Cowbell Imperial Oatmeal Milk Stout - Voodoo Brewing Company

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.71/5  rDev -17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Had on tap at the barrel room release. Pour is jet black with a tight creamy light tan head. The nose is roast, milk chocolate and vanilla. Rich malt aromas. Taste is also rich, light roast with rich milk chocolate and vanilla. Body is a touch thin in the finish with gentle carbonation. Extremely drinkable but not overly complex.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2013 13:41:15 | More by cpetrone84

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

On nitro-tap at Capone’s,a great nitro beer as its best features are brought out. Creamy mouthfeel, big thick head on a black body. A great stout smoothy. A Good roasting, good milk chocolate,rich, fun, vanilla, milk.A good balance of sweet and bitter elements.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 03:34:35 | More by northyorksammy

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

tap

Pours jet black with a thin tan head.

Notable cocoa and coffee notes with some oat malt in the nose.

Flavor is of coffee, caramel, chocolate, and vanilla with some lactose sweetness.

Full body, creamy texture, with a minimal carbonation.

An excellent chocolate stout with great body and flavor balance, goes down way smoother than it should for the strength, a must-try for stout fans.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 14:23:56 | More by Cylinsier

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Nitro pour into a tulip shaped pint glass. The brew streams brown but comes to rest in the glass black. A rich silk topping 1.5 fingers strong of khaki coloring holds like only nitro can deliver. Some faint ruby clarity is noted around the edges when held to the light.

Notes of rich milk chocolate emit through the nose. It is somewhat roasty with a bit of charcoal quality. Some fresh grainy oat aspect emerges as it warms up. While not a bold smelling brew, everything coming out of the glass is nice.

The taste is milk chocolate, semi-sweet with some roasty quality like coffee. A bit of fresh oats are thrown in there as well providing a faint sweetness that is almost vanilla-like. A very well rounded offering here that hints the perfect balance of grainy sweetness to bitter roast.

This is a medium bodied brew with a rich, silky smooth and luscious texture to it. The feel is just sheer exaggerated smoothness that makes for a crushable offering. The alcohol is masked very well in this which only makes it more dangerous in how easy drinking it is.

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-08-2013 18:35:44 | More by stakem

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.39/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – The beer is served a pitch black color with a cascading of brown bubbles billowing up through the brew. A thick head is left sitting atop the beer, fading slowly over time to give a good level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is dark and sweet. The dark notes are of a chocolate, roasted malt and coffee aromas with the sweet being mainly of a milk/lactose aroma. With these smells there are other lighter notes of an earthy nature as well as some light hints of toffee and caramel. Overall the mix of the aromas gives delicious roasty and sweet smell to the beer.

Taste – The taste begins with a strong coffee and chocolate flavor. These are sweeter and creamier up front with notes of caramel and oatmeal. A milk/lactose flavor comes to the tongue while the caramel fades creating a mocha cappuccino like flavor on the tongue. As the taste advances to the end it dries out slightly with more coffee coming to the tongue bittering it a bit. While slightly less sweet, the beer is vary balanced and smooth at the end, leaving an enjoyable dark and creamy taste on the tongue.

Mouthfeel- The body of the brew is creamy and thick with it coating the mouth in a lighter but smooth bath of carbonation. The feel is a fantastic, chewy, and soothing delight with all the wonderful dark and sweet flavors accentuated by the silky feel of the brew.

Overall- A tasty brew with a good feel and the right balance between roast and sweet. A rather easy drinking and tasty imperial.

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 01:58:50 | More by Darkmagus82

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap, prob third or fourth time I've had this but first shot at reviewing it. Pours black with a massive head.EVENTUALLY settles down leaving abundant lacing behind. Unfortunately the smell is not terribly aggressive; not much, really. Light malt, coffee, hops smell, emphasis on light...which completely belies the awesome taste. Simple flavors, creamy but bitter with coffee/light chocolate. It does resemble milk, but it amazing. It's super smooth and delightful crisp and slightly chewy. Very enjoyable. Overall this is great, highly recommended. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 22:14:18 | More by rodlavers

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This must have been one of the first pours out of the keg, there was a lot of sediment in the glass and the color was a milky brown instead of a deep black color. The head was creamy looking almost like it was surved from a Nitro Tap. The lacing and retention on this were fantastic. The smell of the beer gives off some roasted notes as well as a subtle sweetness. The taste of the beer is on the sweeter side with a bitter roasted finish. The mouthfeel is heavy, creamy and rich. It's also very smooth. Overall I should have gotten another glass later in the day when it was pouring at its full potential, unfortunately I didn't. This beer is worth having though and one day I hope to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

