Terrapin Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout - Terrapin Beer Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to nedvalton for this one! Pours a thick, dark black color with only an ever-so-slight, deep brown shearing on the very outer edges of the beer. A marginally darker-than-tan head forms slowly and encapsulates the beer about one inch deep under a bed of super-fine carbonation bubbles.

The aroma - what do you know - is very heavy on the coffee; black and deep with a nice roasted bean flavor. An almost equal part dark chocolate fudges battles for the foreground, adding an earthy sweetness to the strong, bitter coffee. Some more roasted overtones filled with ashy molasses and syrup round out the edges of a wonderfully crafted aromatic profile. Can't wait to taste this one.

This one his the palate with a medium-thick body, actually a little lighter than expected, especially from the almost sludgy looking pour; still, pretty creamy and silky overall. Sweet, alcohol-drenched chocolate comes out first and foremost, almost like a rum-covered devil's food cake. Silky and syrupy sweetness is abound, but matched formidably by a roasted espresso bean flavor that limps in around the halfway mark and marches strong through the ending.

That big, robust coffee flavor sits heavy on the palate and lacquers the inside of your mouth so that you're tasting it minutes after having swallowed a sip. The sweetness battles back however, and I'm almost even picking up some very faint dark fruits; figs and black licorice. Despite the colossal malt rampage, the hops are far from unnoticed and actually add quite the spike - leafy, herbal, and a touch dry, the bitterness they assert does a perfect balance job and keeps the heavy malt bill in check. Wonderful from start to finish.

Glad I finally got to try this one. A damn fine coffee stout, balanced well and executed masterfully. Nice battle of chocolate vs. coffee with a nearly perfect inclusion hops to offer the counterpoint. So - is this better than Founder's Breakfast Stout? It's hard to say. I never like comparing beers because it always seems like the non-winner misses out on the credit it deserves. Terrapin has crafted a fine coffee stout - tasty and drinkable, bottom line. I wish I could get my hands on this all the time.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 04:59:22 | More by tectactoe

Pinknuggets

Vermont

4.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle to HFS sniffer

A:Dark dark brown the color of black coffee with a thin lacing of mocha foam around the glass but there was basically no head. The thing is completely opaque and is looking good.

S: This thing smells like freshly ground coffee it is super powerful and I love it, not much else there but I really don't care.

T:follows the nose tastes more like coffee then beer even has more of a coffee then hop bitterness but there are plenty of other flavors in there like sweet chocolate and oatmeal not much hops but doesn't bother me as coffee is what I want

M: Thick and very chewy definitely like toffee you can almost feel the coffee bitterness which is great. Pretty drinkable but could be a little heavier as it is somewhat oily regardless pretty good.

O:Wow I really loved this beer but I also love coffee if you don't this beer isn't for you but it is the purest coffee taste I have ever have in a beer and I am quite impressed to style all the way get this beer if you can.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 01:49:08 | More by Pinknuggets

buzzedup

Pennsylvania

4.84/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I had to special order this from my local distributor about a month ago. I forgot i ordered and have not heard back from them. went in last week to grab a 1/6 barrel and seen the case sitting behind the counter. I asked if that was a special order and they said yes. I gave them my name and whooo hooo Wake n Bake time!.

A. overall this beer looks perfect. dark as can be and a nice mocha head that does stick around for a few.
S. Perfect! smells like it RIS with a bit more Joe added. again it does not get much better when you look outside and see snow comming down,
T. nothing better. well FBS and Old Rasputin are the first to come to mind, Wake n Bake just seems a bit smoother and perfectly carbinated. TO tell the truth this years batch of FBS was much better than last year. Last year FBS was way to carbinated (but that is a different review)..
M. again this is just perfect, coats and coats and coats. your tougue has a nice oily feel after ever sip.
O. like i first mentioned this is a beer i order every year and is one of my all time favs as it comes to stouts. IF you see a bottle of this you should get excited and grab as many as you can. I still have 2 bottles from last year and they stand up really nice to conditioning hide a few away fora summer evening treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 20:45:44 | More by buzzedup

beertunes

Washington

3.61/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A big Thank You to Dopplebockulus for this treat. Poured into 10oz goblet. Poured a solid black with under 1/4 inch of Carhartt colored head that had low retention and OK lacing.

