Ipswich Oatmeal Stout - Ipswich Ale Brewery

PorterLambic

Florida

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Arrives an impenetrable pint of the deepest, chestnut brown liquid with a fingerwidth of tan and creamy foam perched atop.
Smell is toasted malt with notes of vanilla, cane sugar, cocoa, caramel and a light coffee note.
Taste is similar with the obvious toasty notes of malt and lesser notes of cocoa, vanilla, caramel and a slight coffee presence.
Smooth-ish and slightly drying. Medium body and light effervescence. Would like more body but a fine brew regardless.

Serving type: on-tap

05-02-2012 01:50:43 | More by PorterLambic

DrinkSlurm

Connecticut

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into pint glass at yardhouse in Dedham, MA. Pours an oil thick deep black with a tan/brown head. Smells of serious roasted and baked malts and a bit of semi sweet cocoa.
Taste is of chocolatey roasted oaty malts.
This is a serious oatmeal stout; yet sooth, light, and full of body. Lots of character and flavor built in here.
Really nice brew. Worth a try for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 02:28:07 | More by DrinkSlurm

PDXHops

South Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap in a shaker pint. No light penetrates the oily body. A dense cap of tan head retains nicely and leaves sheets and patches of lacing that dry out to crackly streaks and specks.

Big aromas of roast, chocolate and fresh ground coffee beans, with a spike of hoppiness. Smells like a recipe for success, and indeed it is. Exceedingly thick and velvety body makes for an awesome feel. Toasty, roast, burnt and chocolate flavors- we've got all the required stout malt bases covered here. As it warms, bitterness and a citric hop undercurrent become more and more assertive. Both bitter and chocolatey in the swallow, a satisfying finish to a great beer. My favorite brew from a recent trip to the Boston area. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

08-28-2011 13:28:19 | More by PDXHops

OatmattStout

Connecticut

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful dark tan head with fluffy retention.

Nose is packed with coffee and roasted malts with a sweet undertone.

taste is robust with roasted coffe and dark chocolate. very nice swetness comes through with the oatmeal. finishes with a nice hop biterness and dryness to complement the lingering sweetness.

Mouthfeel is excellent. velvety but not to heavy where you coudn't drink a few of these in a row.

Over all my favorite stout. Hits all the right characteristics I look for in an oatmeal stout.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2011 00:49:01 | More by OatmattStout

DNICE555

Connecticut

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

On tap at my favorite little spot in the Berry.

A - I feel like I am looking into the deep dark pits of Hell when I glance at this beer. Dark as the blackest soul. A tan sturdy head that really sticks even when I am putting my nose into the pint glass to smell. I feel like its trying to engulf me.

S - Chocolate, oats, coffee, roasted and rich. Smells like a big beer, especially at only 7% ABV. Makes me slightly nervous and slightly excited at the same time.

T - Chocolate up front, roasted oats in the middle, chocolate and a hint of coffee in the finish. Big bold taste that puts everything on the line.

M - Full bodied stout that doesn't leave anything to the imagination. It gets up in your face and introduces itself. Nice carbonation that helps bring the flavor to that next level.

D - I wouldn't want to face this beer in the ring... it would kick my ass. I have sparred with some pretty fierce dudes... none of them have been as intimidating as this monster. Regardless. I love it. This is a badass stout.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2010 19:40:50 | More by DNICE555

TheDeuce

New York

4.78/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Ipswich Stout....

Appearance-thick black color, tan foamy head that rises up and stays there, looks great.

Smell-coffee, chocolate, alcohol, hops, malt, I get everything.

Taste/Mouthfeel-chocolatey and really flavorful, also hints of coffee and hops throughout. Full taste, refreshing almost, great all the way down.

Drinkability-no notice of alcohol, well hidden.

