Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout - Anderson Valley Brewing Company

SColl

District of Columbia

3.5/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Date Dec. 4, 2012
Type/ Style Oatmeal Stout
Package 12 oz Bottle
Location Home
ABV 5.8%

Aroma: Lots of Malt, Coffee, Chocolate,

Appearance: Black, Ruby-Brown Edges

Body/Texture: Dry, Medium-Body, Oatmeal rounds out the edges really well.

Aftertaste: Chocolate, Coffee, Leather, Dark Malts

Overall: 3.5/5 Solid Stout, Oatmeal really provides a great mouthfeel and the flavors are well balanced and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 17:34:36 | More by SColl

kojevergas

California

3.63/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a 6er of cans for $9.99 in Los Angeles. 12 fl oz aluminum can served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its current ratings, but I have had it before.

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

Paired with hard pretzels (my go-to pairing food).

A: Pours a four finger khaki-tan colour head of nice cream and thickness, and fantastic retention for the high ABV (at least five minutes). Body colour is a solid jet black. Nontransparent; opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Decent lacing.

Sm: Surprisingly tangy. Maybe even some orange zest. Out of place floral hops. Malty sweetness. Oats. A hint of roast (which should be far stronger). Biscuit malt. No yeast or alcohol is detectable. A moderately strong aroma.

T: Smooth with heavy caramel. Some cigar-esque roasty notes. The oats smoothen it. A surprisingly present floral hop character, though it's nicely disguised by the roast and caramel. I'm not getting chocolate or coffee. Biscuit malt, chocolate malt, dark malts. Creamy. Very well balanced. This is one tasty beverage. The orange zest from the aroma is nowhere to be found; maybe it was just the hops. I quite fancy it. No yeast or alcohol comes through.

Mf: Smooth from the rolled oats. Wet. Never too light. Good presence on the palate. Good thickness.

Dr: A very drinkable oatmeal stout. Hides its ABV very well. I'm really enjoying this and will have no trouble finishing it. I'd recommend it to friends. I'm glad I picked up a six pack. Not as complex or subtle as a great beer in the style could be, but very solid and nicely balanced. I'd like to try this on nitro.

B

Pairs well with pretzels.

Probably not a good beer to age.

Serve cold, actually. It's fine, really. You don't need to wait for room temperature on this one.

Serving type: can

12-20-2012 05:30:23 | More by kojevergas

philbertk

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22 oz. Bomber--$4.79 + Tax at Ballard, Seattle Fred Meyer. Dark Black Color. Light tan head. Roasted mild hop front. Slightly oatmeal creamy sweet roasted mocha chocolate doughy body. Smooth clean end. Very drinkable flavorful Stout. 5.7% ABV--13 IBU's.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 05:36:50 | More by philbertk

gpogo

California

3.65/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Opaque black body with a tan colored head that dropped to a foam cap.

A- Sweet malt with some dark fruit aroma. Slightly sour.

T- Sweet and smooth body. Light roasted bitterness, but some definite roasty flavors. Slightly soured fruit in the back. Light chocolate flavor aftertaste.

M- Medium-full body with light carbonation.

D- Refreshing enjoyable beer. The sourness was a bit strange.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 06:31:22 | More by gpogo

jkrich

Indiana

4.23/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from an undated 12 oz. bottle: nearly black pour with a creamy, beige head that receded quickly.

The aroma was slightly sour and fruity; quite different than I expected from a stout.

The flavor begins with a surprisingly soft, fruity and faintly sour taste. There are hints of molasses, dates and cocoa. I was surprised by the lack of roastiness, but this is an extremely flavorful stout. The flavors remind a great deal of Samuel Smith's oatmeal stout.

Silky smooth mouthfeel with low carbonation, the medium bodied stout leaves pleasant and light semi-sweet chocolate flavor on the palate.