As is generally typical with Java brews, the coffee overpowered the scent of beer. A little time did reveal some nice grains and a solid malt scent, but still the coffee dominated. On the tongue, the coffee and beer flavors were a better match. The flavors integrated well, which, as a non-coffee person, was a pleasant surprise for me. The vast majority of coffee beers, for me, are dominated by the coffee. The base beer here stood very well to the overpowering taste of Joe.

The body was very good, smooth, even, full without being heavy, and nicely rounded. The coffee flavors did linger a bit long for my tastes though. Drinkability was very good, the bottle was gone far quicker than I thought it would be. Overall, a very nice beer, certainly among the best coffee beers I've had. As a coffee hater, I rarely recommend coffee beers. I highly recommend this one. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 23:53:10 | More by beertunes

kbuzz

Pennsylvania

4.59/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a modified tulip. Vintage 2012. Case was stamped December somethingth, 2012.

A: Poured a deep dark almost opaque brown. Looks black from 12 inches...some brown around the borders when held close...one finger khaki heads fades to a thin swirl across the top rather quickly, some legs, nothing crazy...pretty beer.

S: Coffee...more like the coffee shop than coffee grounds...one of those coffee shops where the grounds have worked their way into every nook and cranny of the decades old downtown shop that now doubles as a tourist attraction as well as a business. Sweet, not bitter...roast, old-fashioned hard candy-like sweetness, vanilla, baker's chocolate...very sweet. As far as coffee beers go, I've never smelled a better one.

T/M: More chocolate and bitterness than in the nose, but still a good bit of sweetness. Dirt. Baker's chocolate. A solid dose of that sweet vanilla coffee house roastiness. Fluffy, medium mouthfeel. Low carbonation - appropriate for the style.

O: This beer lives up to the hype. One of few that does. I was expecting a good beer...but having had so many coffee beers, I don't know that I was expecting to be this impressed by one again. I'll repeat, in the category of coffee beers (not even just stouts), this is the best I've had, easily. The aroma here is especially note-worthy.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 04:47:47 | More by kbuzz

SeaOfShells

California

4.45/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. into Bruery globe glass thanks T.K.!

A: Pours as dark as the devils soul, with a finger of brown head that leaves stickiness on the glass. Typical I suppose, but nothing to sniff at.

S: As soon as the bottle was cracked open, I got an intense dark roasted coffee/espresso aroma. Putting my nose in the glass was like standing next to a coffee maker while it brews. Roasted malt and chocolate/toffee/breadiness rounds things out.

T: Yeah, this one will work. As smooth as silk going down, but up front there is a strong coffee bitterness and a coffee flavor that stays on the palate for quite some time. Cofee gives way to dark chocolate and roasted malts on the back end, and it finishes with an espresso-esque flavor. This is pretty excellent.

M: Creamy and delicious. Just like I like my coffee stouts. Slick and oily mouthfeel that coats the palate in glorious liquid satisfaction.

O: This was my first Terrapin beer, and it's given all other coffee stouts a run for their money. FBS has the slight edge, but this was damn fine. Glad I have two more.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 20:07:32 | More by SeaOfShells

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.06/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I couldn't find this beer in New Jersey, and I was happy to find this beer in Florida. I picked up a couple bottles to age a second bottle and drink one for this review.

I poured this bottle into a tulip glass to enjoy this world-class stout. This is a very dark-black beer with a thin tan scum on top.

The nose on top provides a very good dose of coffee. The richness from this beer is almost like espresso. This is a very clean smell.

