Oatmeal Stout - Free State Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Charred coffee bean brown with tiny, gem-like ruby highlights indicating various lights inside the brewpub. The beige cap was small to start, lasted for a bit and deposited nearly solid sheets of lace between the concentric rings that marched down the glass with drinking.

The nose was less than bold. It featured roasted malt and a whiff of fruity hops. Part of its reticence may have been the beer's temperature. Both of my selections yesterday were colder than I would have preferred when they reached my table.

When beer first hit taste buds, I thought 'eh, just another routine oatmeal stout'. By the finish of that first mouthful, I had changed my mind. The usual flavors of bittersweet chocolate and black coffee were assisted by dark caramel, sugared vanilla bean and more hops than expected. Actually, it tasted like cocoa nibs had been used, but I doubt it.

With a bigger body, the flavor profile, which was already broad, would probably have been deeper. Warming showed me that potential. From a hophead's perspective, 40 IBUs worth of Northern Brewer and Fuggles is the (not so secret) ingredient that makes Oatmeal Stout go.

I hate it when I drink a good stout that could have been a great stout if only it was a bigger stout. This one was porter-like at best and was slightly too carbonated. With more girth, the final three scores might have been one notch higher. I was hoping for soft and creamy and didn't get it.

Both of the Free State Brewing Company beers that I drank with my lunch yesterday have potential. They're already good, but they need more ingredients (especially more malt) in order to be memorable. Although Oatmeal Stout wasn't quite good enough to warrant a growler purchase, I'll probably order it again if I ever make it back to Lawrence.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2007 16:28:50 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from noted. On tap in August 2009.

Pour brings a body that is near black with a mocha head. Head dies quickly without leaving too much lace. Nose is roasted malt with a faint hint of dark chocolate. The taste is quite plain with just a bit of roasted character. The feel is pretty nice and creamy. Drinks well overall but is a bit bland.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2010 23:52:37 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.3/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to FosterJM for bringing me a bottle of this back from Kansas!

Best by the 3rd week in January (of what I assume is 2012).

Pours an almost opaque super dark crimson-brown with a 2 inch foamy khaki head that settles down to an island of foam on the top of the beer. A nice patterned lattice of lace forms on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, toasted oats, and some cocoa and coffee aromas. Taste is of roasted malt and toasted malt up front with a bitter chocolate and coffee grounds combination in the aftertaste. There is a medium amount of bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. There is a lower level of carbonation with a smooth and somewhat creamy mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good oatmeal stout but nothing really all that special. I do need to thank James again for providing me with a Kansas tick though!

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 23:34:16 | More by UCLABrewN84

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured an opaque, deep black hue with a nearly two-finger, tan, rocky head of foam. It left great sticky, patchy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of oats, roasted malt and coffee. There were subtle chocolate notes.

T - It was a great blend of bitter and sweet. Bitter hops and coffee blended with sweet, roasty caramel and chocolate.

M - It was soft and smooth with a somewhat dry finish. A medium-bodied stout.

D - This is a very good oatmeal stout. It has a great blend of sweet and bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2009 00:29:07 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up in Wichita a few weeks ago. BBD od the 2nd week in June...

Pours mahogany with a 1+ finger of tan head. Average head retention & good lacing

S: Roasty, raisins & plums come through as this warms

T: Roasty with dark chocolate notes& some dryness, plus a touch of iron & raisins up front. Plums & raisins, fight through the dark chocolate & roastyness, plus a touch of woody hops as this warms. Finishes dry, roasty & with slightly sweet cocoa.

MF: Smooth, medium bodied, subtle carbonation. Body gets slightly richer as it warms

This a nice example of the style. I really need to get up to Lawrence & sample from the source!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 02:45:37 | More by russpowell

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle into a pint glass. This is from a selection of Free State Brewing beers send to me by JeepCop. Thanks Dale!

Pours a deep brown/near black in the glass, with a finger of smooth and creamy mocha colored head. This stays rich, leaving back a foamy cascade that settles that quickly slides down the sides but still leaves some light spotty lacing behind. The aroma is surprisingly hoppy upon first whiff, with floral notes, spice, and some bright-smelling green fruit. Coffee flavors and chocolate quickly swoop in behind the hops. I'm really digging the melding of the citrus, cocoa, and roast here. This is nice.

Those hops are equally forceful in the taste, with a fresh citric bite that sits up against a wall of crunchy roast, caramel, and chocolate. The sweetness does offer up some balance here but this is mostly coming off to me as roasty and bitter and that's what hangs in the finish the most. The mouthfeel bodied, with a relatively perky sharpness to the carbonation that makes those hops and roasted notes pop that much more but the oats keep this overall pretty smooth and silky in the mouth.

This is a very solid Oatmeal Stout and I'm really glad that I got to this one fresh, as that mildly aggressive hop profile really helped make this one for me. This stayed quite smooth and drinkable though as well. I enjoyed this.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 19:46:17 | More by Kegatron

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle courtesy of russpowell. Thanks Russ!

