Oatis - Ninkasi Brewing Company

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. A foamy lattice work of lace forms around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, toasted oats, and cocoa. A slight soy sauce aroma comes out as the beer warms up. Taste is much the same with the slight soy sauce flavor and a mild alcohol kick on the finish. There is a mild roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that tastes better than it smells in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 04:46:21 | More by UCLABrewN84

tronester

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pitch black with a super creamy light brown head. Smells of freshly ground espresso. Taste begins with a bittersweet chocolate flavor, transistioning to some light caramel, and some juicy stone fruit in the finish. A leafy raw hop flavor at the very end with some matching bitterness. Mouthfeel is rich, nice low carbonation. Overall an excellent Oatmeal stout, I would love to have this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 22:46:37 | More by tronester

homebrew311

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown/ black with brown head that retains nicely. Opaque appearance and decent lacing. Nose features delectable roasted barley and oats as well vanilla. Taste is very chocolatey with heavy oat quality that also leaves a bready aftertaste. Nice all around stout flavor with great balance. Mouthfeel is smooth and moderately carbonated. Overall, nicely balance oatmeal stout that is more than worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2012 07:42:50 | More by homebrew311

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle. No date (received Winter '12)
Unmarked tulip

A: Pours pretty much pitch black. There are some reddish hues at the bottom of the glass. Two fingers of tan had. Really tight bubbled head. Sticks around.

S: Roast coffee. Dark malt. Dark fruit. Typical stout.

T: Its very cold so I don't get much on the tip of the tongue. Some bitterness, coffee and dark chocolate. Mid palate, totally different story. Good flavor. Lots of bitter dark chocolate. A touch of dark roast coffee hints. Creaminess, from the oats. Lot oatmeal stout. Close is somewhat dry with the roast, but it's not overly dry.

M: Medium leading to full (obviously, stout)

O: B+

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 13:02:28 | More by inlimbo77

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 1/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown. Medium brown head and lacing. Aroma of roasted and sweet malt, coffee. Roasted malt up front, with light hint of coffee and a slightly hopped finish. Medium bodied for an oatmeal stout. Not remarkable, but solid and tasty. Worth a revisit. Great price point.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 23:20:18 | More by LiquidAmber

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A pretty decent oatmeal stout. Touches on some nice character, though it skirts the borders of being a "good" example of the style. The flavor character seems to be less rounded than I would like. Seems to follow suit on the other beers I have tried from this brewery, though this one clings to style parameters a bit better than the others. Well, a lot better.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 22:22:54 | More by RblWthACoz

kemoarps

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful black with a head roughly the colour of latte foam. Beautiful.

The nose is primarily roasty burnt malts with a bit of espresso, some musty oats.

The taste follows the nose, roasty and warm. Smoothe oats, and a little bit of hop bittering to balance it out. A very well executed and nicely balanced oatmeal stout. I am a very big fan of this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 07:48:13 | More by kemoarps

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 ounce bottle into tulip glass, no bottle dating. Pours pitch black color with a nice 2 finger dense mocha head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Some nice spotty lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of milk chocolate, caramel, toffee, roasted malt, coffee, toast, herbal, oats, nuttiness, and light dark fruits. Very nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of milk chocolate, roasted malt, caramel, coffee, oats, toast, toffee, herbal, nuttiness, and light dark fruits. Low amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of chocolate, caramel, coffee, roasted malt, toffee, oats, herbal, and light dark fruit on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance of roasted flavors with malt sweetness; and quite robust with no cloying sweetness. Medium carbonation and body; with a nice creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with pretty much no warming noticed at all after the finish. Overall this is a very nice oatmeal stout. Very nice balanced roasted and robust flavors; and very easy to drink. Maybe a touch too fruity, but still very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 04:29:33 | More by superspak

IPAguy2009

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Grabbed a bomber of this for about 3 bucks. Had it before and enjoyed it.

A- black with a good tan brown head, cannot see through this stout, as it should be.

S- smell is rather warm boozey dark chocolate. Definitely some oats in there as well. Toasted nutty smell also.

T- dark smokey chocolate with oatmeal notes. Finishes with slight bitterness and a sunflower seed taste. What a good sipper!

M- thick! With light carbonation.

