Earl Coffee Oatmeal Stout - Hill Farmstead Brewery

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at Capone's into a sampler glass.

A - Pours jet black with a light one finger head, dissipating to small patches of head, leaving little to no lacing down the glass.

S - Lots of dark flavors in this one. Coffee, milk chocolate, and plenty of dark malt blend well. Some oatmeal and a bit of caramel sweetness creeps in as it begins to come to room temp. Good balance but nothing mind blowing.

T - A bit thin on entry. Quite a bit of dark smokiness up front giving way quickly to a mix of dark roasted coffee and chocolatey sweetness. Oatmeal adds a bit of chewiness and seems to help bring the body back up a bit. Finish is a huge blast of dark roast that lingers for some time. I liked how balanced all the flavors where.

M - Heavy body and flavor with moderate carbonation. The feel is neither thin nor overly creamy, good balance again. Finish is a bit too roasty for my liking.

D - Pretty high. I wish more brewery could brew a well balanced stout like this one. I liked it quite a bit but it was just good not great. I would definitely drink it again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2011 20:23:56 | More by orangesol

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

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

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

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

GatheringBrews

Vermont

4.58/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Huge fan of this beer. Had on tap and in growlers.

Deep brown/black color with a medium sized, tan head with nice lacing. Aroma is nicely roasted malts, coffee, caramel, and light chocolate. Medium body with highly complex, mature flavors of roasted malts, coffee, cocoa and the perfect touch of hops.

Pleasantly reminiscent of Mikkeller Beer Geek or the Olbutikken Porter, this is a staple beer in my fridge the last few months.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2011 01:54:32 | More by GatheringBrews

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

rtepiak

Poland

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

a stout with an exceptional nose. Pour is about two fingers. Nose of toasted malt and rose water at first. This fades after the first sip and the true chalk burn coffee grounds comes out. This combines with the hops to leave a dead dry tongue. Beer isn't quite soapy but just a tad smoked acidic.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2010 04:35:34 | More by rtepiak

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

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

naproxen

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I enjoyed this black beauty a few times last Sunday at the Blackback Pub & Flyshop in Waterbury with BeerTruth. This would be my first non-hop-centric brew by Hill Farmstead.

Hmmm, well I might as well start off with the issues with pouring this one. I don't know where the fault lies, the tap system at Blackback or the keg itself (after missing out on this at SIPtemberfest because of serving issues, I am leaning towards the kegging), but this was all thick caramel foam. Each full serving literally took 15 minutes and multiple cups to achieve. There was no infection or off taste here thankfully. By the time the beer settled it was at perfect carbonation, but by the time a glass was finished it was pretty flat.

Well now that the negative is out of the way, it is all positive from here on out. I'm reviewing this one post-foam pre-flat, if that makes sense.

Almost black, almost. The head that remains after waiting patiently for this to settle is thick and creamy, a darker caramel that paints the DFH snifter well.

This just smells so enticing. The coffee notes are rich and roasty, not bitter at all, with some sweet light molasses and caramel to boot.

Mmmm oatmeal, you make my beer so smoooth. A light pillow of coffee and dark chocolate with some brown sugar sprinkled on top coats the mouth. The body on this one is less than you expect when you see it, a lot less in my opinion. It works well with this beer though, increasing the drinkability, but I would not think this beer would age well.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 20:15:44 | More by naproxen

SFLpunk

Vermont

3.6/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz pour at The Farmhouse Tap & Grill.

Quick review: Pours pitch black with HUGE thick tan head that looks like I might need a spoon for! Aroma is packed with freshly brewed coffee and toasted grains doused with fresh cream. Palate is a little thinner than I was expecting, but packed with flavor. No acidity to speak of, but the body seems to be teetering on the edge due to the amount of coffee. I'm not sure how this beer would be in a month. Flavors are great, but I'd personally like more body. The lighter body adds drinkability, however.

Good integration of coffee, but a little light on the body.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2010 04:11:53 | More by SFLpunk

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.47/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap poured into an Allagash Tulip. Shaun can we get some more Hill Farmstead glassware in VT bars?

Pours a very nice super dark brown to almost black with a very thick and creamy dark brown fine head. Nose is sweet, coffee, malt, brown sugar, caramel.

Taste is just like the nose, coffee, chocolate, lotsa brown suga, it's a bit sharp and crisp. Really a good beer with a nice warm and thick mouthfeel. It's got a nice rich mouthfeel that's very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

09-09-2010 22:33:00 | More by kingcrowing