Oatmeal Stout - Gray's Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Most decent stout and oatmeal stout. Surprisingly mellow smooth. Chocolate nutty mocha carmel syrup,roast barley and sweet oats. Nice mahogony deep brown and toasted head that stays around. Long satisfying finish. Could hand out a few of these. Merci feloniousmonk for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2004 03:26:02 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.15/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sometimes quality is apparent on the pour. The beer exiting the bottle is thick, creamy and as dark as night. Opaque ebon with a glimmer of garnet at the edges, capped with a densely creamy cap of toasted medium brown. Surprisingly, there's little lace. Wonderful stout nose of heavily roasted dark malt, chocolate fudge and hops. I was hoping that the hops wouldn't be assigned second-class status, and they haven't been.

The flavor profile keeps the 'quality' theme rolling. Oatmeal Stout tastes of coffee liquer and hop-flecked chocolate candy. There's a great deal of roasted malt on hand with nary a trace of overroasted astringency that one sometimes experiences in such an assertive stout.

The mild bitterness is more along the lines of the sweet, snappy bitterness that comes from hops. Oats contribute sweetness and softness, but this version is still more robustly flavored than most. The bordering-on-full body is impressively smooth and is nicely rounded and expansive in the mouth.

I haven't heard much about Gray's Brewing Company and had never had one of their beers prior to this one. If this fine stout is representative of their line, I'll be looking to try as many others as I can lay my hands on. It's obvious that these guys know what they're doing.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2004 18:25:26 | More by BuckeyeNation

womencantsail

California

1.93/5  rDev -47.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

A: The pour is a very dark brown, almost black, with a small tan head.

S: Smells...bad. Like prunes and roast. Slight acidity to the nose with some acrid roast and coffee notes. There is some good sweetness of toffee and caramel, however.

T: What a terrible flavor. Watery and vegetal with an astringency to it and a weak coffee flavor in the background. Not any chocolate to speak of, almost no sweetness is present either.

M: Thin and watery on the tongue with a moderate level of carbonation.

O: Watery and awful in flavor, not a good combination.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 06:33:27 | More by womencantsail

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

There's a smokiness to Gray's Oatmeal Stout that's noticeable right up front. It's not burnt wood smokey, but more like the smoke that starts to come off of something just before it ignites. It's clear in the nose along with deeply caramelized sugars and some mildly chocolate malt.

It returns again in the finish once it's roasty, deeply caramelized and burnt sugar maltiness has passed; but before that some delicate bakers chocolate and espresso notes appear.

There aren't many hops here, they just peek out towards the finish, leafy and grassy, but they're not really needed except for their subtle balancing bitterness (not much is needed as the roast, smokiness, and low pH of the beer already cut through the malt).

The head retention could be better, and it leaves very little lace, but the glowing crimson highlights amidst its almost-black mahogany body are quite nice.

It's quite smooth in the mouth with a light-medium body and very restrained carbonation.

Overall, it's a very nice, surprisingly "rich", and very drinkable beer - just don't expect something full and dextrinous. It really grew on me, and except for the fact that it'd surely build on the palate, I think I'd enjoy more than a few of these on a night at the pub.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2006 16:37:08 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Gotta love those muttonchops... Anyway, this stuff pours a deep sienna topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises light roasted malts, toasted funky wheat, and a dusting of mild cocoa powder. The taste doesn't wanna make any waves, so it just copies the smell, despite how boring that makes it come across. There's definitely a blackened pretzel character abiding here. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel that borders on nigh-watery. Overall, a meek little oatmeal stout, one that's not offensive in any way but also doesn't seem to wanna try to be very good.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:42:48 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark black color, with reddish tinges, under a thick, toasted tan head. Aroma: magnificent! Richly roasted, deep and dark, with hints of anise and chocolate, whiskey, even, I very much enjoyed this smell and kept my snoot in it for as long as I could bear.
Marvelous presence on the palate, nicely carbonated, good hops, but the flavor leaves too quickly, and the body thins out too fast. The promise found in the aroma isn't quite delivered in full in the flavor. Medium to full body, with less of a finish than I'd like. Too mellow, with too bare a flavor.
I found myself loving it at the start, and less pleased while I was drinking it. If not for that, this would be an oatmeal stout I'd be most happy to have around, day-in, day-out!
Much thanks to the generosity of tavernjef!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2003 07:45:59 | More by feloniousmonk

