Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout - Rogue Ales

cokes

Wisconsin

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

One of, if not THE most gorgeous beers I have ever had the pleasure of beholding. Pours ink black (not even anything peeking out around the edges) with a massive, mousse-like brown head.

Smells of mocha with hints of carmel and hops.

Taste hits you with some milk chocolate, smooth sweet oats (earthy as well), with a subtle coffee backdrop. Finish blasts you with a big acidic roastedness (like raw coffee bean...or huge expresso) mixed with the cascades. Very bitter on the finish. Balances out the early sweetness well.

Only qualm: the hops seem to pierce through the body at the finish..makes it seem less full-bodied than it really is. Dare I say, tone the trademark hoppiness down and this would be perfect. Just a minor complaint, still, damn fine. BTW: I like this baby warmed up to mellow the hops and bring out the most in the body.
This is a beer to drink and drink and drink and drink.....

The Bard would be proud of this.
Get thee to the brewery

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2002 21:07:30 | More by cokes

DrewS

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Man, this is an awesome stout. Pours out motor oil black, darkest beer I've seen in a long time. The head was light brown, not massive, but ample and smells of roasted malt. Then comes a complete flavor explosion upon entering the mouth. We got sweet chocolate, coffee, a sort of charcoal, and earthy flavors all combining for make one of the most complex stouts I've had. It went down smooth easy, like the good stuff it is. I was going to have dinner with this but ended up being dinner itself. It finished off with a almost undecernable bitterness. This is one of the best and I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2002 14:37:41 | More by DrewS

sprinkle

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very nice dark cannot see light through it...Good sign.Nice malty and slight mint on the nose.Deep mocha malt in your mouth,with a medium dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2002 19:33:38 | More by sprinkle

mickeymac

California

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It's black and beautiful. Many flavors are bouncing off each other: chocolate, coffee, and others I haven't yet been able to put my finger on. However, it wasn't quite as chunky as I expected. I would like to try it on draught.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2002 20:54:30 | More by mickeymac

Viking

Indiana

4.88/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A bomber for breakfast...

This may well be the best stout I've ever tasted. It was as black as a starless midnight with a thick creamy brown head. Interesting, and damn fine, aroma of roasted barley and a bit of citrusy hops. Nice thick, rich stout with an incredible flavor!

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2002 09:00:38 | More by Viking

ADR

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Midnight black with one of the darkest heads ever, deep auburn with those even darker last drips from the pour. Really great lace as well, intricate crown-of-thorns patterns. Sweet smell, some whiffs of dehydrated, concentrated strawberry. Darn-near perfect mouthfeel, heavy and rich but not at all syrupy. Chocolate flavors with a hint of vanilla and berry in a very consistent statement. Solid roast and an impressive and distinguishing hop bite to the back flavor. This is a dang OUTSTANDING Stout, just first rate in all categories. Man, it is good.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2002 08:06:34 | More by ADR

proc

Michigan

4.9/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is as high as I think I've ever rated a beer. Wonderful, outstanding, refreshing, flavorful....I could go on and on. This pours to a beautiful dark color with amber hints in the lace and foam. A wonderful mouthfeel is followed by a near-perfect taste all the way through. There is something magical that happens to stouts when oats are added. It becomes a food, an event, a happening and not just a drink. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2002 06:19:59 | More by proc

aracauna

Georgia

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Oh my gosh, this was a good beer. I'm a huge stout fan to start with, but this is a great stout. The appearance was great. It was like a big black mass topped by a lightly colored chocolate milkshake. The head was very creamy, especially considering it wasn't nitrous dispensed. Allergy season is kicking in right now so I couldn't get much out of the smell, but what I did get was nice. The taste is great, a little more roasted/burned bitterness than most of the other stouts I've tried, but it was backed up by a full, rich flavor. Combined with the mouthfeel it tasted like a drinking a glass of thin chocolate milk with a good bit less lactic sweetness (although I may have picked up some of that) and a healthy shot of dark chocolate espresso. This beer would be frightening if nitrous dispensed.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2002 09:30:23 | More by aracauna

WilliamPhilaPa

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Starts by pouring a nice coffee black with a dark tan / copper head that is very creamy. Notes of roasted malts among other things in the aroma. Roasted malts come upfront on the palate then finishes with nice notes of chocolate in the aftertaste. Very smooth mouth feel.
Every beer that I had from Rogue was great! They have so many great beers!

