Young's Oatmeal Stout - Wells & Young's Ltd

mightyjoemoon

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

young is a pretty large british brewery and fairly common on that side of the pond. over here they're mostly known for their desserty double chocolate stout. this beer pours a dark brown nearly black until you hold it up to the light. it has a thin head which fails to persist. its pleasingly smooth but has a bit of bite. definite chocolate malt notes here. not much much bitterness but the sweetness isn't overwhelming. over all its mild with a slight toasty aftertaste. i'd recommend this ale for someone who's looking to get into the style as its highly drinkable but typifies oatmeal stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2008 17:00:37 | More by mightyjoemoon

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type: nitro-can.

Pours a dark brown color with amber edges and a thick, foamy beige head. Aroma of oatmeal, roasted malts and chocolate. Flavor very similar to aroma again dominated by roasted chocolate maltiness, caramel and oatmeal. Dry finish.

Serving type: nitro-can

11-28-2008 07:41:58 | More by corby112

germanbeer1

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I really enjoyed Young's Oatmeal Stout, because of the rich but also smooth taste that it has. It pours a dark brown with a tan head and it's possible to smell the malts and chocolate. This is also one of the more fuller-bodied stouts that I have tried, which provided an overall solid taste. Not much after-taste either. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 16:14:30 | More by germanbeer1

thekevlarkid

Maryland

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Out of a bottle this beer was a very-close to black opaque maroon color with a mocha-colored head. Moderate retention and scattered sheets of lacing. The aroma was very malty, roasted malt and chocolate malt with some "horse-blanket" mustiness. The roasted malt character really comes through on the tongue in a smoky way with hints of sweetness in the chocolate malt. Good balance of hops bitterness towards the end in the form of coffee flavors and though not complex quite solid. The mouthfeel was smooth and the carbonation spot-on, though the body could be a bit heavier and it is slightly acidic for the style. A pleasant beer however and not so dense or demanding that one could not enjoy a few.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2008 17:56:44 | More by thekevlarkid

mugglesandhops

California

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap at cellarman's before they couldn't get it anymore and now I hear they aren't making this anymore and im somewhat upset I haven't had a chance to drink this lately. Great tasting beer, Pours dark with a nice thick head that is there for a while.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2008 16:24:43 | More by mugglesandhops

jujubeast6000

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -37.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Reviewed 3/3/2006 (25.9oz bottle):

Pours a very dark brown/black color body, with a brown head, good sized, but quickly diminishing. A strong aroma of coffee, molasses, and alcohol. Medium body on the tongue, watery, a taste of coffee, some sourness. Bitter aftertaste, slightly fizzy.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2008 00:44:41 | More by jujubeast6000

PatronWizard

California

3.4/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Cracked with dinner.

Better looking than their Double Chocolate Stout. Near-black shade of dark brown. Big ass frothy oatmeal colored head.

Smell is disappointingly average, nothing distinctive at all. Taste is a little better but the fluid is thin as hell. I'll drink it but damn.

Oh it's not that bad, I've just been spoiled lately. Nuff said.

Overall: next!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2008 04:35:35 | More by PatronWizard

blakesell

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This bottle has been aged a good two years in my cellar down south. I figured this was old enough and brought it back up for the sampling needs.

Poured from the bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Beer pours absolutely black as night with a creamy tan head that rises an excellent two and a half fingers high and looks to "cook" like a draft beer and settle down with a finger thick creamy head with ample lacing rimming the sides. This appearance is about as perfect as I've ever seen for an oatmeal stout.

Smell- Rich creamy oats and sweet roasted malts quickly greet the nose with some noble hopping. Burnt bread toastiness, Young's ultra smooth yeast. It smells like two years hasn't taken anything away from this fine smelling elixir. Burtonized soft water, there's something else hiding in there that I'm having a lot of trouble pinpointing. Maybe a white wine grape? It's some sort of dark fruit, but I can't get past the overall nose to figure it out. Slight woody hints as well.

Taste- Oatmeal in a bottle for sure. Rich creamy roasted maltiness, sweet base malts, oats, noble hopping again. A hint of a metallic taste and I really dock the beer for this as it is perfect down the line outside of that. A bit grainy and has some mineral notes as well but they only benefit the beer overall. I'm catching some light nutty oxidation, but again, this is only helping the beer.

Mouthfeel- Oh so creamy, medium light in carbonation, medium bodied, and a bit husky in it's graininess.

