Oat (Imperial Oatmeal Stout) - Southern Tier Brewing Company

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007, listed at 11% abv. Poured black, and a bit undercarbonated. Thick and viscous with bubbles slow to form. Little head. The initial smell is of alcohol, followed by sweet malt, an underlying bitterness, and perhaps a bit of light roastiness as well. The taste is a little hot as well, also quite bitter, a tad undercarbonated. But there are very good flavors of coffee, molasses, and a roasted graininess. The mouthfeel is smooth and sweet. This beer didn't blow me away. I really think it needs more time in the bottle to mellow and integrate flavors a bit more and to tame some of the sweetness. Not bad now, but probably could be better.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2008 14:40:37 | More by Georgiabeer

tavernjef

Minnesota

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

Deep black in the glass, but pours with a bit of very dark ruby to it. Small fluffy capping of tanned foam reaches about a pinky high before residing to a grouping of large bubbles along the edge. Lacing of long inky glob and a bunch of spots is placed well across the glass.

Aroma is mostly blackened things and tenderly crisp with a small oaty sweetness hidden underneath. Burnt grains, coffee, bread crusts, molasses, and oats are all singed to make a close cousin nose to cooked brown sigar and charcoal.

Flavors are quite nice with lots of girthy length and smoothness in a well established stout style of oaty sweetness, slight molasses, burntish hints of grains, grasses, and coffee. There's a smallish hint to some milk chocolate as it warms that renders even more smoothness to its body which is quite welcoming and pleasing to the overall character. It grabs some favorable flecks of burnt wood notes as it finishes and the easy going warth the creep in after each sip is quite nice.

Feel is quite smooth and just over a medium body and holds a nice length in its overall tone and holds that tone well the whole way thru. Becomes quite chocolatey as it warms and has lots of depth in its flavor profile with burntish stuff.

One very solid stout and nothing short of what Southern Tier cranks out!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2008 21:26:26 | More by tavernjef

JohnGalt1

Idaho

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

22 brought over by my trading partner SAS .. My share from my New Belgium snifter.

Looks thick even in the pour .. Black brew with a nice cap of tan head.. no lacing, but a firm collar.

Dark malts and dark fruits .. with coffee and whiffs of milk chocolate .. lite spicy hop notes.

Flavor is dark malts up front .. chocolate .. everything melds perfectly .. nothing is overpowering but instead is incredibly well meshed. Very smooth mouthfeel.. thick with a moderate carbonation ..

Viscous and boozy as it warms .. certainly a sipper .. certainly an excellent brew.

Thanks Steven for providing a great beer for our mini tasting.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2008 08:14:20 | More by JohnGalt1

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma is strong and smoky with an overtone of molasses and a hint of quality coffee. It pours a rich opaque sable, like any good stout, with a fairly thick and fine-bubbled tan head that leaves some substantial, if not persistent, lacing. Flavor is fabulous - fine roast coffee, sweet chocolate, molasses, and a hint of hops. The sweetness is not cloying or overpowering, and the touch of hop bitterness balances this nicely. Lively texture is quite fizzy and leaves behind a good tingle, along with molasses sweetness and a little hop bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 15:57:20 | More by Cyberkedi

ccrida

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber (breed fall 2008) poured into my Meantime snifter, Oat is pitch black garnett with a dark tan head that leaves light, scattered foamy lace. Served ~60F.

Smell is strong, heavy on the caramel malts, but there is a brightness to it that keeps it enjoyable.

Taste is very rich, but there is a smooth balance that I really appreciate, lacking the acrid char that turns me off to most double stouts. This a nice herbal mintiness to the hops (which must be the willamette, rather than the more aggressive columbus), really it has a great taste.

Mouthfeel is smooth and silky, fully carbonated, a bit dry, medium heavy body.