Best by the second week in June.

It pours a very dark brown, perhaps black, with a 1 finger head of tannish foam.

It smells roasty, hints of dark chocolate and on the bitter side.

Mmm. The taste surprised me. Very richly flavoured with tasty roasted malt, a touch of some sweetness, hints of coffee and a taste of dark chocolate, overall a very enjoyable bitter sweet thing going on. Now that I’ve had a few sips, I can see this does well with the lacing.

Medium body, the same with the carbonation, I like the smooth mouth feel and I find this Oatmeal Stout very easy to drink. A very nice brew!

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 17:35:08 | More by Bitterbill

Tone

Missouri

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown color. 2/3 inch head of an off-tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of oatmeal, slight dry hop, sweet malt, pale malt, hint of roasted malt, and a hint of alcohol. Fits the style of an Oatmeal Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of oatmeal, slight sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, hops, and slight pale malt. Overall, good appearance, aroma, and feel.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2011 20:34:02 | More by Tone

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle with best by notches of Feb, second month...2012 I hope! Pours a pretty deep shade of black with a small cap of light brown head. Retention and lacing are both average.

Nose is sweet and roasty, just like a good oatmeal stout should. Clean and low on the hops with a nice cereal grain kick to it.

Taste is a little less sweet than it smells with a rich, roasty-caramel malt profile. Oats dont go as thick and creamy as some of the style, but it is barely full enough and is indeed pretty silky. Touch of fruitiness in there from the yeast and overall is pretty fun to drink. Id say this is a darn good oaty stout, but not in the top tier for the style. If it were available here, Id probably buy 2 or 3 sixers a year…especially considering the lack of representatives in the category sold in TX.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 21:05:46 | More by twiggamortis420

FosterJM

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

914th Review on BA
Bottle to handless mug
12 oz

Purchased from: On the Rocks, Lawrence, KS

App- A good dark brown with some garnet edges and a one finger very fast receding head. Only a couple dots of cling to it.

Smell- A good rich oatmeal aroma. A nice thick malt profile with some cocoa powder and coffee.

Taste- A pretty tasty oatmeal stout with a good bit of oat and grain behind it. A smooth grain taste with some chocolate and roast.

Mouth- A medium bodied stout with a paired medium carbonation and a bit slick malts with just a touch of oat.

Drink- Pretty damn tasty. Much more so than I remember. A bit thicker than I remember which helps this one taste that much better.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 04:04:08 | More by FosterJM

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A good oatmeal stout, but not great.

Head is lacking, but could be due to the glasses they use.

Color is typical stout with roasted malted aroma, but not strong.

Sweet undertones in the taste, but the oatmeal roast category overcomes it. It could use some more stout properties, i.e. roasted malt.

Recommended

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2006 20:41:44 | More by Mebuzzard

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Dark brown with ruby highlights. Thin tan head held on and reduced to leave nice lace.

S-Light roasted malts and a bit of hop spiciness....but nothing strong.

T-Dark roasty malts mixed nicely with chocolate and coffee. Flavours became much more pronounced as this warmed after serving.

M-Medium body but a bit lacking on the smooth, creamy feel I was hoping for.

D-Decent but this would be served better on nitro. A bit more body umph couldn't hurt either. Not bad but this place has better offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2008 12:20:25 | More by Deuane

bditty187

Nebraska

3.05/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark brown, almost black, reddish highlights, smallish brown head, soapy retention, good lace though. Faint nose, hint of sweet-malt... clean. Underlying hop bitterness mingles with the lightly roasted malt. No real complexity or development aside from a sparse hint of chocolate. Thin and lackluster, at best this is an average Oatmeal Stout. Far from great, nothing is offensive, but it is something I’d not recommend.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2003 18:00:24 | More by bditty187

Boto

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Draught @ Free State: This one pours a very dark, fairly opaque brown with a tan head. It did leave some lacing down the glass. The aroma was somewhat milder. There are hints of roasted malt and chocolate to the nose. The taste is very smooth, with some roastiness and chocolate. A nice stout.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2006 21:16:39 | More by Boto

sulldaddy

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle from my buddy Raging bull. Poured at cellar temp into a snifter.
The beer pours a deep cola brown with no light passing through except on the edges of the glass revealing some ruby highlights.
Aroma is some rich malt with a bit of roastiness and some toffee. I get a little bit of grassy hops but primarily malt, no booze anywhere to be found.
First sip reveals a silky smooth beer with fine slightly tingly carbonation. Flavor is roasted malt and a bit of dark chocolate and some molasses. Not really any hops here, a little bitter but more of a coffee ground or burnt malt bite than hops.
The beer is smooth and enjoyable. Easy drinking and could easily have a few of these without getting bored or to drunk.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 05:02:29 | More by sulldaddy