Drinkability- Very smooth drinking that I would love to find on tap or in the nitro-can. I'll be picking up more of this if I ever find it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2008 03:16:08 | More by blakesell

Meandmymonkey

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours almost oil black which was a pleasant surprise. Medium/thick lumpy head that reveals most of the aroma right off the bat. A good mix of coffee and wood nose but also hides something else that I just can't quite put my finger on. Young's says the finish is similar to toast and I can't really disagree. Except maybe burnt toast, but not in a bad way. More like the burnt toast that you end scraping all the black off and buttering up and eating anyway. Wasn't too impressed with the actual taste. It lacks that true oatmeal stout creamy/dreamy mouth feell. I'm a big fan of Young's brews and maybe my expectations were a little too high.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2008 01:20:42 | More by Meandmymonkey

BigJim5021

Indiana

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

Pours damn near black with a quickly disappearing tan head. Lacing is abundant.

The smell is of roasted malts and some bitter chocolate.

The taste is much like the smell, but with a dry, smoky finish. Coffee-like bitterness hangs on the tongue too. This shit will play.

The mouthfeel is a tad beyond medium-bodied and I could definitely down a few of these. It's not the best oatmeal stout on the planet, but it's good stuff nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2008 05:13:47 | More by BigJim5021

clayrock81

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A two-finger tan head on top of a blackish beer and head left some lace patches. A sweet smell of roasted malts mixed with the oat, and a little coffee malt smell. This is one of the smoothest and creamiest oatmeal stouts I've had, and the taste is really packs a punch, also. It is a sweet taste, like chocolate or vanilla mixed with the oat malt and still just enough hops and roasted malts to give it a passing dry backbite. I could session this anytime.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2008 16:56:54 | More by clayrock81

justin7742

Florida

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

Dark black with a full creamy dark tan head - good carbonation.

Roasted malt with maybe a hint of chocolate

Great taste! Dark roasted malt - hardly any hops - maybe a slight hint of coffee - and a light but noticable alcohol finish.

Great smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Not too much carbonation but definitely not flat.

Extremely smooth well crafted beer. Very easy to drink I could put several of these down without realizing it. I am now a fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2008 23:18:48 | More by justin7742

avalon07

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a blackish color and a thick texture. Some foamy, long-lasting head and a good lacing.

S: A typically (for British beers) underplayed smell, with traces of coffee, chocolate and oatmeal mingling together.

T: Flavor consisted of coffee and chocolate up front and malt, hops and oatmeal once it hits the back of your throat. A good combo of flavors.

M: High carbonation rate and a smooth finish. Full-bodied.

D: Overall, this is a drinkable beer. Like others of this style, it weighs you down, but it's still a well done brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2008 14:18:15 | More by avalon07

dwpiercetx

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This was a good beer. Went to a tap room in McQueeney, TX called the Silver Eagle. Nice bar. Very empty though because the owner in recent years has voiced and pushed his opinion on politics on everybody. Although, he was a nice gentleman and has a grand taste in beer. He did not fail to remind me and everyone that he had the last two kegs of this beer in Texas. It's a good beer, basic full stout. I love stouts, so this did not disappoint in the very least. It was a little thin though...it might be that these kegs were from many years ago. I didn't ask. If you get a hold of one by chance, take a drink or two. It might be your last, especially in Texas.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2008 03:07:05 | More by dwpiercetx

SimplySinister

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pitch Black and opaque with a lighter colored creamy head, moderate lacing, and moderate carbonation.

S - Notes of bread, grain, and roasted malt. Faint hints of coffee.

T - Superb. Starts slightly bitter with serious oaty taste; soon after the taste expands to coffee, mocha, and deep malt.

M - Somewhat thin and dry. Leaves the pallete with a mild aftertaste, but still very clean.

D - Tremendous drinkability. This beer is not too bitter, and not too sweet. It goes down smooth and clean. The ABV isn't only slightly over 5% leaving it extremely sessionable.

I may seem biased towards this beer, but thats only because I am biased towards this beer. It is one of my all time favorite beers and will, undoubtably, continue to be throughout my life. For me, it defines the Oatmeal stout genre and gives me a point of refrence for reviewing other similar stouts. Try it- its extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2008 08:13:19 | More by SimplySinister

mattffrost

California

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A. Beer is dark brown, head is a little darker than a light brown, more of a tan. Head is evaporating fairly fast.

