Earl Coffee Oatmeal Stout - Hill Farmstead Brewery

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- pours dark brown, almost black with a nice 1 finger head that has moderate retenrion. Some lacing left on the glass after the heads gone. Body is black and cant be seen through. Looks pretty good

S- gigantic coffee bean scent thats more sweet than bitter. Sweet malt is there but behind the coffee.

T- sweet coffee thats nice and not overboard. Becomes subtly bitter in the middle and roasty on the finish. Very nice and balanced stout.

M- feels about medium on the tongue with very little carbonation (probably because of the growler). Feels good.

O- very nice stout. Everything is good and well balanced.

Serving type: growler

08-17-2011 00:14:31 | More by Gushue3

WanderingFool

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Earl pours black with a moderate sized creamy tan head on top. The foam fades slowly leaving minimal lacing on the glass.

The aroma isn't as strong as I thought it would be. Notes of chocolate and roasted malt dominate. Coffee is present but not very strong. There's also some oatmeal notes in the aroma.

Each sip of this full bodied beer is creamy and smooth with mild carbonation. The flavor is rich with dark flavors of chocolate, roast malt and oatmeal. Some bitter coffee flavor appears in the middle, but it's not very strong. It finishes mildly bitter with some grassy notes. Once gone the roast malt and chocolate lingers on the palate.

This is a very tasty beer with a great mouthfeel. However, I'm not getting a lot of coffee flavor. It is there, but very subtle. My growler was filled 1 week before being served and was chilled the entire time. I don't think the age of my beer made the coffee fade.

Serving type: growler

01-13-2013 01:46:48 | More by WanderingFool

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the BlackBack Pub and Flyshop in Waterbury VT on Thursday. The keg was quite foamy so Rick gave me a large sample to try.

A: Pours a dark brown color with minimal light coming through. I cannot comment on the head as it was quite thick from the keg, but it was a nice brown foam head.

S: There is an ample amount of coffee flavor, dark roasted coffee and espresso. There are some hints of chocolate, caramel and vanilla.

T: Just like the scent, blends quite nicely together. Lots of coffee malt on the front end. The middle and back end also contain the coffee and there is some chocolate and vanilla there as well.

M: Very thick and slick mouthfeel. Although a tad thin when compared to other types of breakfast stouts.

D: This is easy to drink, quite tasty. Not sure the ABV of this, but I could certainly enjoy more than one of these in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 23:37:36 | More by IronCitySteve

MasterSki

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml growler thanks to Chris (spycow). Served in a Heady Topper glass.

A - A finger of tan foam settles to a big-bubbled cap and some wisps, leaving behind minimal lace. Dark brown body.

S - Reminds me of Everett, but with more char and smoke and a mild amount of coffee. Earthy grains, roasted barley, light molasses and brown sugar, some yeasty bread.

T - Taste is again roasted grains, baker's chocolate, some yeasty bread, a bit of molasses, and a mounting roast bitterness.

M - Smooth texture from the oatmeal, lower carbonation, medium-full body. No alcohol presence. Pretty much everything I'd want for this style of beer.

D - It's a nice stout, but not as good as Everett. I think I'd like this if there was more coffee presence.

Serving type: growler

08-21-2011 20:37:33 | More by MasterSki

TroopScoop

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Huge thanks to Alewatcher for this one. Enjoyed on a nice cool DLD days eve 2012.

A: brown khaki head, little legs, but very nice red hues. The beer itself is very dark and a great viscosity,

S:very sweet, caramel, coconut, some lactose, and at the very end - a little peaty smoke.

T: honestly, if you didn't tell me it was a bourbon barrel stout - I wouldn't believe it. Id say it was a scotch aged coffee smoked porter and fantastic at that. Its wonderful, just so different than it smells.

M: thin, slick, oily off the tongue - feels like a porter

O: very very good, but doesn't fit the style. Absolutely worth the taste, absolutely worth the price, but expect a world class porter.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 04:25:26 | More by TroopScoop

rudzud

Massachusetts

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

Picked up a growler of this while on a beerventure with BPK59. This time around Earl achieved its coffee characteristics via a pour over method (pouring the beer over the beans) with the coffee from a wonderful place in western MA whose name escapes me while writing this (which is a shame as I am very familiar with them after having spent years living in western MA).

