Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours black with no light penetrating even the edges of the glass. The smallish coffee colored head recedes to a ring quickly, leaving huge swathes of tan lace behind. An explosive charge of chocolate milk syrup, dark roast coffee, toffee and hop bitterness fills my nostrils. Alcohol is noticeable but not overbearing for the ABV. Thick, rich chocolate flavors fill the first sip. Espresso beans, maple syrup, kahlua cream and some lemon notes abound. Alcohol adds a pleasant heat, truly understated. the mouthfeel is very thick and silky smooth with light carbonation. The finish is high in hop bitterness as well as milk chocolate flavors, and lasts forever.

This is an astoundingly delicious stout. Very rich and robust, yet it belies its high ABV. Try this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2008 03:40:01 | More by CAMRAhardliner

czfreeman

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have eagerly looked foward to sampling the third of Blackwater Series from Southern Tier. The talent these guys exibit in their brews have quickly made them one of my favorites.
Appearance is a glass devoid of any light! Pitch, utter black. As expected from the mind-blowing 248 Lovibond on the side. Suprisingly foamy tan head from a beer this big. Goregeous tan oat colored head.
Smell is creamy chocolate, coffeea, lactose-like sweetness, hops in there provide a ever-so-light yet perfect amount of citric balance. A wonderful oaty mustiness backs in the complexity. It isn't a coffeeish as Jahva, not as chocolaty as Choklat, a seemingly perfect blend of the two, all with that great "oatiness". As with it's Blackwater brothers, aromatically Im debating a near-perfect score.
The flavor I am experiencing now is one of those to laugh over...because it's so damn good. This tastes like a oatmeal blender mix of coffee, chocolate, espresso, cream, all with a suprisingly delicious lightness on the finish, with a long lingering espresso-cocoa-oatmeal taste. It's a perfect blend of Jahva and Choklat-Choklava if you will-I think the giddiness is going to my head. Raisins, vanilla, bitter maltiness, earthy grains all mesh with a extremly light yet appropriate amount of hops.
Mouthfeel is everything I could ask for-rich, full, creamy, yet finishes cleanly, lingers around for a while.
As with Jahva and Choklat, Oat is the perfect liquid embodiment of it's name. It's oats, cocoa, malt, coffee in perfcet balance. I really can't get over the great actual musty oat flavor in the beer. Same as the other two in the series, I couldn't ask for a more perfect beer based on the one-word name. Southern Tier has astounded me time and time again, and I am scoring based not only on the pure enjoyment I experienced form this beer, but my admiration for the talent of these guys as hopeful future brewer myself. Prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2009 01:39:43 | More by czfreeman

Frosty80

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Color: pours a dark brown. sits black with medium dark brown rim. hoping for a slightly higher Lovibond. creamy light brown head - while it lasts

Smell: fragrant debittered dark malt with obvious alcohol, some chocolate and just a hint of hops and molasses

Taste: very well balanced notes of chocolate, dark malt, and hops with a slight bitterness. alcohol and molasses in supporting roles. finish is well balanced but tilted slightly to the dry side and with a light hop presence

Mouthfeel: full body with medium carbonation. very creamy and smooth

Notes: full bodied and full flavored. very well done. i like how there isnt a really strong bitter roast flavor like with Dark Horse One (though that is an excellent OS). spectacular!

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2010 00:26:46 | More by Frosty80

jaxon53

Connecticut

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I've been waiting a while for this monster and now it's finally here. Served at cellar temperature in a snifter, from a twenty two ounce bottle. Poured a magnificent midnight black. About as black as black can be. About two and a half fingers of dense, coffee brown head formed with a somewhat vigorous pour. Head hung around for quite a while leaving plenty of lace all the way down the glass. Awesome nose on this one! Plenty of chocolate, and coffee like aromas up front, smokey roasted malt, oats, and maybe a bit of vanilla. A little bit of booze was noticeable in the nose as well. This beer was also an explosion of flavor. Tons of chocolate, coffee, roasted toasted malt, and a bit of hops in the background. Had a little bit of smoke and molasses in the finish. The eleven percent ABV was quite boozey and left a quick burn in the throat, but does fit in nicely in the beer. Mouthfeel was oily, thick and almost chewey. Pretty much how any big stout should be. Awesome drinkability despite the high ABV, but it will sneak up on you if you aren't careful. Probably ranks near the top of my list as far as stouts go.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2007 18:50:00 | More by jaxon53