Drinkability is high for me, particularly for the style. A nice roast without being overly bitter or acrid, the high ABV (11.0% ABV on my batch) is very well hidden, and it goes down pretty easy.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 01:57:42 | More by ccrida

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

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

The beer is near black and opaque with a thick beige head. Excellent retention with ample lacing cascading down the walls of the tulip. The aroma offers roast, alcohol heat, oats, bread, chocolate. The taste pretty much follows suit, with perhaps a bit more oat presence than was indicated in the aroma. Lots of flavor, but I find the alcoholic heat a bit obtrusive, keeping this beer from being great. Crackers and biscuits linger, as the beer finishes dry. Medium to full bodied with appropriate carbonation. A solid beer. I bet this would age gracefully.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 03:52:45 | More by Huhzubendah

largadeer

California

3.43/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Black with ruby highlights, slight opacity. The head falls after a few minutes, residing to a small ring.

Smell: Roasted malt, milk chocolate, subtle alcohol. Not a ton of depth here, but it's a nice bold aroma.

Taste/mouthfeel: Chocolate, cream, molasses; definitely on the sweet side, though burnt bitterness is ample as well. Rich, creamy and full-bodied - they must have used a ton of oats in this stuff. Carbonation is low, further contributing to the silky texture. The finish does little to hide the high alcohol, leaving a boozy astringency on the back of the throat.

Notes: Nice stuff, but perhaps a bit too strong for its own good - the noticeable alcohol adds a harsh edge to a style that I prefer to be smooth and mellow.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2008 04:55:07 | More by largadeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Southern Tier Oat, Now 11% alcohol instead of listed 9.6.

Appearance: Pours a dark ruby brown with a slight off white head.

Smell: Oats, chocolate and alcohol.

Taste: Nutty malts, smooth oats, grains and a nice roastedness round the beer out. Alcohol is present but not distracting.

Mouthfeel is full bodied, yet smooth and a nice lingering cocoa/grain flavor.

Drinkability: Wow, a big beer here. Tasty and goes down easy, pleasant for a night cap but alas I have more in store for tonight. Good beer from Southern Tier once again.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2010 23:53:25 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

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

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a black color and a thick texture. There was a thin amount of tan-colored, foamy head that quickly dissipated. Good lacing.

S: A nice aroma of coffee, chocolate malt, and some hops.

T: Tasted of chocolate malt, coffee, hops, and oats. Not the most complex of flavors, but very focused and tasty.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium- to full-bodied.

D: A solidly drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 12:09:24 | More by avalon07

gford217

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours pitch black with a dense one inch mocha head that dissipates quickly leaving a little bit of lacing.

S: The first thing I noticed in the smell was the surprisingly evident alcohol notes, very boozy aroma. There is also strong dark fruit (raisins mainly), chocolate and oat scents as well.

T: Decadent taste full of dark chocolate, dark fruit and roasted malts. The alcohol makes itself known in the taste as well with slight bitterness of roasted coffee and oatmeal in the aftertaste.

M: Mouthfeel is heavy, oily and thick. It just coats your mouth with the chocolate malts and leaves an alcohol burn for good measure.

D: This is a huge stout that I would definitely categorize as a sipper or a dessert beer. It's a good but not great stout in my book.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2008 02:31:53 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours a thick black, faint dark brown highlighted into my snifter. Great to swirl and watch the viscous liquid try to hold on for dear life to the inside of the glass. No head and no carbonation visible. The aroma is a warm, oaty, malty, chocolatey feeling and smelling beer. The smell gives you a great precursor to hat you can expect this beer to taste like. The first sip is a bittersweet dark chocolate, vanilla, and marshmellow malt. Lets not forget the coffee and hints of toffee amidst this hotly alcoholic beer. Very creamy, warming, and oily palated beer. Great for sipping and swirling.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2008 04:28:30 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

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

A-Blackish brown...tan/amber head...

S-Quite impressive....rich and sweet....chocolate...roasted malts...very appealing vanilla...a little caramel....some dark fruits and rum....tremendously complex....AWESOME aroma

T-Milk chocolate....roasted malts...."tia maria" liquor...maple...nougat...dark fruits...plums, black cherries...figs....boozy to a point...finish with a spicy gain alcohol kick.