A - Poured in to my Duvel tulip a super dark brown slightly translucent around the edges with one of the darkest, richest heads I have ever seen. Three fingers of creamy milk chocolatey goodness that leaves light side lacing and very nice retention.

S - Nice rich, roasted coffee aromas with some very, very light vanilla notes. Good roasty sweeter malts, definitely an oatmeal stout.

T - Taste is similar to the nose. Nice bitter roast coffee, light malty sweetness, subtle caramel and faint vanilla (though I think that's just my tongue playing tricks), that gentle oat taste. Yum.

M - Oh yah, definitely an oatmeal stout. Smooth, creamy, almost lightly chewy.

O - Overall this was a solid oatmeal stout. Good, but not my favourite (that still goes hands down to Wormtown's Sweet Tats).

Serving type: growler

01-05-2013 02:11:15 | More by rudzud

mdaschaf

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Farmhouse Tap and Grill. Review from notes.

A: Dark black with one finger brown head. Slow dissipation leaving bits of lacing.

S: A roasted aroma, with some coffee and a little bit of chocolate on the initial whiff. There is also some oatmeal and hints of toffee. Like others noted, I am glad that this is not overwhelmingly coffee smelling.

T: Sweeter than expected, but in a good way. Not has harsh/bitter as some coffee stouts, this is most likely from the oatmeal. Besides the coffee/oatmeal flavors I also get some chocolate and even a little bit of a hop kick.

M/D: Medium bodied with great carbonation. Overall, very nice. I was glad that the coffee wasn't in the forefront. The sweetness from the oatmeal was really nice as was the little bit of hops.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 20:58:12 | More by mdaschaf

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Capone's in a little dinky snifter.

Earl look black, blackie, its a black ale with a little bit of sugar on top with small spots of lace. up to light, Earl look black. Earl smell roasty and oaty with a deep sweet caramel scent and oats with chocolate rounding it out. Hops are present in the nose, it's a well rounded scent. Earl is one of the richer oat stouts I've had recently. Notes of cocco/chocolate, mounds of oats and even a mild hop bite towards the end. I get a bunch of roasted coffee with some warming, where did that come from? Like I said Earl is well rounded, but he is not fat with soaring alcohol, 7% is fine with me, it drinks like it should be more though, but that's what I like, a lot of taste with not a bunch of alcohol. Feel is a bold medium with adaquate carb. I coulda drank a pint of this if it was not summer and it was not the beginning of my day. I cant quite place this, it hits many styles in one

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 01:06:04 | More by onix1agr

koopa

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this one at the Black Back this past Friday. Apparently this particular keg was extremely foamy and Mr. Hill called Rick (owner of the Black Back) to ask him if he was ok with it....Rick hadn't tapped it prior to him calling so he drew from his experience with the last keg and told him it was fine. Upon tapping and pouring for a day or two he realized that Shaun knew what he was talking about. Rick graciously warned me about the condition of the keg before pouring it and I said I'd be fine with it. He then basically poured me 3 large snifter glasses of foam which eventually receded into 3x 1/3 glasses of beer. A bit of pouring one into the other and viola I had a perfect snifter of brew!

Appearance: Pours (or shall I say settles!) deep dark brown black with a dark brown massive crown. Loads of retention and lace.

Smell: Nice coffee notes over dark malt with caramel and brown sugar notes.

Taste: Same as nose....really nice integration of coffee going on here!

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with loads of carbonation.

Drinkability: Very good!

Another solid HF Brew!

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2010 22:28:54 | More by koopa

BeerThursdays

Delaware

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Capone's

A - Dark brown with thick creamy colored head. Holds pretty well and sticks all over the glass.

S - Smells of coffee, sugars, caramel and roasted malts.

T - Sweet oatmeal with coffee flavor and some earthy hops. Finishes with caramel and some bitterness.

M - Smooth and creamy. Medium bodied, which is a surprise for the darkness and size of the head. Sticks around in the mouth for a bit.

