Barrel Aged B.O.R.I.S. Oatmeal Imperial Stout - Hoppin' Frog Brewery

Thehuntmaster

South Africa

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

650ml bottle 9,4% Abv.
Served lightly chilled in an over sized wine glass.
No bottle date.

Appearance: Boris appears thick and viscous during the pour (more so than I would usually expect from a sub 10% beer) and settles an inky black in the glass, with a strong backlight only revealing a little deep red along the edges. Even the roughest of pours doesn’t yield much more than a thin layer of dark tan bubbles, while a swirl coats the glass in a thick brown residue and heavy alcohol legs.

Smell: Oh wow, this smells fantastic! The whiskey barrels are certainly present (but don’t dominate the nose like bourbon barrels often do) and provide a fantastic creamy vanilla character to the beer, while the base beer provides notes of rich dark chocolate brownies, roasted malt, dark caramel and some molasses. As the beer begins to warm, a little dark fruit character becomes apparent alongside some liquorice and a little toasted malt.

Taste: Just as the nose suggested, this is absolutely delicious! Notes include: Deep roasted malt, rich dark caramel, bittersweet dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruits, liquorice and a little whiskey character in the finish. One of the few faults I can find (and it is a small one) is that as the beer warms, the barrel character seems to get a little lost behind the other flavours.

Mouthfeel: Given the appearance I wasn’t expecting there to be much in the way of carbonation, however surprisingly the carbonation is of a medium level and quite creamy. The body is just about spot on – full and quite sticky.

Overall: This was my first beer Hoppin Frog and I must say, I am very impressed. I can’t wait to get to the other beers I have from these guys.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 17:44:47 | More by Thehuntmaster

lunarbrew

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sexy beer. Very dark and viscus with only a little dark brown head. This looks very tastey. Right up my alley as far as BA beers are concerned.

Bourbon forward. The beer smells dark, rich, umami-y, and a little sweet. Not too much of a roast/smoke smell here. The bourbon notes are oak, booze, vanilla, and toffee.

Awesome flavor! Wow is this good. There is a very strong booze and oak presence, which I really love in a BB stout. The flavors follow the smell nicely, although there is a very roasty taste that is covered in the nose--obviously a side effect of some hearty dark malt. This roast covers the sweetness some, which I think there could be a bit more of. While the flavors are delicious, my only complaint is that the beer is a little two-dimensional. I would love for some more nuanced bourbon flavors to come across.

The mouthfeel is excellent. Creamy, low-medium carbonation, full-bodied, and pretty heavy. While there is a syrupy consistency, the oils don't linger too much making this more drinkable than many thick BB Stouts.

Overall this beer was very impressive. I don't know if it justifies the high cost to play, but at the moment I have no regrets!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:33:47 | More by lunarbrew

KFBR392

Illinois

3.96/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark burnt brown head forms on the pour. About a half a finger then dissipates to the edges of the glass. Pours pitch black with above average thickness.

Smell: Bright licorice sweet front to this brew. Malt and barley hit on the body of the beer. Sweet molasses adds to the brightness of this brew. Oatmeal hits on the body as well as the bourbon accents are light.

Taste: The sweetness theme continues here. A smooth front transitions into an bright oatmeal and dark chocolate. Nice hoppy accents in the body give it a unique twist. The barrel accents are light, I could use more of a presence. A roasted malt back end pleasantly bites and sticks on the palette long after drinking.

Mouthfeel: Clean, the body might be a little light for an RIS but nothing to get upset about.

Overall: I've liked all the Hoppin' Frog Stouts I've had so far. I expected a little more out of this one being the barrel aged version but it is still a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:02:09 | More by KFBR392

57md

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance is almost pitch black with a half finger of tan head. The nose has roasted notes, but also some sherry to it. This offering is full-bodied, but not as overwhelming as D.O.R.I.S., which I had over a year ago.

The roasted bitterness grows on the finish and there is also a touch of bourbon present. All the flavors seem to blend together nicely.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2013 05:04:32 | More by 57md

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Review taken from notes a week ago(March 2013)

Got this filled off tap at Ashland Beverage Center(Ashland, Ky.). Poured into a 16 oz brown flip top growler. I'm assuming this is the most recent batch. Cool looking Frog Head tap handle. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

A - This thing is a wicked black with hints of dark brown painting the bottom corners. Rich medium brown head sits nicely on top. Bigger and fluffier than I expected. The black liquid produces a good bit of stick to the glass.