M-Like fucking velvet...smooth and as creamy a beer as I've ever had....full bodied...definitely a sipper.

D-Right up there with the best of the best....a slight grainy alcoholic feel is the only minor complaint...now listed at 11.0% rather than 12.5% Maybe they are working on that...might be even better at 10%...nevertheless this is a hell of a beer. I'm not sure where the scores will place it but it feels like a top 25-50 beer of all-time for me. (Note: I just checked it is tied for # 72 out of 1302 on my list....about right)

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2007 07:05:18 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

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

22oz bomber, purchased at Sam's in downers grove and lugged back to madison after a week on a tri-state tour

appearance: pours into a snifter, dark mahogany body with a light tan ring but not much in the way of head....probably the first imperial stout i have had in a while but it has turned quite chilly lately and i need to know if i need to buy more of this beer

smell: big big nose, chocolate malt, huge dark chocolate nose, licorice, lots and lots of oats, green hops definitely back there...hell of an aroma on this one

taste: this thing is a dark chocolate bomb, thick roasted malts, fudge, black licorice, vanilla and cream, hazelnut, oatmeal, char, hops provide a mildly bitter feel, alcohol is pretty well masked...a very enjoyable stout here

mouthfeel: smooth but with bitterness

drinkability: pretty good

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2007 01:45:57 | More by dirtylou

cokes

Wisconsin

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

Fall 2007 Release.
It's puddle-of-spilled-ink appearance is belied by the mulberry hints at its edges (and throughout it's surprisingly clear body when held to a strong light). A thin mocha-brown lid lazily rises and falls and fades away.
Boldly fragranced of chocolate syrup and port, almost at the exclusion of all other things, but a vague vanilla bean essence creeps out with time, along with kilned tobacco, maple, leather, and hazelnut. Tracers of smoked meat arrive as it warms.
Across the tongue, it's striking how un-roasted it intitally presents. Granted, there are brief coffee bean flourishes, but this is a far cry from the burnt-black quadruple espresso tire-fires of some Imperial Stouts. Fudge is preeminent, lasting, and deep. Molasses is secondary, for a moment, then eventually usurps fudge for dominance. In union, the two are iron-fisted in their rule....or possibly ham-fisted. Maple and hazelnut and vanilla flavors are interwoven, but basically drowned out. Plum and black currants reside in the later portions, seeming to preclude a sherry-like alcohol note that never arrives. While this smells vinic and alcoholic, those are lost in the translation into the mouth. Oats are too frail and slight a flavor to carve out a niche in this cluttered biosphere, even though I'm sure they are used by the shovel-full. There's a creamed sweetness that hints at them, but I'm not so sure, as it seems more tied to the S. Tier house yeast. For those searching for Oatmeal like it's Waldo; it probably best viewed as a vague flakiness in the back of the mouth upon the swallow. Hops, too, are relocated to the fringes contributing only a basically illusory sense of wintergreen and a drying algae brown-greenness.
While oatmeal is essentially shut out of the flavor, it shows up in feel. Adding spun-silk to a puddle of syrup, it lubricates the virtually flat liquid and sends it careening through the mouth and gullet. For as strong and heartily flavored as this is, it's near incredulous to drink this so effortlessly...and quickly.
This is well-integrated and structured for a recently-released big stout. It's doesn't need time to assemble itself. In fact, I'd drink it now. It's not seemingly bottle-conditioned and just doesn't seem like cellaring would benefit it.
All told, this is very good, and probably about step away from the Rapture.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2007 08:09:32 | More by cokes

Tone

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color. 1/7 inch head of a tan color. Poor retention and poor lacing. Smells of alcohol, sweet malt, chocolate, oat, slight tart malt, and a hint of dark citrus. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with a low carbonation level. Tastes of alcohol, oat, sweet malt, slight chocolate, slight roasted malt, and a hint of dark citrus. Overall, good body, blend, complexity.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 18:52:37 | More by Tone

beertunes

Washington

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

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured the thick black I expected, but lacked anything more than the thinnest cap of head, thus zero retention or lacing.