rye726

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed at the brewery. Pours near black with a nice tan head. Nose is very oaty with some chocolate, roasted malts and light hops. Taste is well balanced and easy to drink. Again lots of cocoa, oats and dark malt. Clean body is well carbonated. Good stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2009 05:37:47 | More by rye726

marc77

California

3.1/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Deep clear brown hue. Thin, tight head leaves Belgian lace. Aroma of burnt malt, mild baker's chocolate and dark caramel malt. Clean and underwhelming aromawise. Roasted barley bitterness upfront, mild hop bitterness immediately ensues, leaving an apparent void in malt character. Subtle, dryish chocolate mid palate. Lightly bodied, but quaffable. No trace of silky oatmeal is perceptible in the thin mouthfeel. Finishes clean and dry, w/ fleeting hints of chocolate. Uninspired. The filtration and / or over fining has stripped this brew of body. Good drinkability, but akin to a brown ale in roasted character.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2003 18:15:42 | More by marc77

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Best by 3rd week of December, 2010.

Pours near black, with brown around the edges. Nice puffy tan head adorns, dissipates to a nice little film that laces significantly.

Aroma is decent, but faint. Roasted malts, maybe even a little nutty.

Definitely can taste the oats. Theres a smidge of hop bitterness, but majority is nice roasted malts. There is a slight coffee taste that comes through on the finish.

Feel is medium to full bodied, with minimal carbonation. There is some creaminess, lending it very smooth.

This is definitely a sold, above average Oatmeal Stout, with a well above average drinkability to go with it.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2010 00:18:05 | More by EgadBananas

birchstick

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - pours a nice dark color with a creamy cocoa head

S - smells of vanilla and chocolate malt

T - taste Starts off with a bit of grains and a slight bit of acidic coffee. The malts are pushes aside by a generous amount of citrus and grassy hop bitterness blended with some coffee.

M - slimy smooth as an oatmeal stout should be

D - interesting oatmeal stot, one of the more hoppy examples I have tried. Pretty good and worth a try for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

06-08-2011 03:19:14 | More by birchstick

MTNboy

Missouri

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Opaque body with tan carbonation bubbles leading to the head. The lace was full and pretty tight.

Smell: Smells of deep roasted malt with a hint of bitter cocoa.

Taste: Roasted malt toffee flavor. It is not as spicy as explained in the synopsis above but there is a bit of hops flavor.

Mouthfeel: Slick and on the lower end of full.

Overall: It was alright with a hamburger at the Flying Saucer in KC.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2012 20:06:18 | More by MTNboy

Dope

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A very dark brown, almost black pour. Big, dense light brown head. Head retention is wonderful and barely ever fades. Tons of lacing spiderwebs across the glass.

S: Roasted malt, oatmeal, a bit creamy. Maybe a touch of coffee.

T: Lots of oatmeal. Very creamy and smooth. Roasted malt comes through with a bit of coffee and char bitterness in the aftertaste.

M: Fairly thin but very smooth and silky.

O: Not a bad oatmeal stout. A bit too heavy on the oatmeal and light on the roasted malt detracts but not horribly so.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 05:51:13 | More by Dope

maxpower

Missouri

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

Dark brown almost black color, decent lasting tan head. Sweet chocolate malty roasted burnt aroma, chocolate roasty sugary burnt bitter coffee flavors, yet has a pretty smooth and creamy mouthfeel, medium body has a nice burnt bitterness in the finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2003 18:04:53 | More by maxpower

beernut7

Massachusetts

4.55/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A deep black color sits below a nice creamy tan head. The aroma is lightly of dark malt. Initially a mellow sour fruity flavor presents itself followed by a quick sweet malt and a lingering bitterness. Great body and complex, I enjoyed this brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2002 13:05:41 | More by beernut7

bort11

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pub glass. A light khaki head stands up at just under an inch. The foam is light and fluffy. Delicate stair-step lines of lace mark each sip. Body color is dark rum-raisin, dense through the center and highlights around the edges.

Smell has a pleasant hoppiness. It is a light green bitterness that compliments the dark roasted malts. Hops are also noticeable in the taste. Once again, it is not overwhelming. It adds a green, savory character. This is a nice change for a stout, hops usually are not a featured flavor.

Mouthfeel has a solid medium body. The oats gives a smooth texture, very easy to drink. This version is a lot lighter than some other oatmeal stouts I've had, which with this warm weather that's not a bad thing. I find that this is a good beer to have on hand while manning the grill.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 22:37:56 | More by bort11

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a deep brown almost black pour, 1/2 of tan head. excellent retention/lacing.
smells of wood, vanilla, coffee, tobacco.
slight bitterness up front from the roasted grains with a milky sweet chocolatey finish. a delicious treat.. perfect balance of roasted and sweet flavors.
medium body with a creamy feel, nicely carbonated and leaves a chalky feeling behind.

overall, a damn fine stout! looks, feels, smells and tastes great, what more could you want? granted, it's not a special one off or anything like that, but as far as brewery staple beers go - this is fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 00:54:50 | More by facundoCNB