This one is very quaffable and refreshing and at the very top of the list for oatmeal stouts. I only wish the bottle had a freshness date.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 00:11:29 | More by jkrich

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.45/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This Oatmeal Stout pours a deep ruby hue but sits black as night in a pint glass. The head was dark brown, creamy and lasted for some time. The aroma is of malt, coffee and hints of toffee; its very fragrant and I found myself simply enjoying the scent. This stout drinks with the freshness and smoothness of the finest ales, it's flavorful and refreshing which is unusual in a stout. Very smooth and light on the stomach, I tasted a rich maltiness, subtle coffee and chocolate notes. I am so impressed with this stout and rank it amongst the very best ales I've experienced.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 00:05:34 | More by KYGunner

Mojo

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

What a magnificent beer!!! It pours a deep black with a nice two finger caramel colored head, some retention, and lacing left over. The nose is fairly subtle with otameal being a prominent note and also some chocolate. Taste is fairly complex. I get chocolate, cola, some coffee, molasses, malt, and some hops. Mouthfeel is nice and thick without much of an aftertaste. Really a solid offereing, although somewhat lesss bitter than Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, which is the mother of all oatmeal stouts.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 04:47:46 | More by Mojo

eriktoyra

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark brown liquid with a hint of red into the glass. The fudge colored head is one finger high and sturdy. Thin lacings on the glass and some curtains as well. Looks tasty!

S: It smells of dark roasted malts with lots of dry chocolate. I can also find some vanilla, dark fruits, dark sugar, wet autumn leafs and molasses.

T: It tasted dark roasted malts and some milk chocolate. Dry chocolate with roasted coffee and spicy hops.

M: Milky texture with strong carbonation and medium body. The carbonation is very sticky but strangely also smooth.

O: A very nice Oatmeal Stout with a fantastic smell.

Serving type: can

11-05-2012 18:44:50 | More by eriktoyra

arfenhouse

California

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a one inch light brown foam. Thick lace rings stick to glass. Opaque black, Very dark red on edges.

S: Vanilla coffee, molasses, alcohol.

T: Bitter chocolate, spicy, and fruity. Alcohol adds well to the mix of flavors.

M: Semi-dry finish. Medium-light carbonation. Smooth, but not quite silky.:

O: Solid stout that isn't too sweet, I would buy again if I had some extra cash.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 10:00:09 | More by arfenhouse

bark

Sweden

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The liquid is black wit a brown edge (100 EBC), the liquid is clear. The three finger head is pale brown and compact. It sinks very slowly leaving some lacing.

The smell is smooth with toasted notes of chocolate, coffee and nuts. Some alcohol and a touch of black-malt sourness. Lots of chocolate and a slightly flowery bitterness.

The taste is dry with a strong chocolate/milk chocolate flavour. Roasted notes of mocha candy, nuts and BBQ meat. Citric bitter flavours. It is not very sweet. Medium body. The aftertaste is dry and a little thin at first. Then it grows with more cocoa/milk chocolate, malt sourness coffee sweets and some spicy hints. The finish is creamy and warming.

The carbonation is medium strong, the smooth bubbles fresh. The liquid is both smooth and a bit dry.

It succeeds in being both rich and refreshing at the same time. A pleasant stout.

Serving type: can

10-11-2012 18:29:05 | More by bark

PDXHops

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle poured into my swank Olde Hickory glass. Deep brown with nice retention and a ton of creamy tan lacing. Nose is a 1-2 punch of milk chocolate and roast; it's straightforward yet pleasingly intense and inviting. As a minor complaint, it's a touch thin at the swallow in spite of the smoothness imparted by the oatmeal. Pretty much everything else is spot on, though. A bit of milk chocolate midswallow, but this is more about darker and sharper roasted flavors, which work well with the citric hop bite. Lengthy and satisfying dry finish. This is definitely one of those "I totally forgot how tasty this was" brews.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 00:49:18 | More by PDXHops

rarbring

Sweden

3.43/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A black brew with brown hints, a tan head leaving some lacing. Good curtains.

Smelling coffee, soy sauce, ashes.

Tasting burned bread crust, sweet dark dry fruits, some forest berries. Some yeast.

Medium low carbonation, soft, medium body, a somewhat dry finish.

A bit wobbly, no real strengths, but not bad.

