Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout - Rogue Ales

oberon

North Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black with a creamy off-white head,taste is very caramelly and of semi-sweet chocolate.The taste is roasted and chocolaty with some caramel sweetness almost like a snickers bar but not as sweet there is some nice nuttiness in the background.A real nice beer a liquid dessert.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2003 00:34:24 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a very dark brown - almost black - body capped by a full, foamy, dark brown head that drops but keeps a solid collar and decent surface covering. Lacing is minor with just some thin lace throughout the glass. The aroma is lightly sweet and cocoa-ish with some sharp fruit (citrusy hops combined?) but only minimal roastiness. The body is thin/medium with a tiny bubbled moderate carbonation that gently caresses the tongue. The flavor grabs your attention with a sharp acrid bite upfront, then reveals a dark fruitiness, roasted malt, and then light cocoa. Although it's substantial bitterness is noticeable from the start, it finishes dry with a flourish of even more prominent bitterness, some hop flavor, and a lingering roastiness. It starts big and finishes big! Quite bold. An interesting beer to linger over as it reveals itself more fully once warmed.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2002 18:50:24 | More by NeroFiddled

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A classic if there ever was one.
The color is an inky cloak of solemn black.
Head is a thick, crusty, toasted brown. Aroma: supreme example of roast, rich and invigorating, potent and powerful, dry and dreamy, a snootful could rise old Yorick from his grave. Further gleanings give more flavors, of anise, espresso, pepper, chocolate. I could smell this all day and think of nothing better to do!
On first taste, I am transported! Beautiful bitterness, lush malt, titanic texture! Thoroughly magical hop play on the palate, to make old Prospero proud, malt as dark and knotted as King Richard's heart. Every single time I have the pleasure to sip this fine ale, any wintry discontent is made glorious summer anon! I happily suffer a sea-change, into something rich and strange!
I feel like the world's mine oyster...mmmm. oy-sters!
From Shakespeare to Simpson, that's how even the best of beers will tranform us all!
Plainly put, the bard of beers does somehow have that bewitching power o'er me, and I am mezmerized good, as I like it. And when the hurlyburly's done, I am left clamoring for more!
I couldn't change a thing about this perfect potion. Some stouts may be more bold or brash in alcohol or flavor, but none is more perfectly integrated in all it's parts and easily drunk and thoroughly enjoyed. Truly, the stuff dreams are made of!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2003 17:25:32 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

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

The beer is classic stout color, black, with a dark tan head that when poured dissipates quickly, but remains as a slight ring around the glass. It has a mild citrusy hop aroma (Cascade hops) with dark malt character that blends together nicely. The beer tastes very dark, noting the use of roasted barley and chocolate malts (a little too heavy on the roasted barley). It is also flavored with Cascade hops which gives it a very pleasant hop flavor. It has a med. to heavy body, but is highly drinkable. This is not, in my opinion, one of their better beers, but is still better than many competitors offerings. My only complaint is that the hop flavor is hidden by the use of roasted barley. Nevertheless a great stout!

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2003 08:41:03 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.38/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is now called Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout for some reason. Cool with me. Served on draft at a local beer bar. Beer is black and forms a thin brown head that breaks quickly. Leaves some but not a lot of lacing on the glass and carbonation is low. The beer is nearly red at the corners of the glass.

Aroma is a mild roast with some side sweetness. Smells fine, could be bigger or have something going on there.

Beer is medium bodied, I was expecting a little more body out of this honestly, I mean its called "Oatmeal" now. Lets do it. Beer is very bitter from the roasted grains, leaves a lingering taste and a graininess in my mouth. It grows in harshness the more I drink. Not my favorite oatmeal stout.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2010 21:26:34 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown to black with a tan head. There is a ton of sediment suspended in the beer even though I poured carefully. There was also a lot of yeast left on the bottom of the bottle. The aroma is chocolate and roasted/burnt malts. The flavor is roasted malts and chocolate, with quite a bit of hop bitterness and bitter dark chocolate. Very creamy mouthfeel and low carbonation.