The flavor provides a rich coffee character. I don't get much more than that. The flavor eases off nicely across pallatte.

This is an excellent sipper. I thought the WnB was very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 19:31:55 | More by ummswimmin

TWStandley

Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Poured from the bottle into my KTG snifter. 2012 vintage.

Poured a dark brown nearly black color with a one finger mocha colored head that disappeared after a few.

Smells of roasted coffee, dark chocolate, and a slight milkiness.

Taste is nice. A bit roasty, nice coffee notes and some chocolate. A bit bitter.

Mouthfeel is smooth and velvety, thick but not syrupy.

Solid "breakfast stout." Not quite on the same level as FBS, but very, very close.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 01:30:42 | More by TWStandley

WSGosset

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Solid black. Not too much in the way of head. I'm a little surprised, I remember this having a much prettier pour.

S: COFFEE. As aroma goes, this isn't all that complex as imperial stouts go but, you know what, I really like coffee.

T: Not surprisingly, this is a coffee-forward beer. It really is a perfect mix between a pleasantly bitter coffee flavor and the dark roasted malt flavor you'd expect from a good stout.

M: Nice and creamy.

O: It could just be that I love coffee, but this is a really inviting beer. The smell draws you in and it holds up throughout. I look forward to having it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 01:14:28 | More by WSGosset

ThreeFishes

Florida

4.24/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. bottle vintage 2012.

A: Black with a thick tan head that dissipates quickly. Pours quite thick.

S: Holy coffee shop Batman! This smells just like a steamy cup of dark roast coffee with a slight background of roasted malt and dark chocolate. The aroma is the best part of this beer.

T: Very roasty, coffee, malty, bitter with a bit of char at the end. Taste is not as intense as I thought based on the smell. Very nice, though. This is an imperial stout I could drink more than one of at a sitting.

M: Thick and creamy. Coats the tongue and lingers after a swallow.

O: Very nice beer. On my days off I could start my day with a cup of this!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 23:02:21 | More by ThreeFishes

CommanderOfAwesome

California

3.38/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

2012 bottle poured into a snifter thanks to a BA trade.

A: Pours motor oil black, with a thin 1 finger head. Great retention though.

S: Not overly aromatic. Decent coffee, got some oatmeal smell as it warmed up. Sweetness is prevalent.

T: Very sweet, Coffee that blends better as it warms. Some chocolate and roasty malts come in as well.

M: Medium bodied. Not a lot of carbonation, sweet on the palate. Smooth, but biggest complaint is this is thin for an Imperial stout. Very thin, I'd consider it on thinner side for a regular stout as well. Not as thin as drakonic, but doesn't burst flavor or fullness that is usually there on Imperial stouts.

O: Decent beer, didn't live up to the hype for me. Aroma wasn't very strong, fairly sweet and thin IMO. Even with those flaws, I still really enjoyed this beer and would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 16:36:50 | More by CommanderOfAwesome

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.01/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2012 Vintage poured in to snifter.

A - Black with a thin layer of medium brown head that immediately reduced to a ring around the edges of the glass.

S - Really big coffee aroma is dominant with a hint of sweet molasses and roast in the background.

T - Big bitter espresso flavour up front with a touch of brown sugar sweetness and molasses. The finish is bitter with a big lingering coffee presence.

M -Medium body. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 01:51:42 | More by TheSevenDuffs

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle - 2012, pulled out of an ice bucket, setout for 20 min to warm up a bit.

Appear: Dark, nice tan head, some lacing, not motor oil like many stouts, oatmeal/coffee browning it up a bit.

Smell: Coffee and dough, oaty as it warms up, but lots of coffee, very great smell overall.

Taste: Very solid, good blend of coffee, but a bit on the dark/intense coffee flavor, actually blends better and not as forward as it warms up. Very good taste overall, this oaked would be a whole 'notha level and move it up.