O- every once in awhile I need to have a stout, and this is my fav stout out there. Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 02:26:44 | More by IPAguy2009

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for acquiring this. I think this is the end of my Northwest sampler package...

Appearance: Dark brown with a creamy, tan head - retains a wispy cap, produces some wispy lacing

Smell: Roasted malts and oats - an above-average amount of oats in here, kind of smells like a sack of oats - moderately roasted malts, a little burnt, some chocolate - a light, malty and oat-y sweetness - good overall, but lacks the depth of some others of this style

Taste: Nice balance - roasted malts, some acidic chocolate, some cocoa - lots of oat flavor, like a bowl of oatmeal - a touch of coffee, and some grainy sweetness - mild bitterness

Mouthfeel: Medium body, smooth and creamy (thanks, oats), nicely carbonated

Overall: A good oatmeal stout

Maybe I've just eaten too many oats lately, or maybe this just has a lot of oats in the grain bill. Did I mention there are a lot of oats in this? It's definitely good, but not epic.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 03:05:32 | More by angrybabboon

sevenarts

New York

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A: Dark brownish black with a big fluffy tan head that takes a long while to fade and leaves some lacing behind.

S: Buttery malts, oats, coffee, a hint of a nutty aroma.

T/M: Delicious and creamy, with lots of sweet malts layered. Caramel, coffee, oats, some subdued roasty flavors. Really smooth and great. The caramel comes out more as it warms but never gets overwhelming or cloying the way caramel malts in beers sometimes do. Amazingly creamy mouthfeel.

O: A great oatmeal stout with loads of flavor and complexity.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 22:11:10 | More by sevenarts

stooge

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- very dark brown, not opaque, 1/2 finger head that dissipates quickly, excellent lacing

S -chocolate, butter, caramel

T- bittersweet chocolate, toffee, with a nice roasted coffee flavor on the back end

F- surprisingly thin with lots of carbonation and nice finish

O- not as thick as I expected but nice complex flavor with a pleasant finish.

Serving type: bomber bottle poured into imperial pint glass

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2012 04:00:14 | More by stooge

EricCioe

Montana

3.95/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

After this won best in show at the Garden City Brewfest, I've been itching to try it. I was judging but this one wasn't on our table.

This pours black with a frothy sand-colored head. On the nose there are toasted oats and roasted malt, maybe a bit of bitter chocolate. It's a simple nose but a good one. In the mouth the toasted oats are clearly in the lead, but there is chocolate, pine, and charred malt here too. It isn't as velvety as the best examples in the style but the body is medium full and nice. The finish is long but a bit too fixated on the bitterness to me.

Overall, this is a fine example of the style, with perhaps just a little bit too much bitterness for my tastes. With a few tweaks this could be up there with HBI for me, and that's high praise.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 03:20:42 | More by EricCioe

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-dark brown black color with a nice tan head and good lacing

S-chocolate and coffee, slight sweetness

T-dark roasted coffee, chocolate, burnt caramel, slight bitterness

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth not rich feel

O-a good oatmeal stout with a good array of flavors

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 03:10:06 | More by MDDMD

GordonofSeattle

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

While this beer has a fairly average appearance, it' smell is aluring like a thick dusty leatherbound book.

Taste: roast coffee, chocolate, smooth. First impression was that it tasted somewhat burnt, but this mellowed out as tasting went on.

Mouthfeel: Smooth like an oatmeal stout should be, but the 7 abv makes it a bit too punchy for my taste.

Seriously if they toned down the abv I think it could be a terrific beer. As is, it is roasty and smooth, but simply too alcoholic. From Ninkasi I expected a better rendition of the oatmeal stout.

Favorite beers (for comparison, after all taste preferences are subjective): Elysian's Daedalus Irish Stout, Rogue's Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Allagash's White Ale, New Belgium's 1554, Full Sail's Wassail, etc. Beers I don't like: IPAs (with few exceptions)

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 04:13:57 | More by GordonofSeattle

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Rich, roasty, and refined- with all the kind words that I can say about the beer that begin with "r", why is there no r's in Oatis Oatmeal Stout?

Sturdy and stout (ok we're in sych with the phonic adjectives), the appearance of opaque bark-brown builds a dense and creamy head of tan foam that retains and laces just as a protien-laden Oat infused Stout should. The beer simply looks like a gentlemanly beer.