While I have never tried this side-by-side. this beer reminds me quite a bit of Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 01:17:52 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a bold black hue with a huge (three finger) brown head. It left nice lacing as I drank it.

S - The first smell I noticed was the chocolate. I also detected a little caramel and the hops were present, too.

T - It has a distinct chocolately/coffee taste. Some of the hop flavors came through as well. Slight bitterness, too.

M - Soft and creamy. It is a heavy drinking beer.

D - Wow, it is very good. But because it is such a heavy beer I can't imagine having more than one in a sitting especially with a meal.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2006 15:24:51 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is jet black in color and poured with a finger high head that slowly faded away and is light mocha in color.
S: There are aromas of bittersweet chocolate and roasted malts in the nose.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and also has some coffee flavors and hints of citrus from the hops. There is a mild amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied, smooth and slightly dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
D: The beer goes down rather easily although I'm not sure if I could have more than one of these at a time because of the bitterness and dryness.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2011 12:14:42 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

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

No idea how old this bottle is, but I've had it for at least a year. Served in a Surly pint glass.

A - Pours with a finger of tan foam that dissipates to a blotchy haze and thick ring. Not much in the way of lacing, with just a few fingers. Dark brown body with some hints of red to it at the fringes.

S - Cocoa beans, a touch of soy, roasted barley, bitter espresso, and a touch of meaty smokiness in there as well.

T - Taste has a little more caramel with the cocoa and smokiness, and thankfully the soy element has dropped out completely. Still, it tastes a little bit dull - perhaps this bottle is too old. Damn Rogue for not dating anything. There's a bit of an acrid burnt coffee finish as well.

M - Fairly high carbonation going on here. Body is definitively medium and significantly chewy and viscous. The finish is really dry, which is somewhat atypical. This is one of the nicest elements of this brew.

D - Drinkable, but not particularly interesting or exciting. The alcohol is well hidden, and other than the slight over-carbonation it has a nice texture.

Skimmed through some other reviews - apparently this is quite hoppy when it is fresh, but goes downhill fairly quick. However, since there's no bottle dating it's hard to know what one is going to get. I'll re-review if I see it on-tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2010 07:21:08 | More by MasterSki

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a thick creamy, light chocolate brown head that sits atop an opaque deep brown to black beer. The aroma is slightly acidic in its roastiness, and it has notes of chocolate, espresso, and alcohol. It has a creamy mouthfeel up front, and a sharp acidic roast malt bite in the finish. Espresso dominates over the chocolate, which is the opposite sense I got in the aroma. The dark malt notes of roasted barley, and burnt malt dominates this beer. Not much in the way of hops is noticeable above all of the roast character, but there is a nice hop bite in the finish that is a bit bracing and let you know that this beer is in fact 69 IBUs. A very nice stout that I have always had a soft spot for.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2004 17:02:53 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a large light brown head that fades slowly and leaves a spotty lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of roasted dark malts, chocolate, oats and coffee with a touch of hops.

T: The taste is malty up front as you would expect, with flavors of dark chocolate, roasted oats and coffee. The sweetness fades quickly and leaves the bitterness of dark chocolate and pale hops. The after-taste is bitter-sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, I like the fact that this beer isn't as sweet as most stouts are and even though I think this is a solid beer, I've definitely had better stouts than this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 03:42:57 | More by TheManiacalOne

russpowell

Oklahoma

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

Poured midnight black with a massive cocca-colred head. Head settled in at 1/3" and had average retention and lacing

Smell: Some Malt and alcohol

Taste: Big toasty malt upfront followed by coffee, licorice and rich choclate notes with dryness on the finish. Didn't quite find it's place on my taste buds, almost

MF: Very smooth and morish

Pretty drinkable but doesn't quite come all the way together for me. A good stout never the less

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2006 04:30:41 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This beer is probably one of Rogue's best beers. I was happy to have finally gotten some one day at a local Wegman's when I was there. The beer poured out as a deep black color with what appeared to be a pretty thick body! Surprising for Rogue to have something like this from what I've had from them in the past. The smell of this beer is big, roasted, malty, and chocolaty. The taste follows the same path, it's got a lot of roasted malts and chocolate in the mix. The mouthfeel of the beer is indeed pretty thick, I'm very happy that this beer actually has some good body to it. Overall I think this was really nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 21:30:13 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

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

22 oz. bomber,

A: Dark black, opaque, with a thick, brown head, which dissipates to a tan film, with good retention and lacing. The beer looks quite thick when it is poured out.