S - Black English malts with big whiffs of sweetness and some ridiculously crazy dark fruit. Good roastiness to the aroma with a woodiness that grabs you. Sweet caramel and vanilla like bourbon aroma. A small hint of licorice and spice. This is how a big stout is supposed to smell. Black and no nonsense.

T - big and bold alcohol flavors give off a nice complex flavor. Bourbon barrel goodness with sweet notes of caramel and vanilla. Thick molasses like within the sweetness. Roasted black malt and a touch of dark fruit. Black licorice and the hop spices balance the flavor.

M - pretty damn smooth for a stout of this size. I've read this stout was a bit thin, but I get nothing but a thick mouthfeel. Smooth and luscious. Goes down very nicely and I found it fairly easy to drink compared to some big stouts. But hey maybe it's just bc it came off tap. Idk.

O - Hoppin' Frog is a fine brewery and they have a stout thats as good as any I've ever had. With all the focus going to a certain well deserved Am Double Stout this time of year this thing was kind of just sitting there on tap getting no attention. Well, I'll tell you now, this thing will grab your attention and blow you away with its all business style. It has the quality to stand beside anything in the world. I've never had the standard Boris, but the barrel aged version is top shelf. I think they use Heaven Hill barrels. I'd like to know which specific bourbon was in those barrels. Regardless I'll buy this again if it's available. A fantastic experience. A fantastic stout.

Serving type: growler

04-10-2013 13:53:55 | More by BradtheGreat7

kojevergas

California

3.73/5  rDev -13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

22 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard black pressure cap and appealing fun label acquired at a Binny's in Chicago and served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are very high given its reputation and ratings, though I wasn't blown away by regular B.O.R.I.S. "Stout Aged in Whiskey Barrels." 9.4% ABV confirmed. 60 IBU.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a one finger rich dark tan colour head of nice cream, great thickness, and pretty good (4+ minute) retention for the high ABV. Body colour is a solid nontransparent black. Opaque; nontransparent. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. I dig the luscious head; it's quite appealing. Right on the money for the style, overall. I can't wait to try it.

Sm: Whiskey is quite pungent here. Spicy hot whiskey, dark malts, cream, caramel, smooth oats, chocolate malt. The whiskey hides the oats; they were much more prominent in the non barrel aged variant. Woody barrel notes. Roast. Dark fruits - dark cherry, maybe some plum. Sweet, sticky. Vanilla. Not finding any coffee. An appealing aroma that adds a nice little something to the base beer with barrel aging. There's motivation for barrel aging here; I like it. I'm concerned about balance, but I'm looking forward to trying it. An aroma that isn't quite moderate in strength, but is well above average whilst retaining subtlety. Intriguing. I don't detect any yeast or hop character.

T: More sweet than anticipated. Not as hot as the aroma might suggest. Lots of chocolate malt, dark malts, caramel, and a bit of cream round out the body. Subtle whiskey notes hang about in the background, surging through a bit more on the finish - which doesn't exactly encourage the next sip. Not as roasty as I'd like, but there is detectable roast - which is more than I can say about many inferior imperial stouts. No floral or yeast character comes through. The sweetness bothers me after a while and definitely reduces drinkability. The chocolate notes are a highlight. I want more of the starchy oats like in the regular BORIS. Dark fruits never quite hit home, instead adding unnecessary sweetness without any real vibrant flavour. It's decently balanced, but its failure to emphasize any of its notes makes it come off a bit muted - or at least timid. The whiskey aging here is well executed, but there's an intrinsic heat to the whiskey. Little oak comes through but I do get some vanilla. A dash of spiciness from the whiskey. It's a tasty little stout, and I can see why it might have been the dog's bollocks in 2008.

Mf: Smooth, wet, sticky. Rolling oats add a nice smoothness without being too slick. Good carbonation. Nicely thick. Nice creaminess; it could do with more. Good body.

Dr: Drinkable in spite of its slightly present ABV. I've certainly had higher ABV stouts that hid their alcohol better. It's a sipper, but that's to be expected. I probably wouldn't bother with it in spite of its quality simply because while it's good, it's not exceptional. And at this price point, I can definitely get an exceptional stout. I look forward to trying more beers from Hoppin' Frog, but this didn't blow me away. I wouldn't mind trying it aged. I'd like to see them amp up the roast and amp up the oats. In my opinion, the oats are what set this imperial stout apart.