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appears a dark pitch black color with light frothing tan head forming thick. Head was speckled thin after each sip, aroma has smoked dark chocolate notes with hints of soft oatmeal. Flavor has a creamy base malt layer, with hints of watered down dark chocolate and coffee flavors. No bad tasting beers here this is a nice dark stout, maybe a bit watered down but excellent stuff. Mouthfeel like I said a bit thin but some decen flavor to make up for it. Overall I'm not planning to pick up another bottle or six pack anytime soon, this stuff is pseudocraft beer compared to some other beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2012 22:57:02 | More by WVbeergeek

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a four finger light brown head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Black color. Light carbonation and heavy bodied. Malty/chocolate nose. Starts sweet, with hints of bitter chocolate at finish. Nice beefy oatmeal stout. $1.49 for a 12oz bottle from Blue Max Liquor Burnsville, Mn.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2006 22:55:20 | More by jdhilt

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12ozer bottle from Garymuchow as part of BIF10. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/8" tan/light brown head above the dark brown/black opaque brew. Head quickly fades to a small layer of bubbles, with minial lacing. Pleasant oatmeal/dark malt aroma. Taste continues what the nose began, with hearty dark malt flavor, and the oatmeal sweetness dominant. Mouthfeel and drinkability reasonably good, although the sweetness does seem to limit sessionability somewhat. Grabbed a six pack for "more review".

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2004 15:36:10 | More by ppoitras

Zorro

California

3.98/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled through the efforts of 120/190 BIF and lostbearbrew.

Pours a clear dark brown almost black colored beer with no head formation.

Smell is sweet and fruity with a good scent of Kahlua to it. Nice figs and prune aroma to this with a hint of cherry. Good chocolate and coffee aroma with chocolate being the strongest.

Taste is sweet with a decently strong chocolate and espresso flavor at the beginning. Sweet with a good bitter edge the bitterness falls off quickly leaving only the chocolate and to a lesser extent the coffee. Fruit flavor doesn't appear as it does in the smell though.

Mouthfeel is good.

Not a bad beer at all. Could be a bit more complex but this is a good basic oatmeal stout.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2006 22:18:13 | More by Zorro

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

The beer is nearly black and has a creamy medium brown head. Lacing effect is nice. Deep roasted malt and mocha on the nose. Mouthfeel is pure silk. Very creamy. On the buds, there are some nice mocha and chocolate notes. Not overbearing at all on the palate. Could actually use a little more burnt quality to it. However, it is a very drinkable oatmeal stout.

This was the first oatmeal stout I ever tried (about 8 years ago) and it is still one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2002 20:27:02 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Good lookin beer, dark brown, bordering on black. Little bubbles. Beige head. Good oily aroma, viscous.

Taste, a solid smooth OS. Standard choco coffee flavor rounded off by the oats, lacks bitterness, this is what an OS is supposed to do. Hardly original, but why fix something that ain't broke? Thins out down the bottle, minimal hop presence.

Great price.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 21:16:02 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The color a soot-black with ruby high lights, the head is portly in size, creamy in consistency and the color a nice chocolate color the lace forms a fines covering for the glass. Nose is lightly toasted grains, hints of coffee, malt sweet with the start sweet and rich in malt, top is medium to full. Finish is mild to moderate in carbonation the hops personable, quite dry and long lasting, a quite nice stout, mild and pleasant to quaff.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2003 00:36:31 | More by Gusler

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the University of Wisconsin Student Union.

A: Black, tan head, very little retention or lace.

S: Chocolate, pumpernickel bread, molases.

T: Chocolate, dark bread, molases, modest bitterness.

M: Moderate to full body, modest carbonation.