S: Not terribly robust, but smells great though, smells like a mix of German chocolate cake, roasted cacao nibs, and mocha coffee.

T: Very good, very sweet, but not cloying, has that sweet, almost peaty oat malt taste, with lots of rich milk chocolate and dark chocolate. Quite a complex chocolate flavor.

M: Smooth, thick and rich, but not overpowering, full-bodied.

D: A great stout, handsome and smooth, probably my favourite everyday beer from Rogue.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2007 05:32:36 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: pours black in color with a one finger caramel colored head. The head falls quickly, but remains a thick surface foam. Spotty lacing develops.

Smell: roasted malts and coffee, with some hints of dark chocolate.

Taste: follows the nose, as bold roasted malts, strong coffee, molasses, and a stronger than normal bitterness is rounded with some soft chocolate and prune tones.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp at the start, with a very dry lightly crisp finish. Medium-heavy in body. Roasted tones and coffee linger well into the aftertaste.

Drinkability: superbly drinkable stout, as the full robust flavors leave you wanting another taste quickly. A great stout everyone should seek out.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2006 20:10:16 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured pitch black with a thick, bubbly brownish head. The color was great - the head disappeared to leave just traces fairly rapidly.
The smell was of chocolaty oats with hints of fruity hops. The aroma was fairly strong - but pleasant - earthy tones.
The taste was of sweet chocolate blended with some bitter, fruity hops and a touch of yeast. As the drink progressed, more flavors became more manifest. After a few sips, I read the bottle more closely and saw that there were nine ingredients. I was not surprised, as it is a richly complex stout. The taste was very enjoyable.
It left a nice taste in the mouth - one that I would expect from a good stout. The alcohol was well-hidden. It was rich and creamy.
The impression it left me with was haven eaten a bowl of oatmeal accompanied with a rich chocolate milk.
This is a great, complex stout to have as a dessert drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2006 17:57:47 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

9 bucks at a pub when this bottle goes for around 8 at the store? Can't pass that up...

This beer pours a nice black, with red edges, and two fingers of creamy tan head, which leaves sparse, but consistent lace around the glass. It smells of mild milk chocolate, and caramel malt. The taste is roasted chocolate malt, a bit of coffee, a wee bit of nuttiness, and some bitter pine hops. The carbonation is moderate, the body smooth and a bit less than medium weight, and the finish is dry, the bitter chocolate become more pronounced.

A decent, solid example of the style, offering the flavour, if not the weight or ABV, of a much bigger beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 02:20:30 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

This is a 22 oz silk-screened bomber served in a Great Lakes tumbler (thanks, BigErn, for the glassware). The ale is cool.

A: The stout is an opaque, oil-black beast with a coffee (with milk) colored head and a fingers-worth of lace.

S: The stout has a soft, slightly sweet roasted malt aroma.

T: This stout is a solid west coast version, with a pronounced hop content. The malts are roasted and deep, adding a good deal of big taste to this beer. There are some chocolatey notes hidden in there too.

M: The stout is very drinkable with a manageable abv of 6%.

D: Very drinkable, the hops are not too strong (like their Impy Stout) but they provide a nice presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2006 21:52:13 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap, appropriately, at Shakespeare's in Kalamazoo.