D - Very nice beer. Smooth and well balanced.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 14:12:04 | More by BeerThursdays

claspada

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aromas of dark and milk chocolate; mainly milk chocolate, so inciting. As it warms you get some java/coffee notes as well.

The taste starts of really dry, roasted dark malts. Mouthfeel is really full bodied. Finishes a little slick with some lingering coffee bitterness on the tongue; not over powering at all but pleasant.

Overall this is amazing drinkable and delicious. Highly recommended and will seek out more offerings from this brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2010 00:14:42 | More by claspada

yourefragile

District of Columbia

4.2/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes, served in a HF wine glass.

Clear, very dark brown color with a light, bubbly tan head. Excellent retention and thick lacing. Earthy and roast coffee aroma, with surprising amount of hops and some faint chocolate notes. Flavor is typical of an oatmeal stout, creamy and smooth, with a silky body, and a strong chocolate and malt body throughout. Minimal bitterness, but strong fresh coffee flavor throughout. Much more robust and enjoyable experience than the BA version of Earl.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2011 21:12:42 | More by yourefragile

Axic10

Pennsylvania

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

On-tap at Capone's during their Hill Farmstead event.

Appearance: Deep dark black with a thin layer of khaki head.

Smell: Dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a nice smoke aroma.

Taste: Dark chocolate, roasted and smoked malt.

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied and smooth.

Drinkability: A very nice take on the stout as I almost saw it as a hybrid stout/rauchbier with the smokiness in this one.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2011 05:16:10 | More by Axic10

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: minimal head, dark brown in color, clear, moderate carbonation

Smell: coffee dominates

Taste: big coffee and robust roasted malt with some citrus hops at the end

Mouthfeel: moderate carbonation, medium-heavy bodied, sweet with a bitter finish

Overall: Another Hill Farmstead brew..another beer right at the top of its class. Exceptional for a coffee stout. While this is not my favorite style, the coffee is not too bitter but it is highly present. If I were to reach for a coffee stout, this is where I would go to.

Serving type: cask

09-07-2011 15:32:05 | More by tigg924

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on draft at Capone's.

Pours pitch black and comletely opaque without even the slightest trace of lifhtercolor when held to a light source and a one finger mocha colored head that slowly disappears leaving sporadic spots of lacing behind.

Slightly roasted coffee bean aroma with silky chocolate malt, oatmeal, toffee and hazelnut. It's very refreshing to encounter a coffee stut that doesn't smell like a burnt coffee bomb. I'm even picking up some slight citrus and earhy hops. I'm excited to drink this one.

Chewy full body with a great balance of roasted coffee bean, silky, luscious dark chocolate, oatmeal, toffee and bitter hops. Slight lactic character adds creaminess and fullness to the body and greatly increases the drinkabilitu. I'm actually surprised how well balanced this is. I was expected it to be more acrid and bitter even though the aroma didn't suggest that. Slight citrus and earthy pine hops add complexity. This is a very well crafted, extremely quaffable coffee beer. Not very extreme but damn good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2011 01:48:38 | More by corby112

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Hill Farmstead First Anniversary Party. Served in a Hill Farmstead long-stem tulip.

Pours a very, very dark brown color with a good off-white head and some really nice lacing on the way down. The nose brings forward some really nice coffee along with some roast and earthy characteristics. A bit of chocolate in the background as well as some hops. The flavor has nice coffee character along with some roast. Chocolate throughout. Mouthfeel is really excellent and the oats come through. No noticeable booze. Really a fantastic stout.

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2011 15:17:38 | More by Thorpe429

ElGallo

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Threepenny Taproom in Montpelier. This was my dessert (after dinner, a Houblon Chouffe, and a Hill Farmstead Edward)

Very dark brown, nearly black in color with a dark beige head that is thick and hangs around for a while. Alas, the loud and annoying middle-aged woman sitting next to me at the bar also stuck around until I was almost done. Puts a damper on the mellowness typically associated with sipping a fine beer in a fine establishment, but I digress...

Smells of roast coffee, with some molasses and chocolate notes.

Taste is heavy with coffee and chocolate, but with very little bitterness. This is one of the smoothest coffee stouts I have ever had. Very nice.

