. Starts out as a beer that doesn't seem overly complex -- unless complex in delivering an absolutely simple, balanced stout. Out of the refrigerator, I'd rate it as very good but not terribly exciting or fun; one dimensional (but one that excels in that one dimension). As time (and the beer's chill) wanes, it becomes even better -- with a more complex taste. On the bright side, whether you're the type to knock it back fast and then tell your latest war story or sip it over conversation, you'll find this beer very drinkable, imminently enjoyable.

Repeat? I don't waffle due to indifference for the beer; it's very good. And if it came in 4- or 6-packs, it might become a staple (like Founders Breakfast, Thirsty Dog's Siberian Night Imperial, Plead the Fifth, Left Hand Milk Stout, Samuel Smith's Imperial, etc. But alas, in the bomber bottle, though better priced than some of Rogue's other offerings, I'd probably just hold off and serve it with a group of friends over -- ever-confident, thouth, that it would be rated a "winner"...

Where Enjoyed? It's a great party starterwith friends -- appealing, I'm sure, to many different tastes/preferences. Given its excellent harmony, it's also pretty good over some cool jazz / classical music (which is nice, since a lot of my favorite beers are better over AC/DC or George Jones). And might I add it's also a nice pour to close out St. Paddy's Day (or to re-enact it on any given evening).

Two Words? Warm Harmony

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 04:09:26 | More by PaterMorse

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rogue Ales 'Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout' @ 6.1% , served from a couple of 650 ml bottle's purchased for $8 each

A-pour is such a dark brown almost black in the glass with a small tan head leaving streaky lace along the pint glass

S-a sweet burnt caramel , roasted barley smelling stout

T-wow big tasting oatmeal stout , a smooth creamy mouthfeel , hints of chocolate and a hop bitterness in the back

MF-good carbonation , full bodied , lingering dry roastiness on the back of the palate

Ov-good beer , sweet for a oatmeal stout , very drinkable ,
this beer just kept getting better even as it warmed

sampled twice this weekend , well worth it's price & Happy St.Patrick's Day

prost LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 23:16:54 | More by LampertLand

barczar

Kentucky

3.94/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Can't see it in my Pub mug.

Roast malt, chocolate, and hints of Waffle House coffee form the initial aroma. There's a bit of nuttiness that emerges, possibly due to the oat presence.

Flavor is roast malt dominated, but not bitter until the finish. Notes of chocolate and roast fruitiness add complexity. There's an underlying toasted character.
Phenols surface late.

Body is moderate to slightly full, a little creamy, with low carbonation. There's an astringent note.

Roasty, chocolatey, with a hint of dark fruit. Not my fave stout, but fairly drinkable. Nothing exceptional, but good balance of chocolate and roast flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2013 05:01:15 | More by barczar

BierDrinker

Nova Scotia (Canada)

2.71/5  rDev -35.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pretty much an opaque black colour with a tan head the hangs around for awhile with a small amount of lacing.

A confusing aroma. Sweet, floral but a metallic smell to it.

Medium strong flavour on the bitter side. Notes of toast, coffee and herbal.

Medium body with a lively amount of carbonation. I found it a bit astringent and again, metallic feeling. Like the sensation from licking stainless steel if that makes sense?

A longer than average bitter finish but not intense.

As far as stouts go, this one is a little too light and bitter for my tastes. The subtle metallic smell and taste kind of threw me off. I'm new at paying attention to what I taste, so I could be mistaking that sensation for something else.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 01:37:01 | More by BierDrinker

scratch69

Missouri

3.81/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

I poured a bottle into a mug.

Appearance- Black with a finger and a half worth of dark tan head. Light amounts of sticky lacing.

Smell- Light aroma of roasted malt, oats, and some floral hops.

Taste- Dark roasted malt flavors with notes of chocolate, some char, and a very light hoppy bitterness.

Mouthfeel- Full bodied, smooth, and creamy. Low amount of carbonation.