Overall-fantastic, one of the best stouts I've ever had. Great stuff. Kudos to Ipswich.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2009 04:34:14 | More by TheDeuce

Durge

Connecticut

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

Found at La Boniche restaurant in downtown Lowell, MA, this one poured a pitch black-brown color with a chocolate colored big head and lots of lacing. The aroma brings a tart malt intensity, bitter coffee bean, a bit of sour milk, very nice actually. The taste is a beautiful blend of coffee and mild chocolate, a very pleasant combination of bitterness and modest sweetness. Near full-bodied but quite drinkable for the style. Very likeable with hints of apple and cinnamon, and just a kiss of smoke. Good complexity, smooth, just an all around excellent brew. A great surprise and highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2009 03:26:25 | More by Durge

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Not Your Average Joe's, Watertown 3/16
This beer pours a deep, deep opaque dark brown, almost black. There is a very thin head of light brown head, wispy lacing left on the sides. Nose is slightly smoked, with roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. Taste is great! Roasted coffee is the most predominant flavoring with notes of bitter chocolate interweaved with the chocolate taste, with the finish tasting like a bowl of oatmeal. Mouthfeel is heavier bodied, slightly oily going down, decent carbonation. I found this to be an extremely drinkable beer and could see myself sitting with it for a session.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2009 12:20:12 | More by Jayli

ThirstyBird

Germany

3.38/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Track 84 in a 4oz. sampler

A - Black, black, black! Tan head that falls to a nice ring and skim. Nice lacing.
S - Oatmeal, roasted malt
T - Bitter chocolate, coffee, malt. Very bitter.
M/F - Pretty full bodied. Thick and bready.
D - Pretty good though the it would be work to have more than one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2008 21:15:11 | More by ThirstyBird

jessecarr

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap last night.

Poured in a cold pint glass to a small head. The glass was not the best for the beer. Once the beer warmed, the aroma came through a bit stronger--a nice, but not overpowering, chocolate and hoppy scent that was pleasant.

The first few sips were not incredible to me. I had just finished a smutty imperial russian stout, so maybe my hopes were high and my palate was not all the way ready for a new, more nuanced taste.

The taste left me wanting a bit more--a bit watery in the mouthfeel and not too complex. It DID improve quite a bit when it warmed during the last third of the pint. It then showed off it's more powerful flavors of malt and yeast.

I finished the beer pleased, but not blown away.

Serving type: on-tap

04-07-2008 21:08:47 | More by jessecarr

sleazo

New York

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A-pours a dark deep black. The fluffy head is coffee coloured and has a great wide bubbled look to it. Sheets of lace coat the glass.

S-The smell isn't that strong. Mildly roasted grainy scent with some mild hoppiness as well.

T-Very roasty. Nicely balanced between the sweet and the bitter. The typical notes from a stout come through with the coffee and the chocolate but neither is too pronounced. I was schocked to find out the % for this one. A good roasted quality remains in the mouth which definitely adds to the overall package.

M-Velvety rich and creamy with a frothy top. To say this coats the tongue is an understatement.

D-This is a very well balanced stout. The well hidden alcohol and rich mouthfeel make this a winner in my book.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2007 16:20:01 | More by sleazo

dherling

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured out a dark mahogany, with a foamy tan head and sticky lacing. The nose offers bittersweet dark chocolate, coffee grounds, cocoa powder, roasted malts. The taste is cocoa powder, sweet dark chocolate, big roasty flavours, licorice, burnt cocoa, coffee grounds. Mouthfeel is medium, slightly crbonated, creamy. Hides the alcohol well, and is pretty drinkable despite all the burnt and bitter flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

03-24-2007 23:45:37 | More by dherling

dedrinker

Kansas

3.78/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Nice rich coffee and chocolate roast on the flavor and aroma. Full bodied and velvety with help from the oats I suppose. It was my end of the night beer in a nice, small, smoke-free bar. I would certainly do this again. It's a shame that people are so fooled by the ever flavor-reduced international brands. I guess they're selling notions rather than damn good stout like this one and so many others.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2006 05:16:09 | More by dedrinker

plaid75

New York

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a deep black hue with a two finger pillowy caramel head. There was very good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a great toasted malt with a hint of caramel.

The taste consisted of a great toasted malt with hints of burnt grain. Incredibly smooth.

The mouthfeel was full and smooth.

