Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

Halcyondays

California

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bomber, bought at Lone Hill Liquors, in Glendora, CA, first time I've ever seen a Southern Tier beer in this state,

A: Pours black, with hints of brown, with a small, frankly, mocha coffee tan head, fair retention, limited lacing, not the best looking big stout that I have seen.

S: The smell has an overall smoky feel to it, even though this beer isn't smoked, nice notes of strong coffee and milk chocolate come along for the ride.

T: Never having had an Imperial Oatmeal Stout before, I didn't know what to expect, but was eager to try, I assumed it would be a sweeter version of an RIS-type beer. Very sweet on the first sip, very malty, but not with a roasted flavour, more caramel, then as the flavour evolves in your mouth, the burnt sugar and molasses come with strong espresso notes finishing out the drink. A complex and satisfying stout.

M: Very rich, but actually somewhat light and fluffy on the tongue which lessens its alcoholic impact, making it easier to drink. Very well done.

D: My first beer from Southern Tier and I am impressed, I'd like to try more of their beers if I'm ever in the Northeast.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 06:01:48 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Whoa buddy. This is a monster...don't try to finish one at the end of a session like I tried to do once. Here's a review on a fresh palate.

Woody brown in the light as it's poured into a 22 oz. glass. Black with a dark brown glint at the edge. A finger of tan mocha foam, dense and chocolatey. Spindly ring of lace is draped inside the glass. Roasty with a sweet whiff of alcohol. This hides it's abv, but it still shows around the edges. Ashy char and tobacco meets bitter dark chocolate, with a silky texture that seals the deal. Rich lactic feel, mild fusel note that fades fast. Overall a definite winter sipper...

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2009 03:33:24 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: black in color with a 2" head that slowly falls. Some lacing develops.

Smell: roasted malts, alcohol, and some cocoa is picked up by the nose.

Taste: roasted malt sweetness with some bitter dark chocolate, prunes, mild bitterness, and a good bit of alcohol. The oats seem to mellow out the malt profile a bit.

Mouthfeel: lightly prickly at the start. Smooth almost syrupy at the finish. Heavy in body. Aftertaste is long on the flavor profile.

Drinkability: decent but a real slow sipper here. This bottle will last a good part of the evening. One bomber is more than enough though.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2007 23:13:43 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with a tan head that gives an espresso look. The head falls to wisps, leaving some thin lines of spotted lacing.

The smell is of dark maltiness - some coffee/chocolate though neither really stand out - a general dark maltiness fits description well enough. Boozy.

The taste is of sweet dark malt with a bittering touch. The alcohol comes through strongly. Chocolate syrup with thick caramel makes this one sweet and dessert-like. Hot, sweetish finish.

It is rich and hits full-bodied, but not too syrupy. There is a certain smoothness despite noticeable alcohol.

This is a slow-sipper. Personally, not as impressed as I was hoping to be, but an interesting beer, nevertheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 13:54:25 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A 650 mL bottle that I picked up at Shawan Liquors a month and a half ago.

A: The stout pours with a fast-flowing oily blackness. Save for the small amount of carbonation that bubbled up, I'd say that this was chocolate syrup.

S: Thick, burnt grains and oat sweetness define the nose. The complexity of the grains is overwhelming, full of alcohol and chcoolate flavors.

T: The stout nicely pairs the extremity of an imperial with the sweetness of oatmeal. The imperial angle is full of burnt toast and alcohol. The flavors meld nicely, allowing the strength of the alcohol to hide behind the chocolate, graham and coffee. The oat is sweet, softening up the acrid burnt flavors while not detracting from what they add to the body. The end of the stout is an awesome mix of both flavors, acrid but sweet, lactic and chocolatey.

M: The mouthfeel is smooth as silk but bitingly bitter. The imperialization of an oatmeal stout? Brilliant or deranged. Either way, it works.