Overall- A decent oatmeal stout but nothing special. I have had several that I would prefer over this.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 23:42:39 | More by scratch69

Braz

Washington

3.65/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pure dark brown/black with a very coarse tan head, sea foam like.Head does not last very long at all. Smell is quite roasted and coffee like. Taste is dry and a little bitter. No real sweetness to speak of. Grain notes picked up. Coffee ground flavors. Body is smooth with light carbonation. Pretty decent stout with a dry bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 06:28:36 | More by Braz

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.19/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- pours a dark black with a small dark tan head that reduces to only a ring leaving just a touch of lace.

S-smoky and woodsy with notes of dark chocolate, earthy and oaty

T- slightly roasted malts with a smoothness from the oats, a bit earthy with just a touch of coffee, dark chocolate finish with a long chocolaty linger and dry finish

M- medium body and carbonation, foamy mouthfeel turns into a creamy and silky finish

O- solid oatmeal stout, slightly roasted notes match well with the smoothness provided by the oatmeal, nice chocolaty linger

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 02:51:59 | More by Treyliff

kojevergas

California

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

650ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Acquired at a nearby bottle shop. Expectations are high given the recommendation and high rating by a friend, murrhey. I love a good Oatmeal Stout. 69 IBU.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Paired with pretzels.

A: Pours a silky attractive rich dark tan colour head of luscious excellent cream, great rolling frothy thickness, and staggering 8 minute retention. Body colour is a solid dark black. Nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Decent albeit thin lacing as the head slowly recedes. Spot on for the style. I can't wait to try it.

Sm: Light roasted barley, rolling oats, dark malts, chocolate malt, and caramel. A surprisingly light aroma; I wouldn't call it subtle. Complex but understated. Light floral hopping. Hints of peat. Not as bold or evocative as I'd like, but appealing for the style. The oats certainly come through.

T/Mf: Creamy in the late second act. Chocolate malt and dark malts form the supportive body alongside understated caramel. Oats give it a consistent character throughout and lend it that trademark smooth porter-like mouthfeel. Lightly earthy (purportedly from the oats). Unfortunately, the roasted barley character is nowhere near as pronounced as I'd like. It could also use more cream. Balanced and enjoyable, but lacking complexity or sufficient subtlety. I quite like it, but it's a bit wanting. Smooth and wet. Good carbonation and thickness. Good palate presence. It certainly doesn't lack body. Any hopping is minimal in strength and floral in character. Bitterness is low, as is perceived bitterness. The balance is a highlight here.

Dr: A balanced, drinkable oatmeal stout from Rogue. I'd love to try this on nitro. It's not a perfect example of the style, but it's certainly a notable one. It won't disappoint fans of the style, but I doubt it will really impress either. I quite enjoy it and will easily finish this bottle, but I hoped for more. It's one of the better Rogue beers I've had in recent memory. Hides its ABV well.

B

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:54:05 | More by kojevergas

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a fairly solid dark brown/black color with a smallish khaki head that persists quite well. Smells of caramel and roast with hints of cream vanilla and earth. Light bits of dark fruit aroma as well as hints of light sugar round out the nose quite well. The flavor is roasty chocolate vanilla with a hint of chalk and earthy hops. Medium body with a creamy velvety smooth mouthfeel and a light level of carbonation. This is a really nice stout, approachable yet flavorful and creamy as hell.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:08:09 | More by johnnnniee

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

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

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

Had this on 2012-10-28 in Lititz, PA at the Bull's Head.

A - Opaque black with a 1-finger thick tan head and great lacing. Looked like a hand-pulled Guiness when it was served all foamy from the bottom up. Gorgeous.

S - Mild, medium roasted oats and light bread. Nice but not much aroma.

T - Sour dough bread, medium charred oats, unsweetened chocolate and a light touch of molasses. Dry, not sweet. The lingering aftertaste is a nice combination of charred oats and hop bitterenss.

M - Medium body and light carbonation. Very creamy but not thick. It seems this beer is made to be served on nitro.

O - Very good. Not quite as fine-tasting as a Founders Porter but leaning in that charred direction. Not as rich in the taste or mouthfeel as a Founders Breakfast Stout, and no coffee in this one. Nevertheless, it's a very good tasting, lowish ABV stout that I enjoyed.

Serving type: nitro-tap

10-28-2012 21:09:51 | More by Tucquan

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