Overall a superior oatmeal stout. One of the best I have had to date. Very quaffable and a very good ABV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2006 14:56:02 | More by plaid75

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Redbones. One of those dark as night pours, the head was gone so fast, I didn't get a good glimpse. Chocolate brownie meets espresso aroma is huge. Taste is similar to all dark roast, with some 70% dark chocolate in the finish. Sheet lacing left through-out the glass. Mouthfeel was a good medium and rather chewy.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2004 13:45:20 | More by PatandDavid

UnionMade

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a solid, opaque black, much like used motor oil, topped with a thick, dense crop of ashy brown foam. The head hold pretty steady throughout, diminishing to about an eighth of an inch and going nowhere. Loads of belgian lace rings laddering down the glass.
The aroma is mostly bittersweet chocolate and oatmeal. The patmeal lends a pleasant, satisfying smoothness to the rather coarse malt, in perhaps less abundance than your average oatmeal stout. Som light coffee and burnt notes, with a slight toffee sweetness. A vague suggestion of herbal hops, with a bit of plum and berry fruitiness. A bit of apparent yeast adds a rural woodsiness to the overall feel.
The flavor is surprisingly robust, the grainy, slightly chewy malt only mostly kept in check with the oatmeal softness. Charred malt and baker's chocolate up front, intensely bittersweet, with a lighter, less harsh coffee flavor mingling with a bit of toffee sweetness. The oatmeal is present throughout, distributed sparingly as to not compromise the rough-hewn surface of the malt, but still presenting an underlying smoothness, adding some weight to the body. Some yeast is present as well, contributing a slight bready, woody flavor, as well as adding to the body. A touch of blackberry creeps through into the finish, with a light herbal/floral hopping, contributing flavor rather than any noticable bittering. A mild charred astringency in the finish, with the woody yeast flavor asserting it's presence. A suggestion of black cherry right in the end, continuing into the lingering aftertaste with bitter chocolatey malt. Small bubbled carbonation with a burly assertiveness easily carries the flavor, contributing to the harshness in the finish. Fairly full bodied, with a rough-edged, backwoodsy feel tamed slightly by the oatmeal.
Easily one of my favorite oatmeal stouts, if not my top pick. Nothing weak or restrained about this beer, this is oatmeal stout for serious stout drinkers. If this beer was a person, it would have a huge beard, lots of scars and carry an axe at all times.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2004 19:08:01 | More by UnionMade

mikeys01

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on draft, the Ipswich Oatmeal is quite black and opaque in color, with a moderate lingering brown head. Roasted malt is most prevalent in the aroma, accompanied with scents of coffee and oats. Taste is right on par with the nose, surprisingly roasty with more subltle oatmeal flavor than other oat stouts and definitive cofeeish undertones. Body is fairly full, and finish is fairly dry, leaving a slight toasted malt aftertaste...

Serving type: on-tap

11-03-2003 04:30:33 | More by mikeys01

far333

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dar, dark mahogany color with a dark brown foamy head. Smells of nice roasted malt, with a bit of hop bitterness coming through. Mouthfeel is round and full as the roasted malt rushes over the tongue. Also nuances of chocolate and coffee. Hints of hop bitterness linger in the back of the throat. Very smooth, pleasant, and balanced flavor that keeps its rich character until the last drop.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2003 02:26:19 | More by far333

Stevedore

Wisconsin

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

(Note: my personal scoring system uses whole numbers only)

Thanks to bucky10/mtrutlin for including this as an extra. 12oz bottle into a Nonic. Drank a couple weeks ago- going off my notes.

Aroma- a full chocolate nose with a lot of roasty malt character. If I sniff a bit harder, I get a little bit of black coffee as well. A pretty good smelling stout, not too complicated. (4)

Colour- Cola coloured brew that pours a 1cm brown head that dissipates quickly. Lacing is decent- seems to aggregate in small spots and sinks into the brew quickly. More or less looks like a stout. (3)

Flavour- Delicious. Lots of roasted malt character jumps out onto my palate. There is some bitterness throughout and at the end which reminds me of black coffee which I love. Near the end there's some chocolate and malty sweetness that trails off as well as hints of cherry. Very, very tasty stout. (5)

