Oatmeal Stout - Goose Island Beer Co.

bmwats

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: dark brown/black. pours about a qtr finger, brown white foamy head. settles quickly leaving only a beer ring behind. not much in terms of lacing.

s: roasted coffee malt nose with hints of bittersweet dark chocolate and licorice.

t: tastes like it smells. dark bittersweet chocolate, mocha, roasted malt.

m: robust and hearty with a bit of a lingering bittersweet bite.

d: this thing goes down easy. don't need to let this one linger.

atmosphere is pretty solid. deep dark appearance, decent enough head for the style. nose has a great combination of roasted grains, coffee, and chocolate. flavor follows suit. not complicated but tastes like it smells....coffee, hearty malt, dark chocolate. overall this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2011 20:40:38 | More by bmwats

MasterSki

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Goose Island - Wrigleyville with lunch. Served in a pint glass. The first time I've seen this on regular CO2 instead of nitro.

A - A finger of light mocha foam settles to a thin cap, leaving a few patches of lace. Dark brown color with some ruby transparency when held to the light.

S - Chocolate, molasses, coffee, roasted and light burnt malts. Plenty of intensity for the lower ABV.

T - Coffee, semisweet chocolate, light caramel, and heavy bread. Again, tons of flavor for a lower alcohol brew. A mounting char bitterness and light astringency mars things as one approaches the bottom of the glass.

M - A little gritty and prickly - I much prefer the nitro-tap serving type. Medium-light body verges on watery. There's a bit of oatmeal creaminess, but it's largely obscured by the bubbles.

D - I'm sad they retired this from the bottle lineup, as it was probably my favorite year-round offering. The draft carbonation is a bit bloaty for sessions, but otherwise it's a very flavorful offering that is under-appreciated.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2011 01:15:18 | More by MasterSki

AgentZero

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Black beer, little brown on the edges with a tan head, looks quite stoutish.

S - Chocolate, roast, little bit of oat, great malt backbone.

T - Surprising burst of great flavor in this. I am surprised at how good this is. Nicely roasty and bitter, with a creamy oat backbone. This is one of the better efforts I've had by GI other than their BCS, could drink this a lot.

M - Creamy, fairly full bodied, slightly flat though.

D - Great beer, really like it and would gladly drink it again in this form.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

12-31-2010 04:24:24 | More by AgentZero

Duhast500

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the tap into a tasting glass.

The color is a dark black with a finger of foamy brownish head and some slight lacing.

The smell is roasty with a nice malty flavor. Some sweet whipped cream flavor.

The taste is a bit biscuity with a toast like flavor. There is some toffee flavor that is a bit too sweet at first but then calms down into a nice creamy flavor toward the end.

The of this beer is pretty smooth and goes down easy. It feels a little large but does not behave light a big bodied beer with an easy refreshing feel.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-28-2010 02:37:38 | More by Duhast500

Khazadum

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

While studying for my PDAT 401 exam I decided to grab a brew to go along with my study guide writing. I knew I loved this when it was widely available in bottles, so it would only assume I'd enjoy this on draft. Boy did I.

A- Fake darkness, creme brulee burnt sugar-like cap, and a ridiculous creamy appearance. Fantastic retention on the head and a very resistant lacing that definitely lasted throughout the experience. Strong residence time overall for all appearance elements.

S- Cocoa, roasted but no burnt grains, sweet chocolates, and a solid freeze-dried coffee finish.

T- The opening is both burnt and roasted malts, and rich cocoa powder. It pretty much fades slowly as a whole until the finish takes over. This is where the big difference is. It has a bitter hopped finish that is melded with sweetened coffee. Unreal.

M- Not the best here. Watery rather than full bodied for a stout. However, this didn't hide my discovery of how smooth this felt. It had hints of creamy nature that would fully come out if this was only a bit thicker.

D- Easily one of my favorite oatmeal stouts. Fantastic. No complaints that would stop me from drinking this night after night. Alcohol isn't a major player but it also doesn't distract. This beer is 'sessionable.' I just wish it was a bit thicker in terms of oral sensations.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-10-2010 23:37:21 | More by Khazadum

jrallen34

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On tap into a taster...This is a re-review based upon more experience and drinking it on tap verse the 2 times I've had it in the bottle...On tap its a much better beer, one worth searching out...Black pour with a light tan head, nice creamy with good retention...A light roasty coffee aroma not strong but enough to wet your appetite...The taste is super smooth and easy to drink. A little sweeter than the aroma but still a lot of roastiness, not very bitter.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-09-2010 23:23:51 | More by jrallen34

Chugmonkey

Wisconsin

2.4/5  rDev -37.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Black like it s/b. Very little head- what gives? Mouthfeel is way too watery for a stout, especially for an oatmeal stout. Where's my creaminess?!?! Zero complexity, just a dark watery beer with a feint roasted barly flavor. One of the wimpiest stouts I've ever had. Drinkability is great due to the wateryness, but it just falls short in every stout detail there is. I've had on tap and several bottles. Don't waste your time on this one.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

