Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
92
exceptional
-
1,040 Ratings

rAvg: 4.11
pDev: 11.44%
Reviews: 645
Hads: 395

Ratings Help

Brewed by:
Southern Tier Brewing Company

New York, United States

Style | ABV
American Double / Imperial Stout | 11.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (593), on-tap (45), growler (5), cask (1), nitro-tap (1).

Notes:
No notes at this time.

View: Beers (36) | Reviews (27) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by farrago:

farrago

New Jersey

4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dense finger plus of dark brown foam, mix of differing bubble sizes, dissolves down at a moderately steady pace leaving a solid surface coating behind, skimpy lacing looks like miniature iron mail, no stickiness. The liquid is the expected jet black color, impossible to tell if there are bubbles inside or not, hint of orange at the outermost edges. The nose is all chocolate, toffee, butterscotch and coffee ice cream, probably more flowers than oats although there is a granola, breakfast cereal element going on, might be some plum or cherry fruit there but that chocolate is overwhelming. Full-bodied, lands on the palate with a thud like an anvil. Eventually the carbonation lifts it to create space to move a little, but not much. Blend of both dark and milk chocolate, heavy duty licorice in the mix, vanilla bean, flowers, pine, mint, caramel, molasses and hazelnut coffee too. Once more the oats seem relegated to the background. Gets hoppier retronasally yet without any real sting. Can appear a bit boozy at times. That noted, props for the vividness of the flavors and for all of its flash doesn’t wear you down trying to consume it. Hard to think of what food you’d pair it with, though.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 03:19:12 | More by farrago

More User Reviews:

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