Kind of a medium mouthfeel that is smooth, malty, and almost buttery.

Overall, another hit from Hill Farmstead. I know there is a barrel-aged version of this somewhere - would love to try that too.

Thanks again to the Threpenny staff for a great meal, a couple of stellar beers, and some good beer chat. Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2011 20:11:53 | More by ElGallo

Aberration

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at blackback pub.

Black pour, gives way to dark ruby and brown notes at the top of the glass.

Smells sweet and of oatmeal, a good sign considering what it is. Strong coffee scent mingled with the sweetness smells enticing.

Tastes fantastic, bittersweet oatmeal, very thick on the palate. Strong roasted coffee notes. Lingering aftertaste. Delicious.

This bests FBS as my favorite coffee oatmeal stout. A great offering from hill farmstead! Wish it was available closer to me though...

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2011 19:33:34 | More by Aberration

jaasen64

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2L growler to HF stemmed glass.

A- Pours a dark brown that appears pretty much jet black in the glass with about a finger of fairly dark creamy mocha head that has nice retention but slowly recedes to a thin layer leaving light lacing.

S- Roasted malts, rich espresso, dark chocolates, oatmeal cookies. Fairly aromatic with a nice rich pleasant smell like a coffee/oatmeal stout should have.

T- Coffee, roasted malts, bitter dark chocolate, a bit of sweet oatmeal cookies, finishes with bitter chocolate and a rich lingering espresso taste. Chocolate is fairly bitter at first, but smoothens out as the beer warms.

M- Nice full-bodied feel, decent carbonation, very smooth and drinkable.

O- This was a fantastic coffee/oatmeal stout that is exactly what I expected from HF. I could easily drink this for breakfast. It is a little bit on the rich side, but other then that it is very easy to drink. I highly recommend trying this, definitely one of the better oatmeal stouts I've had.

Serving type: growler

01-12-2013 03:29:50 | More by jaasen64

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into my Hill Farmstead stemmed tulip, as it should.

A dark chocolate colored rich creamy 1.5 finger head that fades fairly slowly with lots of lacing, over a pitch black beer with no light coming through, great appearance for a growler that's almost week old.

Nose brings some dark malts, a light milk chocolate and flaked oats, quite creamy, a little roast, etc. and despite all that no real acrid or char aroma. Then coffee, a little from possible roast, but more like fresh brewed and fresh roasted coffee, but not a ton. Also alittle caramel and fluffy nougat, as well as hints of light earthy hops, and just a touch of vanilla.

Taste starts with big fluffy malts, fluffy nougat flavors, caramel, a bit of milk chocolate and cocoa, etc. Then coffee, fresh roasted coffee beans like they steeped the beer right in the beans for a while, an earthy coffee that's slightly nutty and a little bitter but not a lot. Dark malts bring just a bit of bitter slightly charred flavor, but hardly acrid, and even seems to have a nice caffeine pick-me-up. A nice fluffy oatmeal center, creamy and rich with a nice nougat caramel touch to it, and hint of vanilla again, little bitter acrid char lingering as it moves to the finish. There are very light earthy hops with a touch of pine in there as well adding to the bitterness of the charred malts and coffee beans. The finish dries a bit but remains a little sweet, long lingering bitterness that doesn't get overpowering, in fact it's a nice bitterness, due to both light earthy piney hops and roasted char. Finish also coats the tongue a bit as the oats really stick there for a bit, and leave the light chocolate, bitter roast, vanilla, and a nice coffee bitterness and light roasted coffee beans.

Mouth is med to fulled bodied but quite rich and creamy, nice carb.

Overall quite nice, nice malt bill with creamy oats, little chocolate, caramel, nougat, and even hint of vanilla (not sure how, maybe just perceived from the oats and chocolate and coffee). The coffee is quite strong but not overpowering, nice coffee flavor that really comes through. The bitterness is nice too, a combination of roasted malts, light earthy piney hops, and roasted coffee beans. The only thing keeping this from being a great beer is that light bitter acrid char flavor that gets a little much at times. Otherwise very nice.