EStreet20

New Jersey

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bomber bottle marked 11%ABV.
Poured into a 16 ounce snifter glass

A - Hard pour causes a big cascade effect. Finishes with a completely black liquid topped with two fingers of tan head. Head shrinks but remains present and leaves some lace rings to remember it by.

S - Some chocolate and coffee aromas have a grainy smell leading them.

T - Very smooth, very nice bitter stout with some sweetness coming through. A bit of coffee flavor in there. Alcohol is masked well behind a sweet flavor. Oatmeal contributes perhaps more to the aftertaste, when you get a bit of a grainy flavor left behind.

M - A nice thick, coating feel for this one.

D - Can't stop sipping this one. Really kind of dig that oatmeally flavor that seems to come around only in the finish and aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 04:52:22 | More by EStreet20

julian

Washington

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: semi-viscous, cola black in color, big foamy head that's a vibrant light mocha color. Thick curtainous lacing, very nice.

Smell: Nice sweet oat smell, vanilla, malted barley.

Taste: Wow this is freakin tasty! Smooth and semi sweet taste. Molasses texture with a nice milky, liquid oatmeal taste with a hint of vanilla and a mild hop edge on the finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, thick almost creamy like texture. Definitely goes down with ease. Great feel all around.

Drinkability: Very high drinkability. I could make a night of only this beer. Absolutely delicious!

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2009 05:16:46 | More by julian

BuffaloBill91

New York

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This was a happy find at my local beer store on tap for my growler...

Appearance for this brew is perfect for a imperial stout- Pours like oil nice and thick--black as can be- no light can penetrate it- only swirling it in the glass shows the dark brown oil like appearance -- nice brown 1 finger head that disappears fast and leaves a very thin lace...

If this beer lacks anyplace its in the smell- I only smell dark roasted grains maybe some woody smell and the alcohol..A hints of other things in there but cant make it out... none of the smells are strong except the roast and the alcohol

As for the Taste- this one is awesome..I love the taste - loads of dark chocolate and black black coffee with plenty oaty oatness - it is much much sweeter than I expected... The best thing about this one is somehow you really cannot taste the alcohol- it is not "in" the taste like a lot of higher abv's --it is blended and part of the taste- never really tasted one like that before...It starts sweet and finishes spicy almost citrus with the alcohol and ending with a oat and chocolate aftertaste. Perfect.

Mouthfeel is also outstanding on this---smooth as silk- very slippery -goes down a bit syrupy but this is as imperial stout so thats expected...carbonation is perfect too not to much not to little and also adds to the finish on the taste.

Drinkability is as high as a imperial stout can get. Like I said earlier- the alcohol is part of the taste - you don't taste alcohol- if it wasn't for the syrupy consistency of the beer it would be dangerous easy to drink A++

Would like to try this one in a bottle to see if its as good bottled.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2007 23:55:21 | More by BuffaloBill91

david131

Michigan

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

3 year old bottle (2007 batch)
11% ABV

A- A deep, dark oily black liquid with no light penetrating the edges. The dark brown head is creamy and thin, but only takes a bit of swirling to bring it back to life. Menacing.

S- Pungent anise, black cherries, smoke, dark chocolate, coffee grounds, and just the slightest hints of alcohol and soy sauce.

T- Anise, black cherries, dark chocolate, coffee, smoke, and oats. Extremely strong flavors that blend together outstandingly well.

M- Oily slick with just enough carbonation to keep it almost creamy. The flavors coat the mouth and linger for quite some time.