06-30-2008 20:11:52 | More by Chugmonkey

GPHarris

Alabama

3.68/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

a - poured a two-fingers thick tan head into a goblet. the head was thick and creamy but was gone halfway through...disappointing. the body was dark brown.
s - powerful oats and roasted malt smell that is so inviting but it quickly loses its punch. slight hints of coffee and chocolate.
t - light oats and a hop dryness throughout.
m - way too thin for this style.
d - goes down easily and is a nice session beer but i wasn't thirsting for more after one beer.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

12-13-2007 21:13:06 | More by GPHarris

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pretty nice, but it's not great. There's a little dry bitter bite and otherwise smooth chocolate malts with a roasted edge to the flavor and feel. What holds this beer back is that the malt is just too simple, there's no subtle complexity like in the Sam Smith. Still, for the price its quite tasty.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

06-23-2007 02:15:23 | More by tempest

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled: Thanks Viggo. A clear dark mahogany oatmeal stout....smallish cap. Nose was great: taosty malts, some smoke, nuts dates and some grass..very layered.

Mouth was oily with a chewy malt spine....toasty, smoke-light charring, nuts and spice...very tastey. I like this better than St Ambrose's approach which is sharp bitter and dry...this O-Stout is mellow malty, flavourful with no sharp edges...this is a better approach to the oatmeal bulking of stout.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

03-30-2005 04:45:27 | More by pootz

silenius

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Perhaps I have overlooked Goose Island beers up until this point because they are right under my nose. It is kind of like the local Chicagoan who only goes to the Art Institute or Field Museum once a year with visitors. The offerings are always there, so you never really feel a great need to go and investigate. You'll get around to it sometime.

The beer pours a dark brown with only a hint of light passing through it if you hold it just right at an angle. The head looks nice at first, but then disappears except for a slight ring around the glass.

The smell is coffee, chocolate, caramel, and nuts. Not overwhelming, but pretty easily detectable.

The taste echoes the smell and is quite nice. This may become a regular rotator through my fridge. I was pretty impressed.

Mouthfeel has little bit of carbonation zing to it. Not quite as creamy as I would like, but nice.

This beer at 5% is a very nice session beer and rates as very high drinkability in my book!

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

04-26-2004 03:01:38 | More by silenius

cokes

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Transparent dirty ruby. Tan head visits briefly, then fades away.
Nose is introverted. Slight roastiness, with traces of seeping sweetness.
Taste is no different, really. Far from bold. This arrives with some mild mocha hues. Oatmeal is present, and enough to please fans of the style. The oats are all this has going for it. The roastiness fades, but the lightly sweet grain oat perseverate. Hopping is there in the end, but not worth talking about.
Thin and oily in the mouth.
Plenty easy to guzzle a few, but hardly worth shouting about. Or even speaking at conversational volume.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

01-19-2004 07:14:07 | More by cokes

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful dark brown/black with a dense, foamy dark tan head. Mild roasted aroma with some chocolate notes. Taste is sweet malt upfront with a very mildly hopped finish. Very dry on the finish. This beer has very good balance but it does not have any real highlights to really grab you. Excellent session beer, my drinking partner commented that we could have sat all afternoon drinking these things.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

12-29-2003 02:56:43 | More by CRJMellor

granger10

Wisconsin

3.28/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

This one was a bit thin for my liking. It also seemed to lack much carbonation. The head was rather weak. With that being said, the flavor was quite nice. It was sweet yet balanced. Finishes rather nicely also. But it could've been stronger with more carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

10-27-2003 21:28:02 | More by granger10

beerguy101

California

2.9/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Black color, medium tannish head. Aroma is chocolaty. A lighter bodied Oatmeal Stout. Deeply roasted malts, subtle chocolate flavor. Kind of dry, Mouthfeel is full and round and a little thin for an Oatmeal Stout. Finish is smooth. Aftertaste is malty

Serving type: on-tap
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

08-18-2003 00:32:07 | More by beerguy101

4DAloveofSTOUT

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to TATURBO for this sample!

bottled 10/26/2009.

reviewed from notes taken on 4/25/12.

6oz sample into snifter glass.

Appearance: oily black boided beer with a small brown ring on the beer.

Smell: coffee grounds, peanut shell and a saltiness. Odd combonation, but it smells decent.

Taste: surprisingly roasty with a mild sweetness from the malt profile. Just a hint of oat. Little bit of oxidation too.

Mouthfeel: thin body with low carbonation. Nice clean mouthfeel on this older stout.