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2002 18:41:45 | More by WilliamPhilaPa

inebrius

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Seriously hopped up stout. A strong pour will give you a beautiful chocolate milk head that leaves a spidery lace. Roast malt body finishes clinging dry grapefruit. More hop flavor than your typical stout makes this beer a treat. Well worth a taste if you've only tried Irish stouts.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2002 20:53:51 | More by inebrius

WORT

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is one of my favorite stouts. Long lasting aroma, long lasting creamy head, and it also comes in a cool 650ml bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2002 20:29:00 | More by WORT

budgood1

Minnesota

4.63/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

if only my morning coffee was this good.....pours out black with a vigorous brown head which unfortunately died too quickly. hints of burnt caramel and chocolate malts with a subdued cascade hops aroma....the taste is exceptional with bitter malts and hops balancing out the profile...a burnt coffee finish with the hops lingering on....but the hops aren't overwhelming which of course is desired in a stout...but the hops (of course...it's a rogue) dance on the tounge enough to break up any creamy slickness that is usual for stouts. a "hophead" stout for sure, but balanced enough to appeal traditional stout drinkers. yummy!

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2002 02:18:46 | More by budgood1

hooligan

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

Dark tan head that is both creamy and lacy, sticks to the side of your glass as you drink it. Massive roasted smell compared to other stouts, with a hint of astringency. BIG Roasted barley assault upfront on the palate with a strong hop bitterness and no hop aroma, slight aftertaste of licorice and bitter chocolate. Thick mouthfeel that also seems to "fizz" on your tounge slightly. This is a big, bold, black and beautiful stout, and why I love the style... very heavy, which is what I drink a stout for...

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2002 17:17:50 | More by hooligan

mophie

Delaware

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first Rogue. This is a great looking beer, pitch black with a light brown, foamy head. Oddly, the aroma is almost nonexistent. What strikes me is the carbonation, both the look of it as you swirl it in your glass, and the feel of it on your tongue. I couldn't detect much chocolate in the taste, but rather a very dark (almost burnt) espresso. Overall, a nice beer, and an impressive introduction to Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2002 16:49:22 | More by mophie

Jordan

California

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black, dark tan head. Full bodied, rich, malty, yet bitter-sweet. Cocoa and smoked notes. Like an oatmeal stout and a porter in one. Very filling. Unfortunately my 22oz bottle cost $4.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2002 02:34:02 | More by Jordan

John1985

Tennessee

3.6/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Opaque, black appearance. Faint aroma. Coffee malt taste with pleasant bitter aftertaste. Reasonably full bodied with a creamy texture. Pretty good stout, very smooth and mellow.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2001 22:04:50 | More by John1985

Jason

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 22oz bomber with no freshness date to be found.

Appearance: Deep black with a frothy creamy tan lace.

Smell: Hints of burnt caramel, roasted barley and citric hop make for a very appealing aroma.

Taste: Very very smooth with a creamy malty mouthfeel and some malt crispness. A rich balanced blend of roasted barley, malt sweetness and hop bitterness. In the finish is a chocolaty and coffee after taste with a touch of citric hop and residual sweetness.

Notes: This is a cult classic American stout, drink and learn. Balanced to perfection and a sheer delite to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2001 23:00:38 | More by Jason

AaronRed

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

I opened a twelve ounce bottle that I had been keeping for a cold day. Having had this before, I knew what I was in for. I love the bitterness combined with sweetness. A slight burnt flavor gives keeps you on your toes. It did not have much of a head, so I was a little dissapointed. But hey,what a beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2001 10:03:11 | More by AaronRed

beerluvr

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Exceptional pretty much sums up this fave stout of mine.Reminds me of a Sierra Nevada stout kicked up a couple o' notches. Roasty, chocolaty & chewy...I think you could stand a spoon on end in this one! Can Rogue do no wrong I ask?

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2001 21:44:45 | More by beerluvr

nklatt

Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Awww yeeah; this is the good, good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2001 10:32:30 | More by nklatt

QXSTER1

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Full bodied stout that starts out with intense roasted malt and barley and finishes with subtle hop bitterness. One of the better stouts I've quaffed.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2001 18:02:53 | More by QXSTER1

John

New York

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is truly a force to be reckoned with. A remarkable stout. Another big winner in the Rogue portfolio.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2001 09:27:04 | More by John

DrDocRudge

Florida

4.8/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The beer smells good, but can't match the marvelous toffee, chocolate and coffee flavors that emerge. Suitable for both bar drinking or as a dessert. Another masterwork from Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2001 13:18:50 | More by DrDocRudge

Brent

Kentucky

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not as sweet as an English stout, nor as dry as an Irish. A unique middle ground.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2001 09:29:04 | More by Brent

marc77

California

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A stout loaded with Cascade hops? It works beautifully. Tastes like bittersweet chocolate liquor. Has been my favorite stout for a while, and probably will be for the rest of my life. (perhaps with the exception of Pike XXXXX stout) If you can't decide between an IPA and a stout, have a Willy Shakes and have your cake and eat it too!

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2001 19:38:45 | More by marc77