Winter Oatmeal Stout - Mayflower Brewing Company

bruachan

Rhode Island

3.68/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

nice and viscous pour with brown-sugar-colored froth (though this faded all too rapidly)

almost smoky roast smells; chicory; molasses. rooty

smoooth finish on this bad boy. i guess i'll work backwards. bitterness inhabits the finish, as well, to make sure the brew doesn't slip beyond the frontiers of my tastebuds. spritzy carbonation, too, to counter said slippage probability (i wouldn't be too offended if the oatsmoothiness were allowed to stand in its own spotlight, however). some sweetness but no more than can be carried by the medium body

hop flavor is herbal yet woody

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 01:59:55 | More by bruachan

gameface23

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A: Very dark brown to nearly black in color. Dark khaki head that is short lived.

S: Coffee and the roasted/burned aspects of dark chocolate without any of the sweetness.

T: A really nice level of ashy malt, some caramel and a sweet, possibly diacetyl-related note from the yeast. The beginning of the sip is definitely ashy, but it finishes like you've just eaten a gourmet chocolate caramel.

M: Not as thick as I like my oatmeal stouts, but it's not terrible. It's about average.

D: I think this is a really good beer. It is probably the best Mayflower offering I've ever tried.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 02:12:34 | More by gameface23

mjn5036

New Hampshire

3.03/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a large snifter. Dark, dark brown on the pour with ruby highlights. Brew appears to be black once in the glass. A small, one finger mocha colored head rises up and quickly fades away. No lacing.

Smell is consistent of dark roasted malts, toasted oats, a sweetness that I was not expecting, faint alcohol.

Up to now this beer has had me... the taste is where it loses me. Watery oatmeal and a faint hint of roasted flavors dominate (if dominate is even an appropriate word) with faint sweetness. Slightly less than average in my opinion.

Drinkability is high as this beer is incredibly smooth, but not enjoyable enough to want to drink a lot of it. Mouthfeel is thin, watery and really weak.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 01:41:52 | More by mjn5036

Bounty628

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Brewed with an ABV of 6.0%, the Winter Oatmeal Stout is a very drinkable offering and the alcohol of the beer is held off in the background of the beer as the complexity of the taste really allows the taste to be the central point of the beer. In terms of whether or not this beer could be a session beer, there is a good argument to be made that this offering could be a very nice snow storm session beer ideal for a night where you know you are not going to be getting out anytime soon.

The stout pours a robust deep brown to almost black color and there is a very nice tan head that is about two fingers thick upon the pour. The head holds true throughout most of the offering and a beige lacing is left along the glass while the beer is being enjoyed. When held to light, there is a minimal amount of light let through and the carbonation levels within the pour are somewhat muted but work really well for this beer. The low carbonation of this beer allows this stout to have a more smooth and almost creamy nature to it than some other oatmeal stouts are able to offer.

In the aroma, exactly what one hopes for in an oatmeal stout comes wafting out of the glass almost immediately. There is a rich, roasted malt nature to the beer that has coffee, chocolate and dark cherry worked into the aroma. The roasted tones of coffee and chocolate are quite inviting and have almost a warming nature to them in and of themselves.

The taste is brilliantly tied together and what was expected of this beer from the aroma comes through in a big way within the taste. The roasted malts are the real winner in the taste and have a strong and appealing taste from start to finish. The dark chocolate notes in the aroma carry over into the taste and provide a somewhat bitter yet sweet component to the taste. With a bit of perhaps vanilla and/or caramel in the taste rounding it out, this winter stout is rich, warm and abundantly appealing when it comes to the taste.

When it comes to the mouthfeel, the aforementioned lower carbonation levels of the oatmeal stout give this beer a very rich and creamy presence. There is a largely appealing smoothness to the offering that is enjoyable and makes you want to reach for this beer time and time again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 11:55:15 | More by Bounty628

albern

Massachusetts

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

This is quite good, it has more the burnt and smoked oaky flavors of an Baltic Porter, but this is a nice fairly mild oatmeal stout nevertheless. It pours a nice thick, inky black with a nice dark tan head. The retention is okay, not tons of lace. The nose has the cellared oakiness, a touch of molasses, and some residual coffee aromas that make it reasonably enticing. These qualities will stay true for the taste.