Overall: To my surprise this beer was enjoyable with a little age on it. Its more roasty and i get no olive note as compared to when i have tried this beer fresh a long time ago.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

04-29-2012 01:30:39 | More by 4DAloveofSTOUT

TATURBO

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Goose Island Oatmeal Stout dated 10/26/09. Drank at 2.5 years of age on bottle.
A: Dark brown with no carbonation. 3.5

S: Oxidized & Peanut Shell 3.5

T: Super Roasty! Coffee. Tastes damn good for it's age. Not really complex but still good stuff. 4

M: Not much tingle to the tongue, but not totally flat either. 3.5

O: Has held up well for it's age. A Good offering from Goose when it was fresh and still good at 2 1/2 years. Bring this beer back! 3.75 IMO.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

04-26-2012 17:03:02 | More by TATURBO

brentk56

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A beautiful stout pour, with a massive beige head laying on top of the black liquid; great retention and many spots of lace

Smell: Oatmeal and chocolate, with brown sugar and a hint of raisin

Taste: Chocolate, up front, with a bit of roast and raisin developing by mid-palate, when the sweeter brown sugar influence kicks in; a bit of mocha, after the swallow, though the finish is marshmallow sweet, with a bit of a breakfast cereal character

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body and creamy, with moderate carbonation

Overall: Although this was bottled on 2/1/10, it still drinks nicely; not a great oatmeal stout, but a very good one

Thanks, Cresant, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

11-23-2011 00:23:42 | More by brentk56

readbaron

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours a cloudy dark brown with light

smell is good - complex - sweet malts, bready malts, a bit of molasses, and a hint of smoke.

Taste is less complex than the nose but still very tasty. A lot more bread and cereal than sweetness. Some burnt caramel/molasses flavors.

Mouthfeel is solid - medium bodied, and a bit dry. Smooth, but not as creamy as I usually think of with oatmeal stouts.

Overall - a really solid beer. I wish GI would make more of this and less 312.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

09-09-2011 01:14:31 | More by readbaron

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Good but not great by stout standards. Very dark brown, but pretty thin overall. Lacing and foam is ok.

Smell: Good combination of molasses, coffee, and chocolate.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Excellent balance in the flavors. Definitely on the sweet/breakfasty side when it comes to stouts. Mouthfeel doesn't stand up to flavors, but is creamy enough.

Drinkability: An easy-drinking stout.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

08-04-2011 00:45:29 | More by tjsdomer2

scottfrie

California

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into Delirium tremens snifter. Thanks to the generous BA who sent me this extra months ago. Bottled over a year ago on 2/1/2010.

A: Pours darn near black with a huge, thick, dark brown head that slowly faded into a thin collar leaving very little lace.
S: I get predominant notes of bitter chocolate with hints of caramel and dry oats. Pretty straight forward.
T: Big notes of chocolate syrup with a touch of molasses. There is a hint of cream and toasted oats in the finish. Aftertaste is sugary and quick with a hint of coffee that lingers.
M: Tingly carbonation with a fairly thin mouthfeel and body that is on the lighter side of medium.
O: Glad I got to try it but there are better out there. There’s nothing wrong with this beer, it’s just not that memorable.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

04-25-2011 03:37:29 | More by scottfrie

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a deep brown/black, thick and opaque, no light getting through on this one. A nice one inch head faded somewhat quickly to leave a nice quarter inch layer of lace on the top. Very nice streaking down the glass at first, but as it warmed this ceased. Smell was very sweet. First hints are of roasted coffee, rich and very full. Nice aromas of sugar, caramle and the slightest bit of chocolate are up next.The taste was wonderful, albeit a little thin for a stout, but still the flavors themseleves were great. Coffee the biggest flavor here, followed by caramel and chocolate rounding the corners off, maybe even a touch of a smoked scent in there, very nice. Good carbonation, however looses a couple points for the thin feel. Very nice smooth finish, not dry at all. This one definatly asks you back for another try. This is very sessionable, goes down almost too easy, could drink it in a gulp almost, good call IMO.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

02-21-2011 02:59:17 | More by mikesgroove

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a very dark brown-amber with a small, light brown head that reduces very quickly. No lacing, no remaining bubbles around glass.

Smell: Full of melted chocolate, hazelnuts, coffee-with-heavy-cream, some roastiness, some malt sweetness.

Taste: Older or soured coffee, 60% and above chocolate, prunes, maybe bitter raisins, some roasted/burnt flavors.

Mouthfeel: Possibly over-carbonated for the style, and a bit light for a "stout" beer. The smoothness is right on for an oatmeal stout.

Drinkability: Well-rounded and very enjoyable. Only slightly "off" in the slightly harsh carbonation and moderate body. Sorry to see it discontinued, was one of my preferred oatmeal stouts.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

01-17-2011 06:28:48 | More by falloutsnow

bishopdc0

Maine

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dark brown black with very nice tan head that maintains and laces.

The aroma is sweet chocolate mostly and hints of coffee. very nice

The taste is pleasant a great beer to enjoy with steak. The taste starts sweet with a light carbonation that builds to reveal a chocolate and coffee bitter-sweetness and finishes dry.

Aside from the dry end this is an easy to drink beer with an average mouth.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

11-30-2010 00:44:30 | More by bishopdc0

AEK

United Kingdom (Wales)

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

355ml brown bottle poured into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

A. Black with a perfect deep tanned head.

S. Chocolatey, oats.

T. Creamy, chocolatey, oaty,
hickory smoked peanuts, hints of blackcurrant.

M. Medium, oily.

D. A good, robust stout well worth trying out.

Serving type: bottle
@ Goose Island Clybourn, 1800 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago

11-17-2010 12:53:20 | More by AEK