Serving type: can

10-02-2012 17:03:36 | More by rarbring

brureview

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark chocolate pour with a large head which quickly shrinks to one finger.

Lemon-chocolate smell, with nice carbonation.

The finish is a bit unusual: lemony chocolate coffee and different than stouts with similar flavors.

This stout is refreshingly different.

Serving type: can

09-20-2012 01:55:31 | More by brureview

tectactoe

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a shade of brown so dark that you might mistake this beer as completely black if looked at in a dimly lit room. Brown, oatmeal colored head (ironically enough) sits on top for a while but leaves very little and somewhat spotty patches of lace on the way down. Aroma is sweet, just like an oatmeal stout should be. Sweet, roasted malts, almost reaching the bitter threshold, with hints of coffee. Not picking up a ton of chocolate, mostly just roasted malt and even a bit of creaminess from the oats. Doesn't pack as but of a punch as expected.

Across the palate, this beer is medium bodied with a very nice creamy and smooth texture - something that is imperative to the style and is execute well here. Roasted malts jump out to the front with some heavy coffee bean and oat/grain flavors. Sweetness hangs in the balance, coming off a bit like "cream & sugar", althought maybe not quite that sweet. The malts flirt with the "so heavily roasted it's bitter" line, throwing in maybe just a touch of bitterness to counter the sweetness. Hop flavors aren't very relevant, but they add a bit more ashy bitterness to help with any offset. The aftertaste actually contains a big nuttiness and a little woody note that I can't quite put my finger on. A little strange, not because it's bad, just slightly unexpected, since it wasn't around in the aroma.

Very good oatmeal stout, although I think it may be slightly overrated. Easily drinkable, but there are more flavorable options out there, though this one certainly isn't a bad choice by any means. Worth a shot if you like the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 01:09:32 | More by tectactoe

SGDJosh

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes taken on 9/3 at the Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese Shop:

A – Pours thick and black, 1 ½ finger frothy light brown head.

S – Dark chocolate, caramel, coffee + cream, Mexican Flan, and just sweet goodness.

T – Tastes of Robust and bitter coffee, little bit of hoppy bitterness and loads of burnt sugar.

M – Great carbonation with a medium-full body. It coats the palate with flavors but finished crisp thanks to the carbonation.

O – Super delicious beer, the aromas make it appear much sweeter than it really is which is a great contrast in my opinion. The body is very velvety and at 5.7% it’s a quite sessionable beer.

J

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2012 13:34:11 | More by SGDJosh

Blackwolf

3.85/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass.

A- DARK!!!! A very tar black color, I even took the liberty to hold an LED flashlight up to the glass and no light made it through. A nice chocolaty finger head sat on top and held some decent retention. The head settled into a nice cap. No lacing.

S- Judging by the appearance I was hoping for a strong robust aroma, but there was little nose. I did assume maybe it would open up more, but it did remain the same. Next time I will try a tulip. Definitely oats and chocolaty roasted malt. Nothing extraordinary for a stout.

T- Great flavor. Roasted malts, some chocolate and oatmeal oats, toffee/caramel. A little bit of dry hop. As the stout opened up there was a tiny bit of alcohol in the finish, but you really had to dig for it underneath the roasted flavor.

MF- Medium body, smooth and semi-creamy. light carbonation. A little warming finish as it settles, but not too noticeable.

O- A decent stout. If it is at a fair price, this is a fairly good beer to try. I would definitely want more Anderson Valley in the future. As far as stouts go, I would want just a tiny bit more out of this one. Still, not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 05:41:50 | More by Blackwolf

fourthaxis

California

2.85/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Not sure if I got a bad batch of this stout! Or that's how it's suppose to be, but it had the overpowering taste of carbonated / seltzer water. At the least, it was bad enough I had to leave myself a note. Otherwise, it may have been a decent beer as it's other characteristics were OK.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 04:18:12 | More by fourthaxis

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz chalice glass

Appearance –Served a deep brown nearly black beer with a one finger tan head. The head faded over time to give a good level of lacing.

Smell – The aroma overall, was rather light but pleasant. It was a mix of some roasted malt as well as a light bit of chocolate and dark fruit sweetness.

