Brass Knuckles Oatmeal Stout - Barley Island Brewing Company

akylles

3.5/5  rDev -10%

12-08-2012 02:33:52 | More by akylles

whoneeds8

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.8%

04-18-2013 01:48:58 | More by whoneeds8

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10%

04-08-2013 17:02:10 | More by dvmin98

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.79/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Brass Knuckles is a decent stout. I am very impressed with the body of the beer vs the abv of the beer. Generally a weaker stout usually has more of a watery body. The beer poured a dark opaque with an ecru head that is leaving a spotty lace. The smell is reminds me more of a pur baltic porter...not much in the sense of coffee or chocolate. The taste provides a decent semi sweet chocolate flare that is nice. In additionl there is some roasty malts that help to balance out the beer. The mouthfeel is medium body with smooth carbonation. Overall it is a very nice after hours or after dinner beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 03:03:20 | More by WoodBrew

emyers

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. bottle poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

Appearance: Black color, nearly opaque, with a huge light brown head. Not a whole lot of lacing down the glass.

Smell: Roasted malt, milk chocolate, and smoke. Has a milk-stout type sweetness to the aroma. A bit of wet cardboard oxidation smell to it.

Taste: Roasted malt is dominant. More milk chocolate with a definite sweetness. Caramel and molasses also come through. I'm not picking up the oxidation present in the aroma anymore. Really quite delicious. Fairly complex. There could be a bit more intensity, but for a standard oatmeal stout it packs quite a bit of flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, medium carbonation (I was expecting a whole lot more carbonation given the huge head).

Overall: This was a pleasant surprise once I got past the smell. A very good oatmeal stout. I'm curious if there was some oxidation and how it would taste without it.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 03:41:10 | More by emyers

beersvh23

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -16.5%

02-10-2013 03:28:16 | More by beersvh23

GaryFields

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -10%

01-31-2013 02:25:12 | More by GaryFields

Gross

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.8%

01-03-2013 00:11:44 | More by Gross

ironwill54

3/5  rDev -22.9%

12-17-2012 03:22:50 | More by ironwill54

enelson

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10%

11-03-2012 20:55:06 | More by enelson

ruckus232

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.8%

10-30-2012 00:42:45 | More by ruckus232

DrinkinBoy

Georgia

4.48/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Extremely dark brown, almost completely opaque. It is hard to get light to go through it. The head is a khaki color with decent retention.

S: Classic roasted barley notes, with coffee, chocolate, and some smoky tones. Slightly elevated sweetness from oats, with little to no hop smell.

T: Flavors start out very light on the front with some dainty sweetness. The middle begins to pick up with a milk chocolate sweetness. The finish ramps up even more with an intense coffee bitterness that is surprisingly well balanced by a powder sugar sweetness.

M: Thick body with slight carbonation, which fits the style very well.

O: This is a great version of an Oatmeal Stout. It focuses on the nuances that can be created with barley and oats. Props to Barley Island for distinguishing itself from a majority of craft brewers fright now, and not feeling that American hops need to shine through in each style.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 02:05:09 | More by DrinkinBoy

RichH55

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%

05-25-2012 02:15:43 | More by RichH55

jnikkel

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

05-07-2012 01:31:16 | More by jnikkel

RichardK

4/5  rDev +2.8%

03-29-2012 22:53:33 | More by RichardK

neckbracesub

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

If you ever find yourself visiting the Noblesville brewery, this is one of the best bets on the rotating tap list.

As far as oatmeal stouts go, Brass Knuckles ranks somewhere in the middle for me. A thick, full-bodied pour creates a head that is darker than you would imagine, but the aftertaste leaves something more to desire.

There is still a lot going for this one, though, and I would rank it toward the top of what Barley Island has to offer.

They are a hit-and-miss microbrewery nowadays, but this is always a nice mainstay.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 01:03:58 | More by neckbracesub

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

What's so loved about Oatmeal Stouts is the creamy smoke flavor and aroma with a vevety smooth mouthfeel. Barley Island's Brass Knuckles delivers all the promises of the style and also powered with the moderate amount of alcohol so that you can enjoy more than just one or two.

The dense and dark beer reveals a bark brown color and a completely opaque lack of clarity. That's ok because the denese looking beer releases a creamy and dense tan head that rises early but reduces to a thick sheet across the beer. Ample lacing makes this beer a very attractive and masculine choice.

A malty-rich aromas swirl while picking up aromatic notes of smoky sweetness, coffee, and cocoa. Quite roasty, but with a campfire-ish scent gives this dark beer a dense and meaty undertone. Slight fruitiness of burnt grapes, dates, or plumbs round out the aroma profile.

Flavors bring about more sweetness than the nose suggests, but do so with a rich smoky sweetness of bittersweet chocolates, nutty Columbian coffees, and th milky richness of Whoppers candies. Mild on bitterness, there's a slight woody influence from hops, but the majority of tame bitterness likely derives from the roasted grains, similar to coffee. Low-lying fruitiness may resemble notes of toasted currants, grapes or berries but these compounds are slight and only offer background notes.

Creamy, smooth, and velvety- the lable says it all. This beer is moderate in mouthfeel but heightened because of the creamy carbonation and the rich proteins of oats. A mildly warm finish accompanies a silky smooth minty sensation that gives the beer an extended aftertaste of malt and roast but with the calming malty richness that's so rewarding!

Brass Knuckles is a very rewarding roasty ale that places emphasis on smoky sweetness, roasty warmth, and delicate creaminess- all much appreciated!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 07:56:41 | More by BEERchitect

stanale

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +15.7%

02-24-2012 21:03:45 | More by stanale

tdmccarthy

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.8%

02-22-2012 03:45:47 | More by tdmccarthy

LJWalker

Alabama

3/5  rDev -22.9%

02-07-2012 03:28:54 | More by LJWalker

samie85

Illinois

3.58/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A-Pours a ruby-hued black color with two fingers of light brown head.

S-Smells of that classic roasty yet sweet notes of a traditional oatmeal stout.

T- Roasty and slightly sweet with a dark chocolate finish.

M-Slightly slick and medium bodied with low carbonation.

D-Very easy drinking with that classic Oatmeal Stout profile.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2012 03:26:02 | More by samie85

imperialking

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10%

01-09-2012 00:14:22 | More by imperialking

secondtooth

Indiana

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

A semi-local brew here, and a righteously fine one it is, too. This deep, impenetrably black stout pours with a nice head and solid lace on the glass.

Aroma and taste summon notes of coffee and cocoa. Well-done! It's a smooth, even creamy drink (thank the oatmeal infusion for that), with a nicely burnt malt finish. Very enjoyable, and a brew perfectly exemplary of the style. Bravo, Barley Island!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 22:06:38 | More by secondtooth

cosmonick

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.8%

12-10-2011 04:31:06 | More by cosmonick

Another6Pack

Michigan

3/5  rDev -22.9%

11-26-2011 13:51:54 | More by Another6Pack