Mouthfeel- On the thinner end of the medium bodied spectrum. I'd expect a stout to be just a bit thicker, not motor oil but a bit thicker than this. Carbonation is good- my tongue felt a bit fizzy after the first drink. Aftertaste is spicy black coffee bitterness which is great. Warms me up too. (4)

Overall- Really well put-together oatmeal stout that has the flavour that I really enjoy in any sort of beer.. especially considering it's a year-round and reasonably priced. It's too bad I don't live in the New England distribution zone but I'm glad to have tried this beer. I'll keep it in mind the next time I go out and visit in Boston. (5)

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 00:00:20 | More by Stevedore

CJfromPhilly

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours from the 22 oz. bomber a cola-like black with a thick, foamy, fluffy 3 finger beige head that slowly settles to a very thick collar. Aroma brings notes of chocolate, coffee, vanilla, smoke, with a touch of hop spicey-ness! 1st sip brings a medium bitterness of unsweetened chocolate & coffee. The body is on the lighter side, with a somewhat thin texture and a bitter finish. Overall, a very good Oatmeal Stout...i'll be picking this one up again soon!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:27:20 | More by CJfromPhilly

homebrew311

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured into SA sensory glass. Pours pitch black with dark brown head that dissipates quickly. Not much in the way of lacing or head retention. Smell is intensely roasty with notes of oatmeal, light caramel, coffee, and toast. Taste is full of specialty grains up front with a heavy dry roast quality followed up by a somewhat creamy oatmeal character. Notes of chocolate and coffee come through with a somewhat dry finish. There is a mild bitterness which seems to be more from the roasted grain than hops. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with somewhat high carbonation. Overall, this is a nice full flavored oatmeal stout with a huge emphasis on the roast. This is a nice features of specialty grains, worth checking out!

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 09:52:28 | More by homebrew311

acevenom

Louisiana

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a dimpled mug. Pours black with a two-finger length tan head. Some lacing is left on the glass as the head dissipates. There are aromas of dark roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. The taste follows the nose. It's very roasty with chocolate and coffee notes. I get some of that oatmeal flavor as well. There is some roastiness in the aftertaste. The body is light to medium with moderate carbonation. The drinkability is fairly high and the oatmeal helps smooth the beer. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 00:41:02 | More by acevenom

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

appearance: Very dark brown with a bit of cola highlights held directly to light. Thick, messy mocha head and lacing. A real looker.
smell: Mocha. Full chocolate with coffee coming in second. Quite rich and complex.
taste: Much like the nose. a slight bitterness in the finish.
mouthfeel: Full and velvety.
overall: A big beer hiding in a 7% Oatmeal. Rich, complex but mellow and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 23:41:39 | More by cindyjeffsmith

maxk

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. It was a little too cold, so I let it warm up to be very lightly chilled in the glass.

Beer looks just how I would like an oatmeal stout to look. It's got what is probably the thickest, creamiest head I've ever seen. Incredible head retention and lacing.

Lots of chocolate, some roasted coffee, maybe a little caramel.

Whoa. This is an oatmeal stout. I've been drinking a bunch of Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout recently, liking it and thinking it to be a good example of the style. I've obviously been wrong, because this is probably the best, most oatmeal-y oatmeal stout I've ever experienced. Tastes of prominently of coffee, with a little bit of smokiness. There's chocolate and caramelized sugar in there too. This is probably the creamiest beer I've ever had, it's like I'm drinking a beer flavored milkshake.

Best oatmeal stout I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 22:00:54 | More by maxk

JohnnyJam

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a pint glass. The date code is printed on the bottle: 09/28/12.

A: Pours black and there is a finger of head that dissipates to just a minimal covering on top of the glass and that stays to the end. There is minimal lacing.

S: Just an abundance of various smells: citrus, chocolate, moasses, burnt sugar and charcoal.

T: Taste follows smell. The aftertaste is hoppy and dark chocolate.

M: Very easy to drink but not as thick as I would expect. Nicely carbonated.

O: I like this beer. It goes down smooth and after a sip; it leaves you wanting another. The taste is so complex and maybe it is the IBU's (which I don't know) that make it hard too gulp it or drink it any other way than a sip and a sip and another sip. Delicious and I would recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 03:53:55 | More by JohnnyJam