Mouthfeel: A little thin, not chewy, not creamy/silky, in the middle. Carbonation was low so nothing offensive overall.

Overall: Very good to great stout with coffee and the oatmeal backbone. For a non-aged/oaked beer this is very nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 16:44:55 | More by SHerninko

TheMarkE

California

4.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Jet black with a chocolate head.

Smell: A fresh cup of coffee, with a touch of chocolate.

Taste: Like many hoppy brews the first sip was a bit bitter but the aftertaste left a hint of chocolate and toffee behind. Working my way through the bottle my tongue identified vanilla, oatmeal, raisin, and molasses.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and thick.

Overall: Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:37:33 | More by TheMarkE

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I poured this brew rather vigoriously and what i got was a Guiness like effect, awesome.
This beer is super deep black with a tall dense mocha head sitting on top making a nice contrast.
Plenty of lacing too.
Aroma is fantastic with deep fresh coffee notes over a sutle roasted malt bill.
Taste is not as intense as the nose but that doesn't mean it lacks flavor, ther is a nice depth of flavor which i enjoy.
The taste is richly malted sweet almost like a milk stout with bitter black coffee weaving through out. There is a slight alcohol warming at the very end.
Drinks thick and smooth numbing my tongue ever so slightly. A bitter coffee aftertaste ends it.
This is a good beer and worth the effort to find.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 13:33:47 | More by micromaniac129

element75

4.01/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Engine 15 in Jacksonville.

A: Deep black with a tan head, moderately lacy but fades to a thin ring

S: Major coffee smell with a little bit of chocolate in the background

T: Coffee is forefront and dominates the whole way through, but you can pick up some dark chocolate and roasted maltiness toward the end. There is more flavor to the beer than you would guess by the all-coffee smell.

M: Thick and creamy

O: I really enjoyed drinking this beer, even though the dominance of the coffee was a little more than I was hoping for. Not one of my top favorite Imperial Stouts, but one that I would drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 04:22:26 | More by element75

bozodogbreath

Indiana

4.54/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle received in a trade with UNCCTDawg. Thanks, Bro!

Poured into a Founders snifter.

A: Jet black/dirty oil appearance. Nice two fingers tan head sits atop an agressive pour.

S: Beautiful dark roast coffee smell wafts from the snifter. An olfactory delight.

T: A sweet start followed by a nice bitter coffee tang in the middle, followed by a thin chocolaty velvet finish.

M: A nice mouthfeel that if were just a bit heavier would put this brew over the top.

O: A real treat. Highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 04:00:37 | More by bozodogbreath

Roose13

New Jersey

4.64/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A: Jet black, typical of a stout. A one-finger chocolate head that shrinks to a paper thin head that tops the glass.

S: Rich coffee and dark chocolate. Very sweet to the smell

T: Very sweet dark chocolate. Roasted coffee as well. Along with milk, all three flavors blend incredible well.

M: Very creamy and low-carbonated. Very thick, but the mouthfeel enhances all the flavors even more.

Overall: This was my first ever try of this delicious beer. Waited a month to try it since its release in Dec. 2012. It reached and exceded all expectations for it, rivaling FBS as the best coffee oatmeal stout out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 03:25:32 | More by Roose13

denver10

Colorado

4.14/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Pours black with a mocha head. Aroma is big on the coffee, smells more medium roast, some chocolate, sugars from the oats, and some roastiness. As a coffee lover, the aroma is right up my alley. Flavor starts of medium roasted coffee and roasted malt, then in the rear some chocolate comes in pretty largely, and closes out with a bitter coffee finish. A medium bodied, somewhat creamy mouthfeel. For it being an imperial oatmeal stout, I would have expected more out of the mouthfeel to be honest. Overall, a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 22:15:51 | More by denver10

anteater

Oregon

4.48/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle 2012

A: pours a dark, nearly black, color with a thin light brown head

S: like putting your nose into a glass full of coffee beans. coffee aroma sticks out right away followed by dark chocolate.

