Organic Hibernator Export Oatmeal Stout - Black Isle Brewery Co Ltd

beerdrifter

Germany

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

My nephew picked this up for me while vacationing in Scotland. Dark brown, nearly black pour with one finger head that fades quickly with minimal lacing. Nice roasty nose with lots of fresh brewed coffee along with a subtle caramel sweetness and a touch of black licorice. The sweetness translates perfectly to the taste, but without being overdone. Very rich and roasty hints of coffee and a solid nuttiness with just a bit of dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is thin and somewhat fizzy for a stout, but it doesn't hurt this beer at all. Although it pours, looks, and feels more like a porter, this is one flavorful stout! Hugely drinkable and as near a 5 for the taste as I've had in a while. Thanks Kevin for a very surprising beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 16:11:02 | More by beerdrifter

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A 330ml bottle with a BB of May 2013. Purchased ages ago from Great Grog in Edinburgh, and stored in my garage. Brewed with organic ingredients. I like the simple yet emblematic thistle on the label.

Poured into a straight pint glass. A dark brown hue that appears pitch black in the glass. Produces a massive head of creamy light-brown foam with decent retention; this slowly reduces to a surface layer. Some lacing. Aroma of dark malt with hints of molasses, dried fruit, brown sugar, oats/grain, mild coffee, faint chocolate, earthy yeast and a whiff of liquorice. Nicely rounded.

Tastes of roasted malt with a dry, bitter finish. Notes of molasses, burnt grain, dried fruit, brown sugar, coffee, oats, faint chocolate, liquorice and earthy yeast. The alcohol is well hidden. A malt-driven bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry and tingly, with pleasant carbonation and a decent body for the style. Quite astringent, with an aftertaste of bitter roasted malt and molasses.

Pretty good - a decent oatmeal stout. Looks nice, with a solid aroma of dark malt notes. The flavour is satisfying, though I can't help thinking that it could be a shade more intense given the strength. The body could also be a tad more indulgent. However, it is well rounded and crafted with care. A solid stab at the style; worth sampling if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 23:39:19 | More by jazzyjeff13

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle

A- Almost pitch black. Light brownish head, quite big. Very nice retention throughout the whole tasting, not much lacing though

S- Quite faint, maybe a tad too much, but still nice, with a soft dark malts feel and some background sweetish notes of caramel and maybe liquorice

T- Very much what the smell suggested, still on the mild side but now a bit more lively. Dark malts, the slightest roasted hint, liquorice and slight chocolate. Finishes quite sweet (caramel).

M- The best part. Not so dense in body for a stout (and for the 7%ABV) but still full in the mouth with a soft, rich, smooth feel form the oats. Minimal carbonation, but very much on spot with the beer's feel

O- Overall impression is a bit higher than just smell and taste because this beer is pretty well crafted. Fine, delicate, highly drinkable. Good stuff

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 13:44:57 | More by Cozzatoad

Arborescence

Finland

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in room temperature.

Appearance: Pitch black. Pours a big and lively brownish head.

Aroma: Fairly mild aroma with malt and oatmeal, and a hint of caramel.

Taste: Robust flavour, with full-on chocolate and licorice. Tasty stuff.

Mouthfeel: Oily and rich, full bodied. Nice smoothness from the oats.

Overall: My first experience with Black Isle Brewery, and a rather tasty one at that! It's a good, solid example of a stronger oatmeal stout, with a full body and robust flavour. No heroics here, just a nice, dedicated stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 16:58:47 | More by Arborescence

CwrwAmByth

United Kingdom (Wales)

3.05/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 330ml bottle into an Orval goblet.

Pours a smooth black colour, with an interesting shade of white coloured head.

Smells of not very much, whatever it is makes my housemate cringe.

Tastes very anticlimactic. Quite boozy but no real flavours to speak of. No sweetness or strong malts as i've come to expect from these kinds of beers. Very watery too, which combined with the strength doesn't make a great beer experience.

Overall a big disappointment. Won't be having this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 21:49:30 | More by CwrwAmByth

Salsais

Finland

4/5  rDev +5.8%

11-06-2012 22:47:55 | More by Salsais

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a bottle at the brewery and brought it back home. Poured a brownish-black hue with ok clarity but a bit light for color (for style). Some clear brown hues through out and at the side of the glass. A white fizzy head with ok retention but not much for lacing.

The nose is malty and a bit astringent. Some roast and a black malt notes with a touch of burnt aromas as well. Some sweetness and a touch of liquorish gives a almost roasted coffee smell to it. The yeast is noticeable with a hint of butyric notes as well. There is a staleness as well but could be an aged bottle.

The taste is a bit more to style than the nose indicated. The malt comes out and balances the astringent notes a bit. The roast is present and lingers into the finish. Some chocolate notes comes out as well as the liquorish which gives it a slight espresso like taste. Some minor nutty notes as well that comes out as it warms. There is a bitterness, which enhances the astringency, but would like to see some finish hops to balance out a bit more. The yeast is present but not as noticeable as the nose. Some aged notes as well.

The body is moderate with a bit over carbonated with a light carbonic bite. This also brings out the astringency out a bit more. Overall a decent beer but I think time might have effected it.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 15:55:46 | More by Oxymoron