09-30-2012 14:14:43 | More by Knapp85

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Black and benign. Still khaki foam. 3.5

Woody for a milk stout. The lactose is there, but the sweetness/tanginess is subdued. Caramel, dusty cocoa, roasted malts, and milk chocolate. A tad earthy. 4.0

Coffee shines through on this chocolatey milk stout. Alcohol way in-check for the strength. Whole lotta malts with a bite of steak char. 4.0

Smooth with a bitter middle. Clean finish and a spiked carbonation works charmingly. 4.5

Delish. Worth the visit. 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2012 04:55:02 | More by thecheapies

NABS

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I read these reviews and just get totally lost. I don't know all the intricacies of beer, so this is no more than an "Average Joe" review.

I was lucky (smart) enough to head to Meadville for the grand opening of Voodoo Brewing Co's brewpub. This was the 3rd beer I had and by far was the highlight, not only of the day, but of all stouts I've had probably since Evil Twin's Soft Dookie.

This beer poured as dark as you can imagine a stout with a big, foamy head. Over good conversation and people watching, the head dissipated, but lasted quite a while.

The only aroma I got, that I could place, was sweet chocolate, but apparently I just don't know/can't pick lots of aromas as I read others' reviews.

Taste; what can I say. I was so glad I had this last because there could be no better finisher. Taste backed up the aroma. Sweet, creamy chocolate. I saw a gif recently that had cocoa beans flowing in a river of molten chocolate over a bed of chocolate chunk. That's the only equivalent I can think of, just chocolate madness... in a fantastic way.

I don't get the whole mouthfeel part, but this beer was perfect. Creamy chocolate goodness that was more than sippable. Definitely easy to drink in between talking/watching.

Like I said, best stout I've had in a while. I can't wait to get back and get some more Cowbell!

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-04-2012 00:47:36 | More by NABS

adamette

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes. Poured from Nitro-tap at the brand new Voodoo Brewing Company's brewpub in Meadville, PA June 30th, 2012, their grand opening night. I do not recall the price. The price did not matter that night.

A Absolutely no light can make it through the snifter full of greatness that is Cowbell. A nice 3 inch head took its time dissipating. I cannot imagine an improvement to the look. 5.0

S Great dark roast malt but a nice milky/cream sweetness is also noted in the smell. This smell certainly makes me want to drink it! 4.5

T Great balance between the dark roast malt, the sweet creamy milk taste and a kick of alcohol but really it is well eclipsed by the great tasting creamy dark roast malt. As I enjoyed this well crafted Milk stout I struggled to think of a better made version of this style. I could not. 5.0

M Smooth as silk while maintaining that great dark roast and creamy milk characteristic. Nearly perfect. 4.5

D/O Drinkability is just great. Overall this is a world class Milk Stout.

Notes: So happy to support Matt and everyone at Voodoo Brewing Company on the occasion of their Grand Opening in Meadville! Now, can you open a second brew pub in the Cleveland area?

Serving type: nitro-tap

07-03-2012 03:26:57 | More by adamette

jeremy13586

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Reviewed from notes.

Poured in to pint glass from a nitro tap. Took a very long time to pour, but it was worth every minute.

Jet black with a velvety smooth tan head. The head lasted until the end of the beer and it left some pretty kickass lacing.

Very roasty. Chocolate, coffee, and some toffee.

Smooth milk chocolate and roasted malt hit front. The chocolate and taste of lactose subside a bit and lets the roasted malt and coffee flavors really shine, though it is very sweet throughout. Nice bitter finish.

Full bodied and chewy. Very creamy. Slightly astringent finish.

This was one super awesome stout. Not at all what I was expecting, but it blew my expectations out of the water.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-04-2012 18:57:36 | More by jeremy13586

Veillantif

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

It seriously takes about five minutes for the bartender to pour this into a tulip glass (Doobie's, 22nd and Lombard near Fitler Square)

A: Typical stout color, but the chocolate-colored head on top is the real attention-grabber.

S: Right behind the roasted malt there's this hint of—is that vanilla?

T: Yes, it is. Not so in-your-face; just enough to complement the bitterness. Fantastic.

M: I don't mean to overdo the confectionary analogies, but that head is like ice cream. I want to get lost in it and never come out.

D: Quite possibly the best stout I have ever had. With every glass—and I've had many—it goes from beautiful to better.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2012 22:21:59 | More by Veillantif

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Aroma: Bready, like a grainy cereal. Bold worty raw malt, some chocolate and lactose.

