Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

Sensaray

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark dark brown very little light passing through with about 1/4 inch of tan head.

Smells like sweet oats mixed with chocolate and vanilla. Slight hint of alcohol appears after several sniffs. Caramel, cereal,

Slight alcoholic burn leads well into vanilla and dark chocolate.

Nice spice to the mouthfeel. Heavy and slightly creamy. Good level of carbonation.

Overall very tasty stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 05:38:54 | More by Sensaray

dcloeren

Texas

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-22-2013 19:26:12 | More by dcloeren

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-22-2013 18:58:46 | More by ncstateplaya

hollywood_15063

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-22-2013 06:02:39 | More by hollywood_15063

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-21-2013 23:30:13 | More by pin

johntfox

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-20-2013 22:19:41 | More by johntfox

nick_asian

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-19-2013 06:44:37 | More by nick_asian

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-19-2013 01:21:24 | More by Photekut

Damian74Shensky

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-18-2013 14:51:52 | More by Damian74Shensky

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-17-2013 14:01:43 | More by Slatetank

CloudStrife

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle poured into a snifter. DOB 08/16/12.

A: Pours a very thick dark black with a half finger light khaki head. Quick to dissipate it leaves some spots of lacing. Light only shines through about 1/8".

S: Smooth roasted malts and oat notes. A bit of vanilla and sweetness. Alcohol is just a touch noticeable. Chocolate certainly comes through and is quite dominate along with the oat. Dark fruit come out as it warms.

T: Chocolate and oat blend together and balance nicely. Hops are tame at this point and just appear for a flash and touch of aftertaste. Roastiness of the malt provides some richness. Coffee comes to mind as well.

M: Full bodied but not too heavy it is quite pleasant. Low carbonation. Fairly crisp finish. Booze is there but doesn't provide a harsh mouthfeel.

Overall well crafted and has developed nicely in the last 7 months. One of the less flavored of the blackwater series but the still a real good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:23:28 | More by CloudStrife

CanisMajor

Indiana

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-16-2013 21:30:11 | More by CanisMajor

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-16-2013 20:52:37 | More by iHeartMNBeer

jimctin

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-15-2013 17:59:37 | More by jimctin

jkane101

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-15-2013 00:40:23 | More by jkane101

CDCNAM

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-14-2013 17:30:12 | More by CDCNAM

KevinGordon

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-14-2013 15:55:19 | More by KevinGordon

DeepSouthSipper

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev -8.8%

05-14-2013 01:39:24 | More by DeepSouthSipper

aLenwell

Florida

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-14-2013 00:44:52 | More by aLenwell

vrbulldog22

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-13-2013 18:57:29 | More by vrbulldog22

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Review adapted from notes taken 5/10/13

Note: Review 600

Appearance: Pours a rich, dark, dark brown - perhaps black from a distance - some lighter brown and red tones around the edges - nice, light brown head, keeps a nice, wispy cap, and an above-average, creamy ring - leaves some lacing, not much

Smell: Dark, decadent malts and oats - like someone melted a dark chocolate bar into a bowl of oatmeal - dark, burnt, roasty, cooked, caramelized malts - caramel and an above-average amount of sugar (fitting with Southern Tier's reputation), but the sweetness smells somehow subdued with the grainy oat notes

Taste: Dark chocolate, oats, and roasty, burnt malts - very rich, decidedly "imperial" - dark chocolate, baker's chocolate, and some sweetened cocoa - caramel, molasses, and some straight-up sugar - burnt, dry, chocolate notes - some roasty notes and absurdly strong coffee - nicely bitter - oats are very apparent and abundant - adds a nice oatmeal flavor that kind of balances the sweetness, at the least makes it more interesting - some booze in the finish

Mouthfeel: On the light side of heavy, with a lot of creaminess from the oats - smooth, with a touch of syrupy booze in the finish

Overall: Christmas cheer in a bottle... or something

I selected this beer for review 600 because it was my official "Christmas Eve" bomber for three years (until I couldn't find a bottle one year and consequently killed the tradition). I honestly haven't had a bottle in a couple of years, and I am glad to report that it's still great. In fact, I think this is the best stout from Southern Tier. It's oddly under-appreciated, in my opinion. It's big, burly, and sweet, but I don't feel like I have diabetes thanks to the oats. Yum.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 05:18:12 | More by angrybabboon

ToddHolder

Illinois

4/5  rDev -2.7%

05-11-2013 01:26:12 | More by ToddHolder

inkdemention

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%

05-10-2013 17:03:31 | More by inkdemention

jgluck

California

4.75/5  rDev +15.6%

05-08-2013 19:44:40 | More by jgluck

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%

05-06-2013 18:43:06 | More by ZEB89