A full, rich, malty aroma had some traces of roast, and a bit each of sharpness and sweetness. The aroma had a very nice earthiness that you don't find often. The taste was very good, and I found that earthiness to be mast forthright and quite pleasant. The expected stout flavors were also solidly present and very well balanced.

The body was a quite a bit thinner than I expected or is typical for a stout this size. Drinkability was excellent, except for a couple of small tastes to other folks, this whole 22 went easily and I'm looking forward to getting more.

Overall, a very good beer. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2010 00:18:43 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: single finger deep tan head on a jet black with no light getting through.

S: aroma is light overall with vanilla, some roasted marks, milk chocolate and toffee getting through.

T: fairly sweet up front with vanilla, milk chocolate, some nutty notes and fairly light on the bitter roasted malts.

M: smooth and thick. Light to medium carbonation.

Overall: a nice flavorful stout. One of their best. Very drinkable. Almost too sweet but otherwise very good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 23:47:38 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

I picked up a bottle at Binny's in Lake Zurich, drank it with my wife in Chicago. This beer was way more massive than I expected, easily one of the best (or maybe THE best) oatmeal stout I've had. The beer was very dark brown, opaque, with a thick red-tan foam. The smell was sweet malts, chocolate, and a little coffee. I got a lot more chocolate out of this than coffee in the aroma and taste. The flavors were so strong it got a little overwhelming, making this a real sipper. I can't rate the drinkability as high as appearance, smell, and taste. But that's fine, this beer is top shelf.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2008 01:02:50 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle split with my friend today. 2007 bottle

A: Thick, jet black with dark brown highlights. Solid dark brown head that isn't too big. There's some carbonation that's visible along the sides of the glass but settles down eventually

S: Solid stout aroma with a lot of chocolate, some coffee. Smells thick!

T/M: Starts off with some chocolate and coffee flavor with a rather big body that ends up with a bitter finish. There's some mild raisin like notes that are pleasant. On the palate, this beer is ridiculously slick. The carbonation is low and this coupled with how big the beer is really makes this one slick beer. Unfortunately, as this warms up, the alcohol heat is noticeable despite being cellared a year. Still solid, though

D: The high ABV really hurts this - at 8-10% range, this would be stellar.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2008 05:26:18 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 oz bomber pours a very nearly black color with very little brown foam, even with an aggressive pour. Not a pretty horse, even with the bag over his mouth...I guess you cant look this gift horse in the mouth...alright, alright, enough puns.

Black licorice and brown sugar flavored instant oatmeal pervade the nostrils along with a bit (but not 11% worth) of alcohol. Not much else really noteworthy, maybe a bit of minty hops, pretty faint overall for such a big beer.

Taste more than makes up for the appearance and smell shortcomings, as this is a very tasty beer. Low carbonation and viscous mouthfeel are very nice. Oatmeal makes the brew oh-so creamy and the ABV is extremely well hidden yet still incorporated into the flavor. Hint of roasty coffee and the black licorice is still there. Amazingly smooth big beer, I like it!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 21:43:14 | More by twiggamortis420

bark

Sweden

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

According to the label, this beer is now 11% ABV.

The colour is black with a dark gold edge. There is almost no head at all. The liquid is clear.

The smell is much matured with the expected notes of raisins, roasted nuts, some alcohol, cocoa, chocolate and black coffee.

The full bodied taste includes flavours of strong coffee, roasted nuts, some meat and stock cube, rolled oats/oat porridge/oat cookies. Somewhat sweet malty flavours. It develops into a mildly sweet flavour with hints of blackcurrant and roast beef. The long aftertaste is quite sweet with notes of mild coffee and dark chocolate.

The carbonation is mild, the liquid is mid-thick.