D- Outlandishly rich and delicious. It has really calmed down over the years. Highly recommended, but be prepared for a meal in a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 04:25:37 | More by david131

dmfrench

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A near flawless, syrupy sweet, fruity American Double.
___

A: Black with the faintest ruby brown highlights topped with a half finger somewhat persistent medium khaki head.

S: Candied prunes, burnt malt, cinnamon, cocoa, no alcohol. Beautiful.

T: Syrupy sweet spiced cocoa, over-ripe prunes, molasses, espresso, no real alcohol to speak of, and a touch of hops to round things out. A huge, mouth-filling flavor experience.

M: Superb. Heavy and light at the same time.

D: Oh so easy, but it was so big, it took me an hour and a half.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 02:17:14 | More by dmfrench

jrarthur

Virginia

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Opaque black. Head rose to about a half cm pretty quickly, then subsided leaving one small island on the surface and a ring around the edge. Very dark body, but the head shows some brown.

Smell - Immediate hints of chocolate, some oats, and roasted malt (it is a stout). Could be a little stronger.

Taste - Very enjoyable. The chocolate is not nearly as dominant as one would expect after smelling it, and there is even some sort of mellow vanilla-ish taste. Very well balanced and, unlike many Imperial Stouts (IMHO), not overly-boozy at all considering its strength.

Mouthfeel - Although I generally dislike Imperial Stouts that feel like syrup going down, I would prefer a beer with a little bit more thickness. That being said, it is by no means what I would consider too light to enjoy. Very drinkable and, given the high ABV, should be sipped with caution!

Overall - Excellent beer. Well balanced, easy to drink beer with strong, but not harsh, flavors. I definitely recommend this to anyone who prefers the bold flavors in imperial stouts without the harsh booziness.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 23:23:12 | More by jrarthur

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

What a great Stout! It poured a almost black into my crystal mug.
The creamy deep tan head dissipates fast into great lacing.
The smell tells of coffee, chocolate, malt and honey.
Tasting the beer, up front there are roasted malt, chocolate and coffee. In the middle sweet honey flavors and some mild hops balance the beer. The smooth finish is giving away the oats as well as some alcohol.
A nice full bodied mellow oily Stout, very drinkable and now one of my favorites. Great beer and a must try!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2011 04:50:42 | More by Hopfenpeter

isualum12

Idaho

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured dark as night with a great looking headon the glass. We enjoyed this beer last night at an imperial stout party here in Boise

This was easily one of my high lights from over 50+ tastes on the night. Great job bringing the thick tasty stout to life on my toung without to much c02.

Moderate toasted malt with dark bread and a light coffee aroma. There is a flavor ofwith some yeastiness, figs, and plums.

Southern delivers again. We really need more access to them here in Boise.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 18:34:58 | More by isualum12

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A - Black brew with a small mocha head. No lacing.

S - Rich dark chocolate melting. I feel like I'm failing to capture the aroma in words, but thats it. The slightest hint of acetone at warmer temperatures.

T - Dark chocolate, ash, pecans... mushrooms. Aftertaste is rich and full chocolate at first, but it fades quickly into a mild marly bitterness with chocolate dominating it even then. This flavor is marvelous.

M - Silky smooth, thick, very refreshing.

D - I never would have guessed this to be 11%, 9 - maybe. It is very smooth. The taste is outstanding. I will have this again - one of the best offerings form Southern Tier.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2012 06:18:37 | More by mrasskicktastic

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Pours an inky black beer with a small cap of dark brown foam. Lacing is spotty and minimal. The nose is full of roast, chocolate, char and a little smoke. The mouthfeel is velvety and smooth. Body is medium or so. Could use a little boost. But it lends to a lot easier beer to drink, which could be dangerous with this one. Very lightly carbonated. The taste is full of dark oils....anise, tar, black licorice, tobacco and char. It's really quite a nicely integrated flavor profile. Plus there's that flavor packed residue that lingers long after you drink. Alcohol is hidden quite nicely behind all the roast and blackened malts. Roasted bitterness lingers. Quite a nice accomplishment here. A good "sipper."