D: The abv is through the roof, 11% per the bottle, making this a one-off night cap. I like what Southern Tier is doing with their Imperial line and this is no exception. A must-try for fans of oatmeal.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2008 03:16:54 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a bomber from Abe's Cold Beer and shared it with a couple friends. It poured pitch black with a short tan head. This is by far one of the smoothest impy stouts I've had. I'd give a higher MF score, but as the beer warmest a lot of alcohol came forward. Otherwise the flavor is a big, rich mix of candied cocoa with a little mocha around the edge. It reminds me of Sam Smith's oatmeal stout on steroids.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2010 15:39:34 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Appears a burnt dark black completely opaque shields all and any pigment from the visible light spectrum forms a large thicket of mocha tan head leaves light even lacing as it dwindles down. Aroma is full of burnt roasted malts with dark chocolate cream accented notes with alcohol and ripened fruit blended in. Soft sweet oatmeal girth and a deep herbal minty hop profile express themselves as well. Roasted malt alcohol burn with a chocolate liqueur quality upfront herbal bitterness heavy sweetness raisin and plum galore, as it warms flavors rush the palate even more I have loved every Blackwater Series offering this one is no different loads of flavor oatmeal added with brown sugar sweetness. Mouthfeel is full bodied syrupy thick ass texture, a beer I can definitely bite into carbonation is even carries this heavy body pretty well. Drinkability is great a whole 22oz is my limit but I’m willing to share this one next time around, although I might have to track down a whole case.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2007 18:57:38 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with a thin tan head. Flavor is very sweet. Almost comes off as a milk stout, and the 12.5% certainly doesn't show up at all. Kind of tangy and I'm not sure I like it. Have had this in the past and I don't remember it being like this. Sure it's smooth, but there are no real strong characteristics moving me here. Feel is smooth and slick on liquid with a low carbonation. Drinkable, yes. Just wondering if this bottle is not at its best.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2008 02:30:40 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

Poured a thick black with no head. Nose is of oatmeal, roastiness, and a surprising amount of hoppiness for a stout. Flavor is very unique - a ton of oatmeal flavor (which "oatmeal stouts" usually lack) and good cerealness, balanced with some chocolate malt roastiness and a bit of hop. Mouthfeel is thick, syrupy, viscous and good. ABV very well disguised make it an easy drink that is damn tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2008 04:39:57 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A very mild head that dies quickly. Nearly black in color where no light can shine through.

Cocoa with cream aroma

Extreme doesn't begin to describe this beer. Strong black patent malt bitterness (similar to coffee grounds). After the aroma, I didn't expect this much flavor. Brandy-like warmth from the alcohol, particularly in the swallow.

Could this be too much of a good thing? I certainly could not drink this regularly.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2007 00:49:40 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to jwc215 for this brew.

Pours a deep black color, some carbonation, nice little fizzy dark tan head, which leaves minimal sticky lacing. The nose is malty, chocolaty, toffee, roasty, vanilla, and caramel. The taste is sweet, malty, lots and lots of roasty/chocolate/toffee tones. The alcohol is hidder pretty well for a brew this high. Medium body. A well rounded brew. Very drinkable, another awesome brew from ST, highly recommended. Thanks Joe.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 22:01:48 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours a one finger tan head that fades slowly to a thin layer, leaving some lace. Black color, no highlights. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Chocolate nose. Flavor is sweet chocolate, oats and some caramel. Smooth, hints of baker's chocolate at finish. High ABV is hidden. $8.95 for a 22oz bottle from Colonial Spirits Acton, Ma.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2009 22:35:24 | More by jdhilt

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

Billolick

New York

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

Bomber bottle, the etched on the bottle label says this one was brewed in the "fall of 2007"....fresh is good. Pours black and thick, carbonation is fairly low as a vigorous pour only lifted a very minor dark tan film. NIce ringed, fine bubble sheeting. Nose just mildly of some sweetness and then some roasty malts. Nice sipper, plenty of roasted malts, cafe au lait, and hints of smokey, earthyness. The finish here goes on and on, sliky smooth, subtle sweetness, hints of tropical fruits, yeah I taste em...Rich and viscous, more quality, COMPLEX beer from Southern tier. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2007 12:31:07 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.45/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into a pint glass. From 2009 and my bottle says 11.0% ABV.

