Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

franksnbeans

Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours an opaque black with 2 fingers of chocolate milk head that dies slow. Smells of chocolate notes with roasted malt. Tastes of licorice, bakers chocolate, roasted malt and alcohol. Feels full in the mouth and finishes with a bitterness. A GYNORMOUS and tasty brew indeed though it tastes a little hot right now. A little age would do this one wonders.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2007 21:31:59 | More by franksnbeans

drseamus

New York

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: I realize that when beers get this strong, they don't usually have much head. That doesn't mean I miss it less though. The body is jet black and with a glug glug style agressive pour I managed to get a decently thin dark mocha head that immediately disappeared leaving just a tiny bit of lacing.

S: Coffee and chocolate blast out of the snifter. There is a good roasty aroma as well.

T: This is a damn flavorful beer. Definitely in the extreme category. The coffee and chocolate are incredibly strong but they don't seem to fill out the entire flavor. Some of the silkiness from the oatmeal is there too. Maybe a bit too bitter for my taste but the alcohol is hidden really well.

M: Not as heavy as I would have though, but a lot of these higher ABV stouts get like that. It's still pretty heavy and not bad at all.

D: Not nearly as good as the Jah-va, but a damn good beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2007 05:21:02 | More by drseamus

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

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one's just dark black with a little brown creeping in around the edges. Very little head at all short of a thin collar.

Smells of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies with a delicate backing of booze that tries to pass itself off as ginger.

Tastes powerfully of milk chocolate and a touch of maple syrup along with a concoction of ambiguous fruits (raspberry?) that's held at bay by a finely roasted coffee. This then shifts more towards the coffee that brings with some delicate dryer chocolates. This finishes mouth-puckering dry, which is quite a surprise considering the ABV with a touch of sticky maple syrup to keep things in check.

Feels quite viscous with only a smattering of carbonation that leaves a slight film in my mouth.

Not a bad brew at all, but the dryness was hard to deal with.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2007 03:03:14 | More by DarkerTheBetter

bort11

Missouri

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

Thanks to kirok1999 for this one.

22 oz silk screened bottle, stating brewed fall of 2007. Poured into an Imperial pint glass. Dark tan colored that only stands up about a 1/4 inch, but that is to be expected for a beer of this ABV. Slowly recedes to a sticky ring.
Smell is sweet and chocolatey with a boozy burn. Taste is like a chocolate malt with some extra oomph. Sweet and creamy like a good oatmeal stout. Has some nice spicy notes in the back from the hops. Chocolate/toffee flavors from the malt is the dominate flavor.
Mouthfeel is creamy and slick. Very pleasant alcohol burn. I feel it in my chest. I'm done for the night after one, but I feel really good about it. To bad this is no longer available.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2007 02:48:02 | More by bort11

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

shirfan

New York

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black, warm tan head bubbles up an inch or so before receding to a thin layer of lace.

Sweet aroma of smoke, bratwurst waiting to be grilled, mild sour milk. Quite an "organic" aroma.

Taste is sweet with seductive hints of toffee, chocolate milkshake, latte, and dark but not bitter malts.

If I could give mouthfeel a 6.0, I would. Ridiculously smooth, soft, creamy, mousselike. Beyond exceptional -- sublime.

A mild dose of hops kicks into the finish along with nothing more than a breath of alcohol warmth. As others have mentioned, a bottle of Oat will be the perfect beer for the snowy, house-bound nights that are sure to come. Fantastic stuff.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2007 22:45:39 | More by shirfan

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

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a nonic)
The bottle says 11% ABV
A- This beer pours a jet-black body with a creamy thin chocolate milk colored head. This beer is too dense to see any carbonation.

S- This beer has a dark rich black malt smell with nice complexity and a nice note of cream and dark chocolate malt.

T- This beer has an inky black malt and black roasted grain flavors with a hint of tar and some light bourbon notes. There is also some caramel malt notes with a soft bitterness of grain that lingers briefly after each sip.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a silky texture and a light chewy texture as the beer warms.