First off, I have to mention this was only $3.75 for a 20 oz. pint while it costs $5.25 for a 22 oz. bomber at Tiffany's in K-zoo. Anyways, Shakespeare Stout is basically, combines a rich and smooth cocoa and coffee malt profile with IPA-like hops flavors. It's a great mix of chocolate and citrus hops, hop chocolate if you will. I think the yeast masks, or takes the edge off, the grains. They're just not as big or complex as a good stout could be. Another good example of a bitter, but dark beer is Smuttynose's Robust Porter, check that out for the malt profile I'm talking about.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2007 20:38:09 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Have had it in the bottle before, and remember loving it. So, I saw it on the hand pump at The Sharp Edge Creekhouse and I couldn't pass it up. This beer is huge, the appearance is a deep ruby black body with a nice pillowing tannish brown head. The first sniff, I was shocked at the amount of cascade hop aroma that hit me in the face. The deep chocolate and coffee tones make this beer's aroma irrisistable. As I took my first couple sips, I just sat and thought to myself that this must be one of the most drinkable in your face stouts I have come across at this point. It is wonderful, pushes the envelop and with the harsher flavor of the dark malts on the tongue, the clashing of the hops are there to mellow everything out and form this amazing brew. On the cask this beer is very smooth, and inviting to the palate. Each sip takes on a creamier sensation to the mouth. Believe it or not this is the type of stout that could be enjoyed in pairs or more, because once you have one you want your glass to be full again.

Serving type: cask

02-19-2003 11:26:36 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours dark and very little light can get through (though a wee bit does). Nose is almost a gummy cocoa. You get that roasted coffee and chocolate that you come to expect from some of the great stouts. But the flavor. Oh baby, the flavor. Rich and full with strong coffee tones and it just stays constant with a slight change throughout the life of it on your mouth. Feel is smooth and it is very drinkable. Even more so than the Imperial Stout for the obvious reasons of course.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 06:18:21 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

The prime example of a GREAT Stout!! Poured into a Rogue pint glass at the Issaquah Brewhouse. Very opaque black with a thin somewhat dark head that was somewhat diminishing and lest spotty lacing. Aroma was everything I'd expect in a stout but just a little more complex. Taste was very much in tune with a good stout, definite characteristics of rich chocolate and coffee with the necessary presence of roasted barley. Mouthfeel was somewhat on the heavy side for a 6% beer, however, this is a great warmer for a cold winter night in Washington.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2008 00:56:50 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Faint light will show through; still this is a near mahogany color. Hard to say, but it appears clear. Thick, long-lasting head. Only negative is the lack of lace (spotty at best).

Slightly chalky... but the rest is powerful, milky mocha. Some nuttiness in the background: almond and hazelnut come to mind. Very rich.

Holy coffee, Batman. Strong black patent malt flavor. Almost chewy. The finish is the bitter burnt malt tastes. The aftertaste is hoppy, but only after the swallow is complete. Relatively thin body for the style. High carbonation. (Interestingly, if I sip only the head, there's a metallic taste to the froth.)

Big flavor without being an extreme beer. Coffee lovers rejoice.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2008 22:50:00 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a nice dark brown/black in color, some carbonation, nice dark tan creamy head, lots of lacing throughout the drink.

S - Scents of sweet malts, and toffee/caramel.

T - The taste is sweet malty with a nice touch of toffee.

M - Medium body.

D - Very drinkable. This is a very tasty stout from Rogue, would highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2006 00:08:49 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in an American pint glass)

A-This beer pours a deep silky black body with a brown creamy head. There carbonation at the rim of the glass is rigorous enough to keep the head going.

S- The smell of dark slightly sweet black malt and some hints of dark chocolate has a faint earthiness to it.

T- The nice flavor or roasted dark malts is smooth and has a slight sour note to it from the oatmeal. The finish has a slight tangy flavor with a soft hint of hop bitterness. Notes of dark roasted coffee come through as it warms.

M-This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a fizz flavor mixed with some silky texture. There is a very faint alcohol warmth in the finish as it warms.

D- This is a very good stout, which focuses on the malts and the hops are just for support. Very smooth and nice to drink but it still has good complexity and character.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2005 03:04:17 | More by rhoadsrage