D: Good.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2007 03:23:24 | More by Derek

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a leathery brown settles nearly black with slivers of brown coming through the edges. Finger high head of tannish bread thickness that faded kinda fast, almost fizzy, to a thin open haze on top. Lace in sparitic fast dripping strings and spots. Aroma is quite nice, deep and roasty, darkly sweet, dark milk chocolate, cocoa, and coffee are all present and pleasant. Taste has a milder flavor then expecting compared to the smell, but a favorable mixing of roasty dark malts, coffee, and lighter chocolate, the usual tangy sweetness that I like to have in an oatmeal stout really doesn't come through for me, a bit much on the coffee, which isn't bad, just was hoping for that oatmealy sweetness. Hop bitterness adds to some of the finish which finishes with a bittered tangyness mixed with coffee dryness which helped it become a bit more enjoyable. Feel has a pretty empty start, kinda thin but builds nicely of coffee, smoothly calming out and getting close to full over the top, and has a coffee drying with a tangy little roasty finish that lingers. I'm a bit torn with this one, it was close to getting the next lowest number in smell, taste, and feel, but I became intrigued with its finish and it began to grow on me. So I made an exception. Would like to put this up against a couple of my favs, Black Widow & Lk. Superior Sir Duluth or even Slow Elk to see where it fits in. A pretty good oatmeal stout none-the-less.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2003 22:01:42 | More by tavernjef

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Oatmeal Stout
Gray's Brewing Company
Style: Oatmeal Stout
ABV: 5.21 %

LOOK: Pours a clear dark brown, with an off white head, decent retention, and some lacing.

SMELL: Faint aroma of roasted malts, cocoa, dark bread, grains, pretty straight forward, on par for the style.

TASTE: Coffee and milk chocolate upfront with a bit of sweet grain notes from the oatmeal. Roasted, nutty, chocolatey, malty flavor that serves its purpose well here. Generally agreeable and approachable flavor profile.

FEEL: Medium bodied, smooth, well carbonated, but a bit thin and watery. Still, easy to drink for sure.

OVERALL: Not a bad offering from Gray's Brewing out of Wisconsin. This is an average stout that tastes pretty good.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 17:30:36 | More by Stinkypuss

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a strong, stout looking sout black. Only a very small dark brown highlight at the top of the beer. Their is no head. Smells heavily roasted, a little burnt even. A hint of smokey BBQ to round out this great aroma. The taste starts a mellow of lightly bitter and a little sweet roasted malt. Then to heavy roasted coffe beans, smoked wood, and burnt BBQ. The malts seems to be all the bitterness in the beer. You know there are hops in the flavor, but th malts are so bitter, you can get the two confused. A good beer, could, maybe have three in one evening. A bit harsh on the roasted malt bill.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2008 03:18:41 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.15/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Standard looking 12 ounce bottle per the BA Database picture. Twist off cap and neck label that professes that Gray brewing Co. was Established in 1856, that’s quite a history for a US brewer! The main label is rather unique in respect of the fact that it is an angled sash shape. There is a yellow dot-matrix printed code and date on the bottle, but it is indecipherable, as they usually always are.

Appearance: Thick black pour with no head whatsoever at first. The creamy brown head dissociates from solution only halfway through the pour and forms a collar like head that soon rescinds to a light halo ring with minimal lacing. Finely attenuated carbonation, a quick swirl helps to reinstate some head, but not much. Not even the setting sun could penetrate this one, but some ruby hints were seen at the edge of the glass. Subsequent top-ups from the partial poured 12 ounce bottle seemed to form a nicer looking head.

Nose: Roasted malts mixed with a chocolate character and some dark roasted coffee in the back end. Oatmeal is detectable as contributing to the smoothness of the aromas. Very nice.

Taste: Gorgeous lines. Smooth, tasty, bold, plenty of body and a great finish with a little dry bitterness. It has it all. Roasted black malts start the beer, a creamy smooth oat-like middle with coffee hints and a dry lingering finish that becomes a tad bitter once the Stout is long swallowed. This is a Stout that seems to reveal different facets of its character the more you drink it.

Mouthfeel: Truly a Stout-Stout. There is no oxy-moron in this one. A beautifully fulfilling offering that has a smooth V8 poise with plenty of V12 gusto when you need it. It seems like you can keep opening the throttle on this one.