Malty-rich aromas of dry chocolate, not quite cocoa powder but certainly cocoa-heavy varieties set the tone while accepting a helping hand from roasty flavors of French press coffees, charred woods and the scent of heavy whipping cream. Solid, yet somewhat understated and focused.

Flavors are bolder and still portray the bittersweet chocolate taste, strong and silky coffees- just shy of espresso, and a milky candyish taste that reminds me of Whoppers candies. Moderately bitter from earthy hops and also the roasted grain that reaffirms the coffee tones in finish and aftertaste.

Very richly texture, the protien of oats make a solid stand in the mouthfeel of the ale. Full and creamy to start, a slow procession across the palate reveals an even-keel development toward fleeting malt richness, heightened bitter/dry interplay, and a malty-dry finish of warmth and bitter alcohols.

I love it that the beer doesn't make compromises. It doesn't try to give lighter impressions to gain the consumership of timid beer drinkers. Nor does it propel into imperial status in a showy kinda way. It's a strong Oatmeal Stout- take it or leave it. I take it! Thanks a bunch Steamhead!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 07:09:21 | More by BEERchitect

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.85/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled September 2011
A steady pour into my Lost Abbey Teku glass produces a three-finger thick, nicely browned, tan colored head; the beer leaves some nice, layered lacing on the sides of my glass as it slowly subsides. The beer is a dark, almost black color that shows a clear, deeply concentrated, blackened ruby hue when held up to the light. The aroma smells of roasted cocoa smooth coffee and ample toasted malt that lies just above a fruitiness that has touches of berries and perhaps even some blackened cherry notes (some of this seems to be brought out by a not quite noticeable alcohol note). The dark malt character has an interesting whole grain spiciness to it and there is also a sort of smooth, oatmeal like graininess that gets wrapped up into the roasted malt character that defines the aroma.

Somewhat light bodied up front, it does pick up a touch of viscous and palate heft towards the end. There is a dark malt sweetness to this beer that is cleaned out in the finish by a dry, roasted, slightly bitter, black malt character. The up front, dark, complex malt sweetness accentuates a fair amount of chocolate flavors, but really tastes of deeply toasted, malt sweetness that is sort of a mix of burnt caramelized malt sugars, perhaps a touch of roasted molasses and some dark brown sugar notes. The roast character reminds me of a malt sweetened, French roast coffee that perhaps has a touch of chocolate in it. The beer is surprisingly light bodied for a beer of 7+% alcohol, though I would say it is quite quaffable, but it is quite drinkable. The beer has a touch more carbonation than is really necessary, luckily a couple quick swirls gets rid of the excess carbonation and helps to smooth things out. The fruit character in the flavor is much more subtle than it is in the aroma, though it does contribute some slight notes of burnt plums.

Definitely a nice beer, I was expecting a beer that was a little bigger at this strength; some extra malt would actually help to balanced out the ample roast character and would help to accentuate the viscous character one expects from an oatmeal stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 02:58:52 | More by Gueuzedude

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle, unknown date. Served at around cellar temperature.

Pours dark brown to black with a large three finger creamy brown head, almost looks like nitro at first. Leaves some walls of lacing and holds a really good cap. Purty.

Aroma is roasted malts, some coffee & chocolate, a bit of dark fruits, some grass & grain, a hint of husky astringency. Good strength.

The aroma is a little meh, but the flavor really packs a nice punch. This is rather sweet overall, a lot of chocolate, some coffee, roasted malts, dark fruits such as raisins and plums, a hint of cherries, minimal hop presence, minimal alcohol, finishes with decent sweetness.

Mouthfeel is typical oatmeal stout...super creamy and smooth, lowish carbonation, crazy drinkable.

This is quite a nice Oatmeal Stout. The aroma lacks a bit (but is growing on me as I work through the bottle). Nice appearance, flavor and especially mouthfeel. Has some Sweet Stout characteristics as well. Good stuff!

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 02:30:46 | More by elgiacomo

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A: Poured a dark brown with good carbonation leaving a nice tan cap, bubbles and some lacing

S: Hints of roasted malt, cocoa and light oats

T: Immediate roasted malt, with bitter cocoa and a little bit oats. I was looking for more oats and less roasted malt.