T: incredibly smooth. the coffee flavor is still the first thing noted in this beer, however it is more well balanced among the chocolate and milk flavors. a lactic after tastes lingers on the roof of the mouth and a small but perfect amount of hop flavor remains on the tongue. alcohol is not very detectable in this beer.

M: slightly thicker than average. slightly below average carbonation.

O: i picked up one 12oz bottle with the intention of testing it before committing to a larger quantity. having had it, i would definitely buy more. it has most of the qualities i appreciate in an imperial stout, notably the balance between coffee and chocolate flavors. i would compare it to founder's breakfast stout (but just not QUITE as good).

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 21:43:45 | More by anteater

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage.

Beer is pitch black with a moderately-sized tan head. Head fades fairly quickly.

Nose is full of coffee. Hard to get past it, but there is also some chocolate, gives a bit of a mocha scent.

Taste is more varied. Coffee is still the main event. But there is chocolate and roasted malt. Impossible to say that the coffee is really mixed in with the other flavours, as it is quite dominant, but it is more integrated than the smell indicated. Mildly bitter.

Full bodied, but not particularly heavy. Moderate carbonation. Slick.

Overall, very good. The coffee is too heavy for my personal tastes - I prefer beers that seem to integrate the coffee more, such as Peche Mortel and Speedway. However, as I am not a coffee drinker, it is a testament to the quality of this beer that I still find it quite good.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 22:43:08 | More by jrenihan

ELS

Florida

2.9/5  rDev -32.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I was excited to try this beer after seeing the high ratings on Beer Advocate. I'm a coffee lover and a beer lover and when my two favorite drinks are put together it usually is a "can't miss" scenario. However, I was truly let down by this beer. I'm not going to go into the specifics (a,s,t,m,o) but to say that I feel it's under carbonated, poor lacing, bitter smell and taste. The coffee used is not smooth and seems like an average quality blend which is unacceptable for a beer that costs $3.50 for a 12 ounce bottle. Terrapin should learn a lesson from GI who puts an excellent quality coffee in their BCBCS and it shows! To each his own but I just don't see why this beer is rated so high.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 22:15:40 | More by ELS

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.58/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a very dark brown/black color with a half finger head and a little lacing.

S: Roasted malts, dark chocolate, and coffee. Very inviting smell.

T: Mainly coffee to start with along with some roasted malts and dark chocolate. There are hops there, but mostly hidden. Great balance. The alcohol is completely hidden.

M: Medium to full bodied with some carbonation. Very easy to drink.

O: I enjoyed this just as much as Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout...that says a lot.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:24:08 | More by nUgZ

kempshark

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wow....coffee, coffee, and more coffee...I like this beer, but it the first time I had it I immediately wished I had a Krispy Kreme doughnut!!! Talk about a coffee stout!!! Almost makes me want to add cream and sugar to it! I have another three bottles waiting for another breakfast!!

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 22:05:54 | More by kempshark

Hopswagger

Oklahoma

4.73/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

P: Pitch black body with a finger of frothy dark mocha cream on top. A nice creamy ring that clings the edges of the glass.

S: Super sweet nose, chocolate covered espresso beans, sweet coffee creamer, dry rolled oats.

T/M: Heavy fresh roasted espresso beans, sweet oats, pancake batter, non-dairy coffee creamer, vanilla bean, maple syrup, cinnamon baked apples, black pepper corns, touch of smoke and cereal grains. Chocolate covered cherries in the dry finish. Thick oily mouthfeel that coats the mouth and throat. Carbonation is low and almost flat. Lingering chocolate chip pancakes.

O: Where has this been my whole life? Sweet chocolate goodness. The dairy sweetness is almost too much but it's still a fantastic stout. So far this has been one of my top stout choices. Well rounded and delicious. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:40:45 | More by Hopswagger