Another bold and balanced "big beer", not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2008 18:36:32 | More by bark

nickfl

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of medium brown foam on top of a black body with some minor, ruby highlights. The head settles slowly and leaves nice lace.

S - Dark, bready malt with some chocolate and toffee.

T - Thick, dark malt with notes of black bread, molasses, and caramel. A more roasted character comes out in the middle as chocolate and light coffee appear. Finishes with more molasses and notes of licorice, dark chocolate, and dark caramel.

M - A thick body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - Thick and complex, like all of Southern Tier's stouts, but still fairly drinkable for a beer of this strength. The balance definitely favors malt and a sweet finish but there is enough roast character and malt bitterness to prevent it from becoming excessive the way some other sweet, strong stouts tend to.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 06:52:54 | More by nickfl

francisweizen

Australia

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

On tap in Boston new years eve 2006-2007. From notes. goddamn I have about 3,000 beer review notes I've yet to transcribe to this site, and as I'm in a writing mood I figured that I would get started on rectifying that situation. Anyway, this one is an inky, heavy black with not much carbonation. There is a small espresso head though and it can be revived with a swirl of the riedel. Dark roasty and sweet malts intersperse with a nice raw green hop aroma. Roasty chocolate, espresso, raisins, and more abound in the aroma and the actual taste is better still with just a hint of warming alcohol in the background. The roast notes are really nice and filled with an unusual level of depth. However the mouthfeel is a bit thick and cloying for my liking which kicks the drinkability down a notch or two.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2008 10:19:30 | More by francisweizen

tpd975

Florida

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

Another beer from a never ending trade between me and Adam, the guy better known as BeerTruth! (Great Guy by the way)

A: Pours as dark and black as any beer, or beverage I have ever seen. Even the Florida sunshine can't penetrate this one. Nice fluffy bubbly head quickly appears only to die down in a flash. A nice foamy collar is left, but it only mananges minimal lacing. What I can tell though is this is a thick and oily brew. The contents seem to slide back down the glass after each drink leaving an oily haze behind.

S: Nice earthy stout. Big bold charcoal roasted malts which come at you as French Roast coffee and bitter Belgian chocolate. Beneath the charcoal there is a tinge of butter, and just a hint of booze. This is gonna be another fine ST brew.

T: Oh yeah, ST knows what they are doing. Tons of flavor with the oats really shining in this one. Over cooked cowboy coffee poured over milk chocolate is how this one tastes. Sweet yet bitter, and oh so good. Dark fruits make themselves known in the end. Mostly dates but a I think a touch of hops produces an almost green raisin type flavor as well. If I were a horse you could fill my feed back with this OAT and I would be content for the entire winter.

M: Nice and full bodied. It's a shame I wasted this one on an 80 degree Florida winter day, but hey BeerTruth just sent me Choklat and Gemini and I had to celebrate.

D: Yeah I drank the entire bomber lickity split. No trace of the true ABV in this one.

Overall: I am absolutely blown away by ST. They have really come on the scene in the past year and the beers they are now putting out will rival the lineup of any of the other highly rated craft brewers. I love what they are doing and am excited to see what 2008 brings to their lineup of beer. I am thankful I have BeerTruth up in Syracuse to ensure that I enjoy each and everyone of their offerings.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2008 17:33:56 | More by tpd975

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

22 ounce bottle from fall 2008. Served in a snifter, the beer pours black with about a half inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are average. It smells like roasted/burnt malt, coffee, oats, bittersweet chocolate and some molasses. The taste is similar to the aroma, but I also can taste a bit of dark fruit too. Nice mix between sweet and bitter flavors, and it has a dry finish. Mouthfeel/body is full, it's rich, smooth and creamy with good carbonation. Drinkability is very good, it's very easy and enjoyable to drink even with the high ABV. It's probably a sipping beer, but it was hard for me to enjoy this one slowly since I liked it so much. Overall I think this is a pretty good brew, I'd definitely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2008 23:52:18 | More by bluejacket74