D- This is a very well built beer with lots of great bold flavor with a nice complexity. It is just delicious. This is a great session beer but at that ABV two is all I can handle before I call it a night.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2007 03:27:15 | More by rhoadsrage

kirok1999

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'll start this review from the end....damn, this is one fantastic stout!! I could drink this thing all night, it is super creamy and thick, mellow and smooth. The taste is wonderfully sweet, vanilla, sugar, dark fruit, cherries, plums. Absolutely delicious. Smell is vanilla and cherries. This thing is black as night, an LED couldn't shine through it.
Highly recommended; I'll be buying as many as I can get my hands on.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 22:09:03 | More by kirok1999

genog

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a thick, black color with a thick and fluffy mocha layer of head that disappears only to leave a faint trace of some lacing along the side. Swirls of brown lacing swim on top of this beer. Smell is dried fruits, black licorice, some dark cocao. Toasted oat malt is present in this one as well, although the traits of an imperial stout seem more present. Taste is rich and full of oat, and dark chocolate with coffee and cream. Slight warming sensation on the chest as this one goes down. The oat malt really makes this a smooth drink in the mouth feeling.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2007 21:34:37 | More by genog

DrinkinBuddy

New York

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up this badboy at the brewery yesterday. Pours a complete black with a nice light brown head that leaves ample lacing throughout session. Aromatic experience is mostly a sweet oaty scent with a nice hop infusion. Taste is sweet with nice oat and chocolate mix, slight caramel lingering with a tinge of alcohol, nothing to frown at. A really nice mouthfeel with perfection soothing every inch of the mouth. Nice and smooth. As the bottle says "A meal in it's self"

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2007 02:45:16 | More by DrinkinBuddy

Crosling

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Black color, with a large, filmy, light mocha colored head, particularly large for being hand bottled. Aroma very reminiscent of Avery Czar; burnt, slightly vinous, with hints of chocolate, roast and charred fruits and fortunately, not flooded with aroma hops like some Imperial Stouts, making it very nice. Big, full, coating body, again, sensational, especially considering it was hand bottled. Flavor is unbelievably rich, with roast, chocolate blanket, charred fruit, and a light hop finish. Beautiful beer. Thanks to my secret santa, whoever you are.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2007 04:52:48 | More by Crosling

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

WesWes

New York

4.45/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a deep dark black color with a thick frothy brown head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is great. It has a rich, warm black malt scent that is quite powerful. It is full of black patent and some chocolate malts along with a very dry oatmeal aroma. The taste is excellent as well. It is thick and rich with black malts. It goes down slow and warms on the finish. It is really dry and earthy. The mouthfeel is good. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a great drinking oatmeal stout. It's one you want to drink slow, but it's a good drinker. I have been waiting for the local "ale house" to put this on tap for some time now. I was worth the wait.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2005 21:59:00 | More by WesWes

Onceeven

New York

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Found this one waiting for me at MacGregor's in Rochester. Didn't hesitate to try this brew, since everything I've had from Southern Tier has been top notch. I think this brewery has been criminally underappreciated/overlooked, maybe because of their horrid packaging.. but anyway..

The beer arrived in it's own special "IS" glass, nothing fancy, but a nice touch. Quite possibly the darkest beer I've ever seen. Black. The mocha colored head was paperthin, but instead of seeing it as a negative, I was glad I had that extra last sip as I was finishing this beast.
The smell was a bit hard to detect, since I had a bit of a stuffy nose.. but I could make out an elegant roasted, bitter/sweet typical oatmeal stout scent, with a faint whiff of alcohol.
This is one smooth beer. Granted it is a huge, rich and malty beer.. but the 12.5% alcohol remains firmly in the background, out of sight, until you get up to leave, and have a quick stumble.
Drinkability would be 4.5, but this beer is so rich and filling that one is more than enough.
If you're a fan of stouts and you happen to find this one, don't hesitate!

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2005 02:03:34 | More by Onceeven

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

HappyHourHero

Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on tap at Maxie's. Deep black colored beer with a dark brown hue around the edges. Dark chestnut colored head was thick and dense. Aromas of chocolate and roasted malt with a bit of alcohol and some cherry? I swear I was getting a wiff of NyQuil in there. Same chocolate and roasted malt in the flavor along with a bit of marshmallow and some of that astringent oatmeal flavor poked its head in for a second. There was enough bitterness to cut the sweet malt flavors. Mouthfeel was thick and juicy just coating your mouth with flavor. Body was nice and thick. I wanted another one, but at $7.25 for a 12oz glass it was a bit too pricey. I'm glad I didn't get another because that 12.5%abv kicked in about 20 minutes later. Definitely recomended if you can get your hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2004 15:07:55 | More by HappyHourHero