Appearance: Black, opaque. Takes forever to settle (5-8 minutes). Tall light brown head seems solid, will not settle. Some lacing once the liquid level starts to drop.

Flavor: Mild lactose and milk chocolate. Mildly roasty coffee and burnt chocolate. Some mild pine hops. The aftertaste is of burnt chocolate and pine.

Mouthfeel: Full body. Slick and oily. Low carbonation.

Overall: Bold savory brew. A lot more roastiness than the typical milk stout, but it works great.

Notes: Consumed on 5/6/2012 at House of 1000 Beers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 23:34:44 | More by soulfly1492

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap said this was 9% so unless it's the new ABV it might be a mistake on there part. Served at the House of 1,000 for 6 dollar (16oz pint)

A - They warned me it would take 10 minutes to pour and it did. I really got to wander who gauged the nitro since the first pour was almost a full glass of foam. After 5 fills I got 12oz of beer and 4oz of mocha colored foam. Beer appeared to be very dark black in color.

S - Very good smell I am getting some rich dark malts mostly chocolate and roast in nature, some lactic sweetness, and very little hops.

T - Kind of disappointed I do get some great balanced flavors but nothing as described in other reviews as "Malted milk ball beer" The roast about halfway almost got to the point of cloying which had me hoping it was a touch sweeter. Finish and body was pretty excellent drinking almost like water for 8.5%.

M - Medium bodied and creamy.

Overall I guess I will not be seeking this one out again. Don't get me wrong it's not bad just not as sweet as one would expect for a "milk stout" just because of it's limited availability, nitro only option (no bottles), and the low sweetness.

But who gives a f about my review right? Cheers on producing this high octane Milk stout!

Love the Big Black Voodoo Daddy!

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-03-2012 00:57:29 | More by DrDemento456

mltobin

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at Varga Bar in Philly.

Appearance is near black with a short beige head to it. Its` nose contains cream, chocolate and light roasted malts. The taste is vanilla, milk, malts, some more of the chocolate. Mouthfeel is medium, a very smooth texture, finishes with a sweet taste. All in all, a very nice milk stout, my first beer from Voodoo...we`re off to a good start !

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2012 01:26:13 | More by mltobin

oline73

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this on nitro tap at Capone's. Served in a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours an opaque black with a two finger tan, smooth nitro head and great retention.

Smell: Sweet chocolate with mild roast and some dark fruit notes. Not overly complex, but very nice.

Taste: Chalked full of chocolate. This is a very smooth beer. The roast is there, but not very bitter. The roast is mostly in the finish with some mild vanilla notes as well.

Mouthfeel: The body is thick with smooth carbonation and a finish that is slick and then mildly dry.

Overall: I think this one is a bit easier to drink than Choklat. Still a chocolate bomb and I'll definitely have another in the future given the chance.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-25-2012 01:16:10 | More by oline73

russwbeck

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A black as night pour with a few fingers of thick brown head. Retention is phenomenal and the lacing is such that you can't really see through the glass where it rests. 4.5

He aromas are very focused on roasted malt coffee like flavors. My nose is also picking up some dry dark chocolate. Balanced, but average. 3.5

The taste reminds me of decadent gourmet chocolate with some roast hiding underneath. Really very focused on the dryer side of chocolate and roast, the beer doesn't boast many differing flavors. 4

Very thick creamy body with a low to normal amount of carbonation. Dry finish. I thought the drinkability was great, I couldn't stop taking sips 4.5

$3 for 6 oz, which I thought was pretty good for a Voodoo beer I had never tried and on nitro. I loved this. Thick, delicious, and tasty. If you haven't seen it, find it. 4.5

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-05-2012 01:09:10 | More by russwbeck

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-dark bown to black color with a compact tan head and tremendous lacing all the way down the glass

S-chocolate and roasted coffee with hints of vanilla

T-rich chocolate with roasted malt and coffee and slight bitterness to finish

F-medium body with light carbonation, nice rich, smooth mouth feel

O-a delicious milk stout with rich flavor and good balance

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-01-2012 13:20:59 | More by MDDMD

mgbickel

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Piper's Pub 06/05/2011

Arrived at my table in a 12oz goblet. A thick layer of dark mocha foam formed a perfect cap on top of the oil black body. The head pretty much retained throughout the drink, dissipating ever so slowly...lots of lacing.

The nose of this will get you mouth watering! Chocolate, heavy cream, roasted malts and (to a lesser extent) coffee.

The taste is right in line with the nose...starts off with a sweet lactose flavor, creamy cocoa in the center and a roasted coffee finish. Very flavorful, but not very complex.