M: Medium to big body, not really creamy,as a matter of fact a bit overcarbonated for the style, lacking on oats flavor

O: Average

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 01:24:28 | More by barleywinefiend

bearsxco

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Received on a trade with Djeucalyptus . Another nice one, thanks

A- poured black, apaque in color. Half finger tan head that dissipates quickly. Slight lacing.

S- smell almost non existent if that's possible. Mild malt and chocolate aroma.

T- slight burnt malt taste with a little hop bite. Slight coffee and chocolate aftertaste.

M- carbonation right up front, fades quickly. Not heavy at all. Just what you would expect from an oatmeal stout.

O- a good oatmeal stout. Nice flavor. Would buy again. Nice change from " flavored" stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 00:59:53 | More by bearsxco

sommersb

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 01-07-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 22 oz. brown bottle
Glassware: Nonic pint
Purchased: Received in a trade

A: Opaque and black in color, with a creamy, tan head of 3 fingers. Retention and lacing of the head are good.

S: Toasted malt character, with chocolate and coffee aromas as well.

T: Roasted grains and dark chocolate are the main flavors. Some hop bitterness, along with some coffee-like roast bitterness.

M: Smooth, with a moderate amount of carbonation. Finishes dry, not as sweet as other oatmeal stouts I've had. Aftertaste is of bitter coffee and chocolate.

O: I liked this stout, although I think it could use a little more sweetness.

Thanks to my cousin Brian for this one!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 06:36:25 | More by sommersb

vande

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a - dark brown on the verge of blackness...a pleasant tannish layer of head the quickly recedes leaving a laced evidence of its earlier presence

s - robust, roasted malts...darker chocolate..touch sweet...
*my wife said it smelled like pot, like many of the beers I drink....which I thought was kind a funny...

t - Yummy! Filling of roasted dark malts, chocolate-coco, with a hint of bitterness blended in...

m - as it warms, it becomes somewhat creamier.. a nice, medium-to-heavy bodied stout..

o - I think, my favorite offering from Ninkasi thus far! Perfect winter drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 05:29:18 | More by vande

dogfishandi

New York

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

recieved in the noob bif thanks to mizzouguy!

22oz bomber at fridge temp poured into a pint glass. split with friends.

pours out pretty much black with a very nice thick tan/ light mocha colored head slightly darker on the edges. great retention and lots of sticky webby lace. looks great!

dark roasted malt, burnt, cocoa, bits of dark chocolate and dark fruits.

dark burnt roasted malts, cocoa, dark fruits, a little dark chocolate. finishes with a little creamy oatmeal and pretty substantial bitterness for the style. a nice dark fruity chocolate taste lingers with the bitterness.

mouthfeel is a bit off, too much carbonation which makes it feel a bit thin. maybe not as creamy as most oatmeal stouts.

definatly an enjoyable beer, if this was local to me, i could see drinking this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 20:16:46 | More by dogfishandi

harrymel

Washington

1.55/5  rDev -60.5%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Bottled: unk

A: dark brown on black with a sheet of light mocha foam. Spotty lace.
S: Smells like a bag of buttered popcorn (before it gets popped). This is a complete failure to the nose for a stout. That being said, it's almost fetish like with it's tones.
T: Still buttery, with some roasted malts, burnt caramel, a weird manure tone.
M: medium on full bodied with lower carb, semi dry finish. Pretty decent here.
O: This beer is not a good example of an oatmeal stout. could be the bottle, but I won't know unless somebody else gives me some of their bottle, because this is shite.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 15:11:19 | More by harrymel

cdkrenz

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cellared below 45 degrees since November 2010 (1 Year).

A - Extremely brown, I suppose I would call it black. It's topped by a medium brown head that starts out around an inch but drops to an eighth of an inch before slowing its retreat.

S - Chocolate, dark coffee and a bit of a woody character in the scent too.

T - It offers a nice burnt malt flavor that's very nice. No real hop presence to discuss, and the chocolate that was evident in the aroma is covered firmly by the burnt malt.

M - Medium to thick body without allot of carbonation. The texture is smooth, silky and soft. This could be a byproduct of both the oatmeal and the cellaring. In the end it leaves a nice stickiness on my lips. Well done.

~ This is a good beer and one I would certainly recommend to my friends. It's not necessarily something I would seek out again if I make it back to the Pacific Northwest but if it presented itself I would take advantage.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 02:03:31 | More by cdkrenz