Taste – The taste began of a more dry roasted malt flavor with a chocolate and roasted coffee flavor greeting the tongue. These flavors are quickly meet by some caramel sweetness and a bit of dark fruit. As the taste advances further, it sweetens even more with some flavors of vanilla and cream coming in at the end. Overall it leaves a very satisfyingly sweet yet roasty flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the lighter side for an oatmeal stout of its strength with a carbonation level that is slightly higher then normal.

Overall – Other than the weakness in the feel of the brew it was very good. It had a wonderful taste profile and a great appearance. Easy to drink and very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 23:44:34 | More by Darkmagus82

pkalix

California

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

black! cant see through it. thin film of dark sits on top.
smell- typical porter/stout smell, but refined(?).
taste- coffee? toffee? a creamy 10W-30? big change up from the previous beers i've been sampling but very good. very creamy. very smooth, solid.
mouthfeel? viscous, but smooth.
overall- very nice for the oatmeal class. thick, but thinner for the class. very nice brew. had a few of these before . . . .

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 02:12:31 | More by pkalix

ninaturner

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance: Dark like motor oil, two finger head, unfiltered.

Aroma: Sweet maltiness; you can definitely pick up on caramel.

Taste: Dark/roasted malts--almost like peanuts in addition to coffee flavors. I was surprised not to pick up on oatmeal flavors.

Mouthfeel: Lighter mouthfeel than other stouts, but still good.

Drinkability: Very drinkable for a stout.

Overall: Great stout for its balance of flavors and drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 23:16:16 | More by ninaturner

The_1084

4.6/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark, almost black, color; has a mocha colored head roughly 2 fingers in width that fades to some nice lacing.

S - Very neutral on the aroma; nothing really stands out.

T - Presents the flavor of roasted oats, dark chocolate, and caramel with a hint vanilla cream. A very flavorful beer with a nice bittersweet aftertaste.

M - Full-bodied, thick, and creamy with medium carbonation.

O - Overall this is an excellent oatmeal stout and I am looking forward to drinking more of these in the future.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 05:02:07 | More by The_1084

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 2/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black. Roasted malt, light coffee and chocolate aroma Flavor follows with toasted malt, coffee and chocolate. A nice, well balanced oatmeal stout. Medium bodied. Moderate intensity of flavor, but smooth, lightly creamy and tasty. A very nice stout.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 23:35:59 | More by LiquidAmber

Danny1217

Florida

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours almost black with a fluffy tan head. Smells of roasted mats, coffee, and chocolate. Feels smooth and creamy. Medium thick body. Tastes nice and bitter. I can actually taste the oats. A hint of coffee and dark chocolate as well.
A very nice oatmeal stout.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 00:33:07 | More by Danny1217

oline73

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a snifter.

Appearance: The beer pours dark brown to black with no light coming through. There is a half finger of light tan head that fades to a ring around the pour.

Smell: Smooth and roasty here. I'm getting some dark fruit and dark chocolate notes as well. Just enough sweetness.

Taste: This is a very smooth tasting stout with just enough roast. I'm getting some dark chocolate with dark fruit and there might be a hint of vanilla in the background. The finish is roasty and slightly bitter.

Mouthfeel: The body is medium with full, fluffy carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: This is a really easy to drink stout. Nice roast flavors, but it still manages to be very smooth. I would have more.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 03:10:46 | More by oline73

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

16oz Growler from Beverage World. Served at around 40-45F and allowed to warm.

Pours dark brown to black with a two finger brown head that leaves some lacing and recedes to a small cap.

Aroma is very roasty, chocolate, some coffee & dark fruits, caramel, minimal hops, good strength.

Flavor follows with strong chocolate notes, roasted malts, coffee, dark fruits, caramel, moderate sweetness, mild roasty bitterness, minimal alcohol.

Mouthfeel is light/medium bodied, smooth, slick, moderate carbonation.

Nice Oatmeal Stout. Great chocolate notes, very drinkable.

Serving type: growler

08-02-2012 02:11:02 | More by elgiacomo