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2007 04:29:22 | More by Bighuge

sluhdrum07

Missouri

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

drinking straight from the bottle

smell: chocolate, sweetness, like i think the richest chocolate milk and brandy mix might smell, and carmel too

taste: sweetly bitter, swirling it around my mouth leads the flavors into my nasal cavity...mmm, and it stays for a while

mouthfeel: feels like liquid chocolate candy on my tongue.

drinkability: i could drink this so fast i have to watch myself. i don't know the availability of this beer, but i hope it is yearlong because i can see drinking this easily in the summer as dark beers go. 11%?? sure goes down smooth

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 03:19:29 | More by sluhdrum07

Nowhereman529

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Dark, thick, slightly syrupy appearing with a half inch thick, dense head. IMO, appears as a good oatmeal stout should.

S: Chocolately malt, with a slight hint of coffee. Not a strong smell overall, though.

T: This is one of the best oatmeal stouts I've ever had the pleasure of tasting! Rich, slightly sweet, well balanced chocolate/malt/coffee. There may be just a hint of dark fruit in there as well, although it really only became apparent as the beer warmed to room temp.

M: Thick, just a bit on the syrupy side, but not a negative as far as I'm concerned. Chewy might be the right word. Right amount of carbonation.

O: I'm a huge fan of stouts, and this tops my list. I would be hard pressed to come up with another brew that would top this one. It is well balanced is most every respect. If you come across it, I highly recommend picking up a bottle!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 01:22:06 | More by Nowhereman529

CowsCanBark

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from 22 oz. bottle into pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a thick, pitch-black with a small half-finger brown head. Very small amount of lacing left on the glass.

Smell: Dark malts, raisins and prunes, caramels, oats, cherries, overall dark fruity.

Taste: Very nice. Sweet malts in the forefront, with a roasty attribute. Chocolate and caramel penetrate the backend, with a definite oat based taste and light hoppy character. The alcohol is discernible, but definitely not overbearingly so. There is almost a creamy/milky character to the taste, it's divine.

Mouthfeel: Low carbonation and heavy body, very rich and creamy, it would be a sipper but it's so damn good!

Overall: I was expecting my first offering from Southern Tier to be good based on their reputation for good brewing, but this blew me away. An amazing oatmeal stout that sweet-tooths and hop heads alike could enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 01:50:57 | More by CowsCanBark

BlastTyrant

New York

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Draft at MacGregor’s in Henrietta, NY 4/22/2005. Aroma is sweet and malty, with caramel, coffee, vanilla, and oak. The flavor does not disappoint. Coffee, chocolate, oak, and vanilla. Sweet but not cloying, probably due to a pretty significant hops flavor. No one element dominated, nicely balanced. Huge bodied. Should be savored, but I drank my first so fast I had to order a second. They REALLY need to bottle this stuff. Outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2005 02:11:24 | More by BlastTyrant

rye726

Colorado

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

'07 22oz bottle poured into a snifter at 45F.

Black color with cedar hues and a thick brown head. Poor retention as it settled to a light foam around the glass.

Roasted malts and oats. Chocolate, caramel, and peppery hops as well. Some dark fruit comes out as it warms.

Wow, I was totally not expecting such a powerfull and delicious beer from the smell. A wonderful roasted malt structure composed of caramel, chocolate and black varieties. More sweet chocolate with molasses, vanilla and a nice floral hop character to keep everything in good balance.

Quality mouthfeel as well. Full body with light carbonation. Thick, smooth and chewy.

A great oatmeal stout and on eof the best around. Nothing out of balance and the 11% is well hidden. Highly suggested.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2007 06:30:26 | More by rye726

irishevans

Alaska

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

pours a brown/black color with NO head regardless of how hard of a pour you go for, just a thin ring of light brown. smells like chocolate oatmeal, as though such a thing existed but if it did it would smell like this beer. and holy shit the taste, chocolate, oatmeal, malty smooth, not at all harsh from abv. just a fantastic taste, with a mouth-feel to match, velvet, pure velvet, for those who don't get me, subtle crispness/carbonation that tingles as though little flavor crystals just skimmed across your tongue. drinks fairly easy for 12.5%. TRY THIS BEER!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2008 04:58:32 | More by irishevans

sweetbrew82

California

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22 oz. into a snifter/ Fall 2008

P: Dark leathery brown from the bottle, and sits obsidian black with very little light streaming in on the edge of the glass. Even with a vigorous pour, there's barely a 1/2 inch head of walnut brown foam that disappears quickly.