High B

Gets better as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 02:59:07 | More by kojevergas

Gmann

New York

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours an inky black color with a huge fluffy brown head that slowly settles.

The aroma is of dark toasted brown bread and light anise. Some dark chocolate covered cherries that have been soaked in whiskey. Subtle vanilla from the oak.

The taste has a big roasted flavor but its mellowed by the oats, not as bitey as a typical RIS. Some char. There is a general dark fruit notes that flows through. Some dark cherries and carob. Smooth vanilla and caramel provide some sweetness. The whiskey flavor is light but noticable and adds to the sweetness.

The stout is well bodied and some tingly carbonation. Fairly smooth throughout. Starts sweet on the palate but finishes with a roasted bitterness. ABV is well hidden. Slightly sticky.

A good imperial stout. Quite smooth. Not much whiskey flavor, though.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:47:57 | More by Gmann

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Portion of a 22 oz bottle poured into a Hunahpu's snifter. From notes.

A: Pours a very dark brown color. The head is a one-finger tan shade.

S: I first notice plenty of sweet chocolate, backed by some dark fruits and a good whiskey character. The barrel influence is subtle and balanced within the base beer on the nose.

T: The first sip comes off sweet and fruity, with the whiskey barrel appearing on the midtaste and finish - like the nose, it's subtle and well integrated with the mocha finish. Hints of oatmeal are found on the back end, too. Good complexity here.

M: The body itself is creamy and medium bodied. Lots of lingering stickiness still gives way to a drying sensation on the back of the palate. I'd reckon it's a little harsh for 9.4%, otherwise I have no real complaints about the mouthfeel.

O: This was probably my favorite beer of the day. I'd definitely buy it again, even with its price point.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 08:12:33 | More by ThisWangsChung

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a solid black with a thinnish tan head that musters but then recedes. Smells of roast, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, light bourbon and oak with hints of dark fruit. The flavor is sweet with a roasty earthy edge. some chocolate but more roast and coffee coming through with a solid shot of bourbon flavor. Light vanilla and wood with a smattering of dark fruits to round it all out. Medium to thick body with a sweet almost syrupy mouthfeel and a light level of carbonation. Wow this is a damn fine brew! The barrel thins the body a bit which I like because the regular version is thick and sticky. Very Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 23:29:37 | More by johnnnniee

stewart124

Ohio

4.7/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I believe this is a bottle from 2009.

Oily thick. Tan head.

Huge nose of stone fruits. Rye whiskey comes off on the nose.

Silky smooth. Huge mouthfeel. The whiskey and oak comes off beautifully. Great bitterness feel. I'm not sure I have had a bigger Russian imperial stout.

Wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:10:53 | More by stewart124

RevRaymer

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The first 3 things I noticed were the very dark color, the almost non-existing head, and the intense smell of the whiskey barrel this beer is aged in. The beer is full-bodied and strong (9.4% alc) but is actually quite smooth. I expected from the look and smell for it to be a bit more bitter and would probably preferred it to be. However, it was nice to drink a strong stout without feeling like it was trying to bowl you over.

Overall, a very nice stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 21:46:02 | More by RevRaymer

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

600ml bottle served in a snifter.

A: Pours a deep brown to black color forming a small thin tan head which dissipates quite quickly leaving only few spotty lacings

S: Great nose. Very woody and whiskey. Intense roasted malts. Dark chocolate. Notes of caramel and caramel malts. Molasses. Light notes of alcohol in the very end

T: Sweet roasted malts upfront. Intense wood flavors. Dark chocolate, coffee beans, brown bread. Toffee, molasses, caramel and caramel malts. Hoppy but mainly roasted bitter end

M: Heavy creamy and molasses body. Low carbonation. Woody, sweet, bitter and roasted aftertaste

O: Great drinkability. Excellent imperial stout. Recommend

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 20:16:36 | More by eduardolinhalis

watsonmd

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

22oz Bottle, 55 Degrees, Snifter.

A: Black, nice dark mocha head, sticky thin lacing during the drinking....

S: Wow. Coffee, woody, sweet...

T: Butterscotch, whisky, vanilla, delicious....

M: sticky, full, velvety, very enjoyable.