The taste is very nice if for no other reason than the brewer is not trying to jam way too much ABV into a beer that doesn't warrant it. The beer is fairly full bodied, has a nice smoked oaky and molasses character. The oatmeal comes through on the silkiness on the tongue, but it doesn't quite live up to expectation in that there is too much foreground with the slightly burnt flavors, and not enough real chocolate and dark malt qualities where they should belong. As the beer warms, there is a touch of spice hidden away and this adds some complexity. The aftertaste carries on with a bit too much cherryish oaky quality and it just lingers a bit too long. This is a nice beer though, very drinkable for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 21:13:34 | More by albern

ExtraStout

Massachusetts

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

Very dark pour, with a VERY short-lived thin head of light brown foam. Not much carbonation at all.

Nice aroma, plenty of roast, some chocolate and a slight hint of licorice.

Much more hoppy than most stout brews and that's okay with me because I'm an IPA guy. I would have liked more body though, it was a bit on the thin side.

With that said, it was still a pretty tasty beer and I enjoyed it.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 18:07:37 | More by ExtraStout

silentjay

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

black as midnight with a small film of mocha head that, despite its small stature, leaves some decent lacing on the glass.

very roasty, coffee, some cocoa, burnt cereal grains, and some chocolate milk.

very roasty, a bit charred, and pleasantly burnt with plenty of bitterness (coffee or chocolate bitterness, not hop bitterness). well balanced.

low carbonation works for the style, creamy bodied, but not as thick as would be ideal.

drinks pretty well. well balanced, good example of the style. would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2011 07:03:25 | More by silentjay

gamanley

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle packaged 1/10/2011. The color is a very deep brown with a deep tan head that subsided quickly, but left nice lacing down the glass. Smells of big roasted malt, chocolate, molasses, and some vanilla. The taste is full of sweet roasted malt. Nice flavors of chocolate, coffee, and some earthiness. The body is full and creamy with a moderate level of carbonation. This is a nice stout that I'll pick up if I make it up to Mass. while it's still on the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 04:08:52 | More by gamanley

Stockfan42

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark brown, almost black body. A creamy brown head that reduces to a thin lace around the glass.

Aromas's of Chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and dry fruits.

Tastes of dark chocolate, coffee and roasted malts. Has a very bitter bite but that settles as the carbonation does.

Mouthfeel isn't as creamy as I expected. It's pretty light and more so just bitterness and carbonation going on. Goes down pretty smoothly though. Wasn't expecting this from a oatmeal stout.

All in all it's a pretty tasty stout. I'll deffinatly try this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 04:58:49 | More by Stockfan42

u2carew

Massachusetts

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

12oz longneck.
A) Pours nearly opaque from the bottle. A nice finger thick, brown head on top. Settles to a nice lacing at the edge of the glass and on top. In the glass definitely an opaque body.
S) Subtle hints of dark cherries. Chocolate. Bready. Roasted grains.
T) Robust flavor. Smoky. Bitter chocolate. Hints of roasted coffee.
M) Full body. Smooth. Creamy. A nip of dryness in the finish.
D) I would definitely drink another one.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 00:46:36 | More by u2carew

trappistlover

Arizona

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

(12oz bottle courtesy of plondrigan!). Pours nearly black with khaki head. Aroma of coffee, caramel, milk chocolate. Nice! Taste is roasty bitter with sweetness emerging. There is also a little sour in this-in a good way. Medium bodied with creamy mouthfeel. Finish is slight roasty. Nice beer! Thanks, Paul!

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 04:38:38 | More by trappistlover

bum732

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

S: Big coffee notes and some chocolate roast. Very stout-like earthiness. Some fruity esters.

L: Black, tan head, creamy with good retention. Nice lacing.

T: Semi-sweet coffee malt leading to a dry roastiness. Finishes just a touch of sweetness.

M: Smooth creamy medium-full body. Medium-low carbonation.

A really solid oatmeal stout. Almost perfectly to style.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 04:24:31 | More by bum732

gfreed

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

What a great thing to drink on a we've-already-got-too-much-snow, what-do-you-mean-we're-getting-another-foot-tomorrow? evening in New England. As with most of Mayflower's other brews (the rye aside), this is excellent: rich aroma of molasses and roasted Stuff; a flavor loaded with toast, roast and peaches; mild carbonation and dense body. Have one before shoveling, and then again afterward.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 18:17:32 | More by gfreed

mountdew1

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass. Color was a completely dark brown/black with a thin ring around the edge of a mocha brown head. Aroma was malty, slightly smokey, with a bit of sour. As it adjusted to room temp, hints of chocolate surfaced. Taste was malty, with a smidge of bitter. Finished as a oaty wheaty bread. Felt great in the mouth. Coated very well, with a hint of carbonation. Easy to drink, more of a sipper, but not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 23:29:24 | More by mountdew1

mavbrew

Massachusetts

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

A: Pours a deep, dark brown with a finger thick, tan colored head that quickly dissipates.