a - Pours a dark brown with moderate carbonation evident and about an inch and a half of tan head.

s - Smells of chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, and oatmeal. More chocolate than oatmeal to me, and I didn't smell any alcohol as some have.

t - Some oatmeal and nice malts. Also some dark fruits? Definitely getting some alcohol in the taste.

m - Full body and low carbonation. Some alcohol warmth.

d - Pretty good smell but I thought the alcohol was a bit too much in the taste. I felt as though it dominated some of the other flavors, and it definitely felt the 11% ABV it says it is. Would like to try again perhaps after some cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 00:06:25 | More by mdfb79

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

22oz bottle purchased as a single from Julio's, Marlboro, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" dark brown head over the opaque black brew. Head holds steady, with sticky slow-falling lace. Aroma is moderately of malt & dark fruit. Taste is dark sweetness upfront, a shot of fruit coupled with strong bitterness, of both the hops and coffee type, and closes with alcohol warmth. Mouthfeel is velvet, but the closing bitterness pushes a bit too hard, with style-appropriate drinkability. A pleasing nightcap.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2007 02:24:42 | More by ppoitras

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

Much thanks to TomDecapolis for sharing this beauty...
Appears a syrupy black with a small tan head that fades into a small head. Scattered lacing is left around the glass.
Smell if of chocolate, fudge brownies, roasted nuts, caramel, mocha, and cream...luscious.
Taste is of the same with fruity notes and a deep, rich cocoa.
Mouthfeel is boozy, chocolate filled, fudgey, caramel laden, bready, sugary, full bodied, and sweet.
The only thing that could possibly make this one better is some age. Other than that, it's really tasty. A true winner that I thouroughly enjoyed and will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2007 21:46:24 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

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

Sampled through the efforts of Secret Halloween '07 BIF and jaxon53.

Super thick pour a lot like cool used motor oil and just as dark a thin brown head forms but this isn't a beer notable for head formation at all. A decent head and this could have been a "5" appearance beer easily.

As I type noting the appearance the aroma of the beer tempts me from a distance this is odoriferous stuff. Sweet dark dried fruits, mostly fig and plum mix with chocolate and Kahlua in my first sniff. Berries and dried Bing Cherries rum and cinnamon are in the very next layer of scent. Among the better scented RIS out there but not quite the best of the best.

The taste begins sweet and chocolate with a coffee after taste. Boozy on the tongue in a good way and quite a lot like a glass of Kahlua wonder what this is like over ice cream? Flavor is quite good but no where near as complex as the scent. Figs and prunes are in the taste profile and even a bit of Bock beer flavor.

The mouthfeel is very thick like milkshake mix.

Quite the pleasant and comfortable RIS and one that I look forward to sampling again. Pretty much a top-notch example of the style and one that I would recommend. Add a little more complex flavor and some head and this would be a competitor for the best RIS on the planet.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2007 23:15:35 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

22 oz bottle picked up at Whole Foods.

Pours a very thick and oily opaque black, thick and huge brown head forms, massive lacing, good retention. Smell is oats, caramel, chocolate, big roast, molasses, vanilla, bit of wood and smoke. Taste is molasses and toffee, chocolate, roast, oats, sweet lactic middle, coffee with cream, some floral and bitter roast in the finish. Mouthfeel is very thick and viscous, low carbonation, very sweet. At first I had this rated pretty highly, but the more I drank the more I disliked it. It turns sickly sweet and sugary, and if I have this again its going to be split a hell of a lot more than two ways.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2007 18:18:13 | More by Viggo

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

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Capone's in Norristown, PA.