Drinkability: Well, this has exceptional Drinkability. Creamy, smooth, tasty, and it packs it a punch with the mouthfeel also. Yet it is 5.6%, which means that you can easily and comfortably tackle a few of these. I just wish I had another. A quaffable well-made Stout that can stand up to higher alcohol versions quite easily I think.

Overall: I would buy this most certainly if it was available here in So.Cal. A beautiful creamy smooth Stout, which drinks exceptionally well. I like the fact that all this flavor and body comes from a brew that is ‘only’ (for the US at least) 5.6% ABV, making it an attractive 6-pack purchase and an all-night beer. I wish.

A Stout-like Cheers to BigHuge for this one, it worked wonders in washing away the awful tastes of the previous Mojave Red beer that I just had.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2004 02:45:34 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

One of my all-time favorites...haven't had this in a couple years now...midnight black with a small tan lace...great nose...sweet milk chocolate...some java tones...some roasted malts...a little thin in the mouth...not as a rich as I remember...nice burnt malt taste...not as much of a creamy texture as I remembered....not as good as I remembered but still solid....a pretty dry finish....I'm a bit disappointed as I came into this review expected to put this in the high 4's, but it is not that good...still it is worth trying if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2002 22:00:58 | More by ZAP

cokes

Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ink black with just the tiniest hints of ruby when held again a halogen light. Attractive brown head that fades out too fast.
Roasted java notes on the nose. Minor chocolate notes. Not alot, but very pleasant.
Heavy on the coffee notes and somewhat less oaty sweetness, though still pronounced. Hints of chocolate covered nuts. Greasy and likeable, without having the complexities of a typical oatmeal stout. Smoky bar room type flavors.
Thin body hinders this one. Could be classic with some more bulk.
Easy drinking, no problems brew. But lacks memorability.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2002 22:59:52 | More by cokes

Tone

Missouri

3.7/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/3 inch head of a pale tan color. Decent retention and slight lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight pale malt, slight vanilla, and a hint of hope. Fits the style of an Oatmeal Stout. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight metallic, yeast, and a hint of hops. Overall, the metallic flavor fades quickly; good body and aroma, but the blend is not quite right.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2010 21:04:19 | More by Tone

francisweizen

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown, near black with red highlights and a small beige head. The aromas are simple enough and consist of faint hops and roasted malts, as well as an undistinct chocolate sweetness. THe taste is sweet up front and roasty in the middle and the finish is a bit dry. The mouthfeel is a bit thin for my taste and the drinkability is just OK. A good enough beer, but no benchmark for its style....

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2004 22:35:04 | More by francisweizen

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Well it's not big (5.2%?) but it does look pretty black (not very since the pour was a deep amber) Head is minimal just the slightest bit off opaque colored that clears to a slight lace ring.

S - Smells pretty good. Lactic sugar sweetness, mild roasts, and a bit of skunk?

T - Damn where is my bold stout? Barley any chocolate with only a bit of roast and even lactic sweetness is minimal giving very little creamy body. Eh...

M - Light to medium, not bad but not anything I expected.

Overall I am a sucker for oatmeal stouts and this one is only slightly above Guinness class.
Way better examples of the style out there guys!

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:42:35 | More by DrDemento456

Vancer

Illinois

4.3/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Paradoxes! First the pour came out jet black, all right ! But the non-existent head was puzzling. Good aromas, roasted malt, coffee and chocolate. Taste matched it, and included some coffee and plum undertones. But the texture – was at best thin to medium. Expected such a nice mixture to be sturdier. Damn! Could have used more malt in the finish - but all in all, could drink *a few* of these anytime, anyplace.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2005 15:14:01 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a very deep brawn color with minute tannish head. No retention or lacing.
Smell is appropriate for the style with nice notes of roasted malt and coffee.
Taste follows the taste with a nice sweetness combined with the roasted malt.
Finishes a bit thin in the miuth with little taste retention.
Very drinkable. Nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2007 00:14:29 | More by tgbljb