S: Scent consists of roasted malts up front, with molasses, which takes over the smell and maybe hints of chocolate and vanilla.

T: The up front taste has nice roasted malts that linger throughout. This is followed by slight hints of chocolate and a sweetness, from either dark fruits or the molasses. The finish is dry with some left over roasted malt flavors.

M: Medium bodied, carbonation is low. Very smooth and crisp, dry and woody.

D: This is my first beer from the brewery and it is a pretty solid brew to say the least. Very well balanced, nothing crazy, but a nice consistent and delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 00:34:09 | More by mavbrew

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Packaging date printed on label. I like that. This bottle was filled 12/20/10. Black beer with a dark beige head. Incandescent bubbles. Hearty collar leaves a few lacey strands.

Love that oat/styrofoam/cereal smell! In your face roasted malt with acidic edges that back off just in time. Carob powder.

The first sip procures deep, alluring roasted malty goodness with subtle dark fruit highlights. Oaky. Bitter dark chocolate in there as well. Body is a tad light for the rest of the beer.

Another great beer from one of my favorite breweries. Challenges Ipswich Oatmeal for the best Oatmeal stout in New England...and I love Ipswich Oatmeal.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 19:50:01 | More by donkeyrunner

Daktyls

Massachusetts

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

Bottled on 12/20/10

A: Pours a dark black with absolutely no head save for a tiny amount of lacing around the outside edge.

S: Roasted malts with a scent of oats and a light amount of chocolate. Notes of vanilla and mild molasses are present as well.

T: Starts off with a roasted malt, bittersweet coffee and semisweet chocolate taste and moves into a light oatmeal and nutty flavor. More malts and oatmeal are present towards the finish, but are a little on the light side.

M: Medium-light body with a light amount of carbonation, suits the beer well. A little creamy and somewhat on the "dry" side.

D: The flavor is quite good and definitely makes a nice winter beer, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 00:49:05 | More by Daktyls

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours quite black but not overly thick. Smallish head retains.

S-Roasty. Some good oats and some chocolate as well.

T-Mild coffee roastiness. A bit of chocolate as well. Some oats and grains in there also. Nice bitterness as well but still keeps sweet.

M-Not as thick as I may want it to be. A bit on the thin side.

D-Quite drinkable. Nothing wrong here.

I'll take an Ipswich Oatmeal Stout before this but this one is pretty good as well. Mayflower makes some pretty solid beers but some of their seasonals are not the best. This one is probably my favorite out of their seasonals. I still would take their IPA and Porter over this however. Overall, pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2011 21:43:19 | More by VelvetExtract

YouSkeete

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a pint glass, luke warm at Cambridge Common.

A: Utterly black with a watery consistency. One finger tan head.

S: Rotting wet wood, raw oats and pale yeast. Simple notes of dark bittersweet chocolate and roasted coffee beans.

T: Heavy raw oats, pale wheat, whole grains, and some vanilla cream towards the end of the sip. Frothy malt body. Notes of dark chocolate gives it a 'bite' rather than an added sweetness factor. Full and aged flavor. Boring (in a good way) pumpernickel aftertaste.

M: REALLY smooth, like a milk/sweet/cream stout. Sweet, but subtle; very non-abrasive.

D: Easy to put down, very tasty, a great beer. MUST be warm and casked.

Serving type: cask

01-07-2011 00:59:00 | More by YouSkeete

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours nearly black with a nice foamy chocolate brown head. Not much retention, no lacing.

Richer aromas here. Some of the standard coffee and deep roasted malt, but you get some light molasses and licorice. Pleasant sweetness and some charred smokiness in the nose.

Full flavors here. Initial sip has some nice bitter-sweet elements, with nice dark roasted malt and some sweetness. You get the oats and grain as the palate clears, which leads to a long lingering light coffee bitterness. Bitter and sweet. Nothing sour, over-boiled, or off in this one. Great balance.