Serving type: growler

01-09-2013 17:12:34 | More by jlindros

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.29/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A-dark brown black color with a tan head and good lacing

S-roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, light herbal notes

T-dark roasted malt, espresso, dark chocolate, hint of sweet oatmeal cookie and vanilla

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth and creamy

O-a well-balanced and flavorful stout, a great sipper to enjoy with dessert

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 01:41:28 | More by MDDMD

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.3/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750ml to HFS sniffer glass

A: Dark dark brown with fluffy but small white to mocha head that fades to a thin lacing of mocha coloring, it is completely opaque but not the darkest stout I've seen still quite good.

S:lots of coffee and oats the smell is there but not pungent or even that strong. There is not much else there I can't smell the malt or hops at all.

T: upfront there is a solid coffee taste but it is not overpowering and well balanced with a nice sweet malt presence. The oats start to come in after the ential taste that blends with the taste of hops that balance out everything with there slight bitterness through the finish which also features the coffee flavor and the oat flavor.

M:it has a hop bite to it for a stout. It is also quite oily it is neither thick nor thin, but does have some chewiness to it though not toffee status

O: This is a pretty good coffee oatmeal stout not my favorite of the variety as WNB is definitely better imo but nonetheless this is a really good beer that I quite enjoyed as with pretty much all hill farmstead if you can get your hands on it do so.

Serving type: growler

01-25-2013 02:41:21 | More by Pinknuggets

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.31/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Kyle for picking this one up for me. 22oz. growler poured into a Brooklyn Brewery snifter. Shared with schen9303.

Pours pitch black with a 1 finger fine mocha head with decent retention. Lacing is stringy and sparse with good stick. Thin oily legs. A good looking beer.

Nose is huge coffee and mocha notes. Like a man made of coffee beans took a crap and it got put in a beer. Incredible. Very aromatic.

Opens chocolate and mocha. Dank coffee beans towards the middle with milk and dark chocolate in the finish. Some fudginess lends a mellow sweetness throughout. Aftertaste of coffee, lactose, and chocolate. Delicious.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Silky and smooth in the mouth and smooth, warm, and silky going down. Messy finish with a lingering aftertaste. Great body and super drinkable. Spot on as always.

Hill Farmstead just can't help but put up winner after winner. Earl is no different. Not the most complex brew but this beer delivers exactly what it intends to. Like smelling and drinking a mocha latte through and through. The body just serves to enhance the experience. One of the best in the style.

Serving type: growler

01-26-2013 01:54:22 | More by SpeedwayJim

cfrances33

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Blackback Pub in Waterbury. Served in a Hill Farmstead stem.

Pour: Really dark black, but not quite midnight. Two fingers of khaki foamy head form, and really leaves a thick coating on the glass.

Smell: Earl is like sticking you face into a bag of whole coffee beans. Very roasty, and even bitter on the nose. Some dark chocolate. A light cream and some oatmeal come through.

Taste: Bitter black, dark roasted coffee up front, followed by a mocha dark chocolate. A sweet bready oatmeal flavor balances the bitterness of the coffee. This is very in your face with coffee. Some light vanilla gives ways to more bitter roasted coffee beans on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Really nice a creamy, and would be supremely drinkable if not for the bitterness. Medium bodied.

Overall: This is a coffee lovers stout. Absolutely blows away Breakfast Stout in terms of in your face roasted coffee. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 15:11:03 | More by cfrances33

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Capone's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with excellent head retetion and considerable lacing. The nose is all CDA goodness (or black IPA goodness if you prefer), with a huge aroma of coffee and dry citrus. There's a hint of dark chocolate and vanilla as well, but the citrus and coffee dominate. The flavor profile replicates the nose, and I'm impressed by the amount of hoppy goodness I get on the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and a bit thin, but there's no denying the amount of flavor one gets. The finish is long and bitter, with the alcohol barely noticeable.

An excellent CDA/stout from the brewer at farmstead hill. While I don't believe Shaun Hill's ability as a brewer quite compares to the genius of Shawn Kelso at Barley Brown, he's awfully damn close. Just an excellent beer from Farmstead Hill.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2011 22:17:05 | More by johnmichaelsen