Nice find! will buy up the remaining 2 tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 05:20:25 | More by watsonmd

weonfire

Kentucky

4.65/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

A - Jet Black. Certainly has the 'Motor Oil' look. Small bit of mocha colored head around rim. Thick and Frothy.

S - HUGE chocolate & carmel and whiskey. Wow does that smell excellent. That puts a smile on my face. Vanilla and oatmeal come thru next. Great sweetness.

T - Awesome chocolate whiskey. Carmel. Sweet initially, bitter finish. A taste that lingers for minutes after tasting.

M - Exactly the velvety thickness you hope for. flavor combine superbly.

O - Excellent. One of the best Stouts i've tasted to date.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 00:58:44 | More by weonfire

Spectre

California

4.61/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A.Poors like motor oil with a copper head.

S.The whiskey carry's a similar scent to a bourbon. Strong alcohol with grinded coffee and chocolate.

T.Sweeter than you would expect. Milk, coco, coffee, and a strong whiskey burn at the end.

M.Real smooth, not too thick not too thin.

Overall this is a top ten stout. Unlike this unique beer most whiskey aged stouts are terrible.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 05:41:10 | More by Spectre

Dope

Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

No bottle date, assume 2ish years old.

A: Extremely dark brown pour with a big, dense medium brown head. Slowly fading head with top-notch retention. Only marginal lacing left behind, just splotches here and there.

S: Lots of bourbon. Burnt sugars, caramel and some coconut. A bit of oak and vanilla too. Quite a bit of vanilla in fact. Creamy and sweet roasted malt follows it up but is mostly hiding. Some chocolate and a little char I'd say. Maybe some anise too. Wonderful aroma.

T: Bourbon heavy up front, similar to the aroma. Toffee with burnt sugars and caramel primarily. Distinctive oak covers everything. Smooth, creamy and mellow chocolate and char in the middle, with hints of espresso. A bit of coconut in the finish with more oak and vanilla. Lingering oakiness between sips.

M: Heavy, bourbon cuts it nicely. Has a little bit of a drying aftertaste but not bad. Bourbon is fairly sharp even with a bit of age on it, but also not too bad.

O: Really tasty bourbon barrel RIS. I just had regular BORIS the other day (same age) and honestly I'm not sure which one I like better. This one had a much better aroma but I feel like the bourbon overpowers the really delicious base beer a little too much. But at the same time it does add additional complexity and the whole thing is fairly well balanced. Tough call. I think my overall score ends up pretty close. They're both great but surprisingly different.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 04:25:01 | More by Dope

gunpwdr

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nose: Milk chocolate, hint of bananas, coffee grounds, but soy sauce dominates. Palate: Coconut shavings, chocolate cream, coffee on the attack. Seamless transition to the mid-palate where more creamy chocolate features then gives way to coconut cream, coffee, and bitter ashes on the finish.

Good length and integration on the palate. Creamy and tasty palate with good stout character, minus the excessive ashtray action. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:34:27 | More by gunpwdr

JohnnyMc

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Had the regular many times and now it's time to try the BA version!

Pours out like motor oil; completely pitch, black with no head, just a little bit of a dark tan ring around the top.

The aroma has a ton of dark roasted malt, dark coffee and dark chocolate, just like in the regular B.O.R.I.S., but with the addition of a lot of vanilla and oak notes as well as prominent dark fruit notes like figs, raisins, plums and a subtle amount of cherry.

The taste follows the aroma perfectly and has huge amounts of dark coffee and chocolate along with a ton of dark, almost burnt malt notes. The vanilla is pretty prominent and adds some much needed sweetness for all the bitter notes. There is some decent oak notes and it finishes with tons of dark fruits like figs, plums and cherries.

The body is full and the mouthfeel is extremely creamy and silky. You can not only smell the booze, but also taste it and feel it going down. Not bad for the style, but at 9.4% ABV I feel like it could be hidden much better.

A great beer that's worth buying every once in awhile just because of the slightly high price.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:13:59 | More by JohnnyMc

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This poured out as a very dark and very thick looking black color. The head was a deep brown color that had a minimal retention to it. There wasn't much in the way of lacing on the glass at all on this beer. The smell of it had some bit roasted notes along with a powerful whiskey aroma from the barrels they used. The taste of the beer packs a punch of heavy sweet roasted grains mixed with a whiskey essence to add a little depth. It's smokey at some levels as well as bitter too. It's got a lot of good qualities when it comes to the flavor of it. The mouthfeel is really good, it's exactly how it should be. It's thick, oily, and lightly caronated. Overall it's a big beer to take down but I found it to be very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 17:29:54 | More by Knapp85

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 22 oz.. bottle into a tulip.