A: Deep roasted malts, rich creamy chocolate, rolled oats, a little molasses, and alcohol.

T: Wow! This is amazing! Sweet, roasted malts mix with oats and dark chocolate for a sweet start. Then, blackstrap molasses, currant, and alcohol hit the scene and mingle nicely. Coffee hits on the back-end, and joins the chocolate and booze for a slick & resinous finish.

M & D: Very full-bodied, thick, rich, and luxurious. It's like melted dark chocolate, so slick and smooth. Drinkability is through the roof, even for 11% ABV!

Notes: This is top-notch brew in my book. Insane amount of delicious flavor, enough complexity to keep it interesting, and a mouthfeel that's out of this world! Damn, I wish Southern Tier would expand their distribution out to CA so I could try the rest of their line. If they're anything like this, I would love to have a stockpile in my refrigerator. Highly recommended

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2009 02:58:47 | More by sweetbrew82

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Two year anniversary beer! Thanks BA!

A - Pours a sold jet black and a soft pour lead to the minimal of head, just a ring but lacing looks good.

S - From what I can smell this beer smells sweet. Touches of candy and syrup like chocolates with surprising very little coffee or roasted malt. Balanced.

T - Ow wow that's tasty! Where the alcohol? Seriously I get Smooth tones of baker chocolate and sweet roasted coffee's. Not sure of the age but it was not very sweet and cloying or extreme roasty in anyway. Just smooth chocolate tones. Lovely.

M - I may be the only one but this drinks damn smooth like a medium body. No way is this 11 percent.

Overall I got what I hoped to get. Sweet, balanced, chocolate. Not sure the age since they don't date, could be months, could be years. All I know is my bottle was perfect. Can't wait to finish the bomber!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2011 23:37:43 | More by DrDemento456

shippos

New York

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

on tap at the chapter house and served in the black water series own line of glassware.
poured black black black, with little head until I poured it into a big glass and it produced a thick creamy dense tan head that lasted until the final drop. very balanced and smooth aroma with a bit of alcohol. intense concentrated creamy oily mouthfeel and is so smooth. surprisingly little roasted character, would expect some some from a heavy stout like this. oats seem to mellow and smooth out the rough edges on this. so so drinkable despite the alcohol content. don't even think about letting this get pass you with out trying it.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2005 16:48:39 | More by shippos

Fourem

New York

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap @ Cole's

Poured an oily black with a tan head. Lacing all the way to the bottom of the goblet. Smell is sweet and roasty but not too overpowering. Slight sweet caramel flavor with a lingering vanilla, cherries. Very light hop finish with roasted malt all the way home. Chewy body, very nice to sit and sip if it were snowing...
Alcohol is very well hidden in this monster. I cant wait to take some home in the bottle!

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2007 21:15:15 | More by Fourem

oberon

North Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Part of the Black Water series of big beers from ST,11% ABV per label.Poured an opaque black with a thinner deep mocha colored head atop that left a half ring around my Guinness pint glass.Deep bitter chocolate and espresso coffee in the nose that brought on a bit of earth and fruitiness very deep and entrenched "dark" aromas,pretty much perfection on the palate deeply roasted and rich flavors bitter chocolate and molasses dominates up front with a bit of vanilla and dark roast coffee and wood hovers, a big earthy almost leafy presence shows up in the finish.Complex and well rounded the alcohol begins to show some heat after a bit but never intrudes on the flavors,kick ass new "big one" from Southern Tier wich I expected.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2007 21:47:02 | More by oberon