The mouthfeel is pretty much where I feel a stout should be...right on the border of medium and heavy with a little slick-ness and low to moderate carbonation.

This is a great offering...one I have been seeking out for a while and extremely happy it did not disappoint. I really wish they would bottle this one...will quickly become the standard for the style.

Serving type: nitro-tap

06-06-2011 12:55:26 | More by mgbickel

jmdrpi

Pennsylvania

4.68/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On nitrotap, served in pint glass. Appears opaque jet black with a thick 1" off-white head. The head diminishes very slowly as it rides the beer to the bottom of the glass, leaving nice lacing. Aroma is mild, roasty malt a bit of chocolate. Taste is cross of oatmeal stout and milk stout, with a nice highlight of vanilla flavor that really ties it all together. Very smooth thick body. Like a beer milkshake.
Looks like I've got a new favorite Milk Stout.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-24-2011 02:09:09 | More by jmdrpi

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4.73/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First had: on nitro at Capone's, Norristown, PA

2011 batch: Poured a luscious black with a creamy finger of tan head. Aroma of thick chocolate and roasty malts...nothing else really needs to be said. A tiny almost imperceptible twang of cocoa bitterness in the taste up front is quickly overcome by rich chocolate-vanilla milkshake goodness, with the nitro giving it a decadent smoothness. Full bodied, flavorful, and highly drinkable. One of the best milk stouts I've ever had. Easily.

2012 batch: I don't want the rating to suffer because I have faith in this beer. However, apparently due to capacity issues, Cowbell was contracted out and brewed at Dark Horse. And regrettably, I think it has suffered because of that. From what I've had of it so far, it's lost alot of its chocolatiness, and taken on a much more generic and roasty profile. It's not nearly as good as it was in '11, but I have hopes that it'll improve again. I'd rate this batch probably about a 4/5 at the most, which is still pretty good.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-17-2011 13:09:06 | More by Rifugium

cooch69

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a tap almost black into a goblet glass. No head whatsoever other than some very thin patchy film.

Nose of burnt chocolate and black malts, 80 % cocoa and some black starbucks bold.

Beer is surprisingly thin on the palate. Slightly sticky and pretty bold in the flavor profile but only medium bodied. Very rich and almost a bit like a super burnt piece of toast. A bit of hops in the finish, but only enough to balance it out.
This beer is the best I've had yet from Voodoo.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 05:33:35 | More by cooch69

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A nitro pour at Capone's.

A: The stout is dark, imperial in the truest sense of appearance. The nitro pour has generated a cascading effect that never fails to please me. The nitro-infused head is thick and luxurious, a tan color that laces in thick layers.

S: The nose has sweet lactose alongside roasted stout and chocolate. The kicker is ample vanilla, an intense addition to the stout.

T: Chocolate and vanilla, each a syrupy compliment to the other. The nitro has smoothed out the ale, accentuating the oatmeal and lactose presence. I'm absolutely shocked at how good this is, a chocolatey playground that goes to the next level with the vanilla.

M: The nitro smooths the ale out, no bitterness to be tasted here. Sweet stout and excessive vanilla - a winning combination.

Serving type: nitro-tap

05-08-2011 17:09:46 | More by akorsak

MrGumby

New Jersey

4.83/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Second time I had this, @ Hulmeville Inn, Pa.

A - Dark pour with a minimal head that almost completely disapated, but did hang around till the end with some lacing along the glass.

S - You can smell the chocolate right up front and not much else,maybe a slight hint of coffee.

T - WOW ! took me back to my childhood when I would sneak sips of Hershey's syrup from the can in the fridge. OK, its not that sweet, but that first hit on the taste buds is a blast of chocolate. As it warms a little it seems to have a Kaluah like taste at the finish,where everything seems to come together.

M - Nice, rich and full but not too much.

O - I love this, very easy to drink, wouldn't even know the ABV was 8.5%. " I have a fever, and the cure is more COWBELL"

Note: First time I had this it seemed to taste a little sweeter, not sure if it was a nitro-tap so I'm wondering if that made a difference.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-27-2011 15:26:19 | More by MrGumby

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours jet black with a creamy light tan head. In the aroma, roasted malt and a mix of coffee and chocolate. In the taste, milk chocolate and a coffee backround. A smooth and medium to bigger bodied mouthfeel, with a dry coffee and chocolate aftertaste. Sweet to dry and big coffee flavor, hides the alcohol quite well.

Serving type: nitro-tap

04-23-2011 18:37:25 | More by OWSLEY069