The appearance is a mahogany brown, nearly black, with a small mocha head.

The aroma has a nice bourbon presence. Sweet vanilla, milk chocolate, bourbon, roast malt, and a bit of chocolate control the nose.

The flavor is really nice and smooth while at the same time maintaining the the distinctness of flavor that I like. Milk chocolate first, then bourbon, vanilla, oak, a bit of general booziness, with some roasted malt and a touch of coffee as support.

The body is pleasantly full with very light carbonation. The finish has a light sweetness, but it rounds out well with the oak and whiskey dryness.

This is my favorite BORIS for sure.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 05:05:08 | More by KickInTheChalice

vfgccp

New York

4.39/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 yr + old bottle, opened in Jan 2013.

A - Pours with a great, fine bubbled, milk chocolate colored head. Low retention and lace. Thick, solid black body. Almost no highlights.

S - Boozy rasin-bran bread pudding. Silky smooth.

T - Delicious warm, dry, boozy chocolate. Porridge. Caramel flan sweetness. Dry coffee.

M - Stellar smoothness. Full body.

O - Great integration, great balance, great body.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 01:52:19 | More by vfgccp

ONUMello

Ohio

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass. Tasted back-to-back with the regular BORIS.
A: Pitch black with a 1/2 finger head that dissipates quickly. Much smaller head/ quicker settling than the non-barrel aged version.
S: A bit muted compared to the regular, though similar characteristics- dark roasted malt, mocha, vanilla
T: The palate is where this is better- smoother flavors, featuring toasted malt, vanilla, chocolate, & a hint of coffee
M: Full-bodied, smooth, a bit of bite on the finish from the hops
O: I can't decide if I like this or the regular BORIS better. They're very similar overall, each with separate strengths, though at $5/btl less, I guess I would give more props to the non-barrel-aged version, even if my end score for this is higher b/c of the higher taste score

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 04:27:31 | More by ONUMello

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Hoppin Frog Barrel Aged BORIS

Thanks to ncketchum for the bottle. Poured from 22oz bottle into CBS snifter. Served slightly chilled.

A) This one pours out like motor oil. I mean really like motor oil. Black.... No light is going to get through this. A nice big creamy mocha head is produced upon the pour. This settles rather quickly with some minimal lacing.

S) A nice vanilla bean aroma. The barrel aging is very prevalent in the aroma of this beer. Wonderfully woody, and a pleasing bourbon aroma engulf your sense of smell.

T) This one follows the nose nicely. Roasted malt, and some nice bitter chocolate are present. This provides adequate balance and does not get overly sweet. Finishes with a good amount of bourbon and oak.

M) A full bodied brew with a light amount of carbonation. The feel is slightly syrupy, but smooth overall from mouthfeel perspective.

O) This is a fine barrel aged stout indeed.... I'd prefer a BCBS or a KBS, but Hoppin Frog can hold their head up high with this effort. This is an excellent beer.

Paired with a fresh baked chocolate muffin.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 00:49:01 | More by RoamingGnome

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Bomber shared with friends and poured into a tulip. The brew appears black in color with a dark brown head. A swirl revives a finger worth of creamy froth that displays decent retention and produces spotty lace patterns on the glass.

The aroma is toasty and roasty with a scent of fresh oats and chocolate mingled with dark fruity alcohol notes. A bit of raw oak and a hint of spicy quality reminescent of raw oak.

The taste includes that previously mentioned raw oak, woody with roast and coffee. Some bitter chocolate and earthy grain blend in with some solvent alcohol that is a little fruity.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest amount of carbonation. A pleasant mixture of roasty and fruity character but with a raw barrel presence to mix things up. It is nice but for the price not something id revisit again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:27:11 | More by stakem

mhksuccess

California

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

poured from a bottle into snifter glass
it is pretty dark not much head
the smell is amazing smell pretty boozy
the taste is not as boozy as it smells can tell it is an oatmeal stout
it is real smooth not hott and could drink it down but seem stronger
than 9.5 % but maybe cause i already had been drinking
it is a definite must try if you can find worth it for sure
only thing i dont have another bottle

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 20:31:33 | More by mhksuccess