Wish this had a touch more body. A little thinner than expected, but not to a fault. Just my preference.

Easy drinking here. Shared a 6 and everyone loved it. One of the better, if not the best from Mayflower.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2011 01:55:11 | More by OtherShoe2

jamie2dope

Massachusetts

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

Always looking forward to new stuff from the people at Mayflower. This Oatmeal Stout pours out a dark brown/almost black with ruby hues on the side. Not much more than a small amount of lacing serves as the head, though it is much darker than I was expecting. Notes of char and smoke begin the smell, followed by some dark fruit, metal and cocoa. Bitter coffee, chocolate, smoke and charred grain are at the center of the flavor profile, which is complex but not overkill. The mouthfeel is pretty light for this style, but it adds to the drinkability in a big way. This is definitely a dark beer that is not a meal in a bottle, and is sessionable too. This is some good stuff here from Mayflower. It nails the English smells and flavors found in the real thing. Cheers

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 23:30:26 | More by jamie2dope

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Apperance: Beneath a dark caramel colored head of about one inch is well a black abyss of beery goodness and darkness.

Aroma: Espresso with notes of vanilla bean. Dark roasted hops and malts. Minor twinges of carob. There is a dark breadiness in the nose to top off the aromas.

Taste: Lots of roasted malt character. The hops are so incredibly roasted but not burnt. Vanilla and carob with notes of espresso. The oats do show themselves in a dry across the pallate.

Notes: Quite the tasty brew a good one to pick up for any oatmeal stout enthusist. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 02:06:44 | More by horshack7

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a Guinness Imperial Pint.

A: Pours midnight black with a two-inch mocha colored head. The head recedes rather quickly, but leaves behind some sticky lacing.

S: A very distinct smell of cream and vanilla strikes the nose first. It actually smells rather like vanilla ice-cream. Then comes the unmistakable smell of oats: earthy and starchy. There is a certain spicy herbal smell as well, but I can't tell if this is coming from the oats or from hops. Light whiffs of coffee and hints of chocolate lie somewhat dormant underneath the symphony of oats. A bit of cherry-like darkfruit is coaxed out of hiding as the beer warms. The bottle states that this beer was brewed with three types of oats. I believe it. There is a lot of depth in the smell of this beer, much of it coming from the oats.

T: Starchy oats open. The creamy impression that was so dominant in the nose is definitely here, though not half as forceful in taste. Mild fruity esters evoke black cherries. That slight herbal spiciness is there, but it is still vague. Taste stays very sweet, with impressions of milk chocolate and maybe even some cola at times. It dries a bit toward the finish with flavors of earthy oats, espresso, and just a hint of smoke.

M: Moderately thick, smooth, and creamy. Carbonation is very lively.

O: This beer has an excellent nose, but the taste is subtle and tame in comparison. It did not quite live up to my expectations, but it should be noted that my expectations were extremely high, having thoroughly enjoyed Mayflower Porter and a few of their other beers. This is still a solid beer from Mayflower, and worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 21:06:20 | More by ryan1788a5

ms11781

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Packaged on 12/02/2010. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint.

Pours jet black with a very, very thin tan head. A little lacing at first, but it seems to fall back into the glass fairly quickly.

Smells of roasted malts and dark chocolate with what seems like black licorice in the background. Sometimes I'm getting the roastiness, chocolate and licorice, other times just the malts and chocolate.

Taste is similar to the nose. All roasted malts at first with some darker chocolate but some slight coffee notes instead of licorice. As I get further into the beer it seems that maybe the nose is a bit stronger than the taste.

This brew is a bit thin for a stout. Probably lies somewhere between a stout and a porter, possibly closer to porter characteristics, actually. Very little carbonation.

Not sure what the ABV is on this one, but after a couple it seems like it's on the lower end. Light enough to have a few but just heavy enough to prevent more than than that. The flavors are interesting enough to make you want to try a second but you might be ready to move on after that.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 04:02:20 | More by ms11781

Doomcifer

Rhode Island

4.08/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pkg 12/02/10

Pours a pitch black with a beautiful, frothy, light brown head that goes absolutely nowhere. Smells of milk chocolate, some roastiness, lactose?, smells like sweet & roasty milk chocolate. Taste is more milk chocolatey goodness...this reminds me of a great milk/sweet stout. Rich and creamy mouthfeel...rolls around in your mouth. Almost airy. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 01:23:35 | More by Doomcifer