Pours pitch black wih a coffee colored head. Malty aroma of oatmeal, roasted coffee, chocolate and alcohol. Lots of oatmeal and roasted chocolate maltiness i the flavor as well as a noticeable alcohol warmth. ABV not very well masked.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 09:20:36 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.48/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured out substantially black in color, a little bit dark brown. Beige head, about 1/3" deep. Looks more like what I would expect from a coffee beer.

Aroma was fairly muted, the alcohol was noticeable. Oatmeal didn't cover up the roastiness of this one.

Roastiness and alcohol dominates the taste buds. I thought this was going to be a more smooth drinking experience, with the whole oat motif, but the problem here is the beer is just too big. A lot of bitterness as well. I don't think the notion of making something imperial and oat works. Dark chocolate, dark fruit underneath the booziness and bitterness. I love some Southern Tier, this one doesn't fall into that category.

There isn't much there, there. Flavors aren't the high point. Too non descript, not enough of what I want with oatmeal, a smooth chocolatey experience. Coating, but what makes up the coating is nothing special. The espresso notes should have shown up more in Jahva, not here.

Should be about half this strength.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 18:11:02 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Had this on tap for the first time at Max's the other night.

The beer pours a viscuous looking black, with good head retention and lacing. The nose is quite complex with aromas of licorise (quite a bit in fact), coffee, burnt sugar and band aides. If anything the beer is even more complex on the palate, with flavors of sweet cherry cough drop (to the point where the beer is almost cloying), coffee, chocolate, licorise and spearmint. The beer has a pretty good mouthfeel, though the sweetness and abv. are almost overpowering. This is a very good beer, but it's not really very drinkable. A little bit goes a long way and I can't imagine trying to drink a pint of this stuff. Nevertheless, an impressive effort from Southern Tier.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2007 14:31:11 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Taco Mac Metropolis in Atlanta.

Pours black with a half-finger tan head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of rich dark chocolate with solid amounts of roasted malts. Also present, and more prevalent as the beer warms, are slight hints of sweet oats.

Tastes good. Equal parts roasted malt and dark chocolate flavors kick things off. The chocolate flavors integrate better with the roastiness of the malts than I had anticipated from the nose. Midway through the sip the flavor profile does sweeten a bit then carries through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is great. It's got a nice thickness to begin with and the oats intensify it even more and make the bubbles feel more fine.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass without a problem and could have another.

Overall the thing that stood out most about this beer was the mouthfeel - until I found out that it is 11% ABV. A flavorful beer that is not quite over the top and does a very good job of masking the alcohol. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2010 21:34:21 | More by glid02

DoubleJ

California

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Continuing the tradition of the First and Second Unorganized Invitational, I bring the start of the Third Unorganized Invitation. For those unfamilair, the "unorgainized" theme is for a stretch of beers which I celebrate the end of the school year with. This year, given it was the year I graduated, I poured more money into the one. The first one is Southern Tier Oat. Are you ready? Let's go:

Inot a snifter it goes, no head forms on top this dark liquid. That's not a good sign. Well, the smells is nice. The nose is tickled with licorice, dark fruits, figs, and fudge brownies. Please don't taste flat...

There's a light sizzle of carbonation on the palate. It is a thick beer that clings to the palate, but slips off at the same time. It tastes more like mocha than oatmeal. A mild pinch of alcohol, which is a little hot, pairs with an astringent roasted note. As it warms, it become sweeter, and the booze is less felt. Mocha and hot fudge begin to take over. The beer becomes smoother as well.

A little oommph seems to be missing from the overall picture to warrant a higher taste score. Still, it's fairly good. Drinking a bomber of this is stretching it; better in smaller samples.

That's one beer down in the Third Unorganized Invite (T.U.I.), and hopefully the upcoming competition meets my high expectations.

Serving type: bottle

06-02-2009 05:08:52 | More by DoubleJ