S. Roasted Malt, a hint of fruit.

T. Chocolate, I also get a bit of sweet malt taste. Very refreshing.

M. Very nice smooth on the mouth.

D. Perfect to have a pint or two of this stuff. One pint is enought for me today.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 22:22:16 | More by mattffrost

daythree16

Tennessee

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a mug. Almost completely black with a one-finger caramel colored head. As the head fades, it leaves just a bit of lace.

Smell is pretty much chocolaty sweetness. A bit of roasted malt and some dark chocolate are what comes through in the taste. There is also a slightly discernible hop presence in the finish. Fairly straight forward and delicious.

The mouthfeel is very smooth, albeit a little thin. I find myself finishing the beer way faster than I set out to. Very smooth and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2008 06:44:46 | More by daythree16

ajmoody76

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pretty freaking dark. one finger tan head. some lace. looks yummy.

dark malt aroma. get maybe a hint of hops in there. no off odors.

roasted malt flavor. a little hop bite. dry roasted aftertaste.

mid to full body. good amount of carbonation. goes down smooth. a favorable category for me. i like this beer. i could drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2008 02:58:55 | More by ajmoody76

kinger

Ohio

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Yet one more fine product by Young's. Rich aroma bitter-sweet and roasty. Decent pour with a good creamy tan head, would like to see some more lacing though. Mouthfeel is good and smooth, could be thicker. Great flavor very sweet for a stout which is a nice change. Roasted malts and a hint of mild chocolate with a bitter end. Very solid stout here, although I'll take the Double Chocolate if given a choice.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2008 18:40:02 | More by kinger

nickynick

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Young's Oatmeal Stout poured a dark brown, almost black color, with a very nice brown head. Smelled of coffee, and roasted malts, a bit of hops. Taste was of chocolate with hints of coffee. Mouthfeel was good for the style, think coating. Drinkability was ok, very thick. Good overall oatmeal stout.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2008 15:05:52 | More by nickynick

Daybis

Mississippi

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A. Very dark brown with a light brown head. A lot of lace clings to the glass.

S. When I first opened the bottle and poured the beer into my glass, the first smell I could determine was chocolate. Very aromatic, but I can't put my finger on any one smell.

T. The taste is a bit bitter in the begining with a nice aftertaste of chocolate and grains. I can also taste a bit of alcohol.

M. Great carbonation. Smooth.

D. I could only have one of these in a sitting. It's a great tasting beer and I will be buying more.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2008 01:12:52 | More by Daybis

danny013

Florida

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bottle into an English style pint glass. Pours a rich, 2 finger light brown head that sticks with the beer for most of the pint. Body is dark, lets no light through save for a few dark red hues in the corners of the glass. Nice lacing. A beautiful looking stout.

Smell is very nice. Some sweet hints around the edges with some roasted grains, but the main smell is a gentle dark chocolate sweetness. There are some fruity esters, but I can't pick them out.

Taste is excellent. Light malt sweetness up front followed by delicious dark chocolate flavors. Roasted grains creep through to round out the beer and balance it out a bit. Roasted grains fade slowly, leaving a nice, faint hoppiness that pulls through and lingers with the roasted grains. Not too sweet, not to bitter from the roasted grain/hops. I don't think you could want much more in an oatmeal stout.

Mouthfeel is great. Body is medium-heavy with a decent amount of carbonation and a great velvety smoothness. I would love to try this beer on nitro; I think it would only make it better.

Drinkability is also good. A very good beer with a great balance of flavors; one or two would go down great. I left it at a 4 becuase I'd be so full after the first two I couldn't drink more. Truly a classic example of the "meal in a bottle" cliché of stouts.

Overall, an excellent oatmeal stout. A great combination of all flavors that mix well and don't overpower any aspect of the brew. My favorite oatmeal stout. Highly reccommended!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2008 18:41:11 | More by danny013

GoodKnight1220

Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a glass.

Poured a dark brown with a thick 3 finger tan head. Had great lacing.

Had a good bread and oat smell with a slight roast.

Taste and feel was a creamy and smooth lightly sweet malt and nutty roast, with a slight hop finish.

Could drink this all night long.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2008 02:48:21 | More by GoodKnight1220

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Actually had this for breakfast with eggs and sausage while vacationing on Hilton Head.
Pored nice with a small brownish head. Dark wit little light shining though the edges.
Smell was nice, roasted malts with hints of chocolate and deep fruits coming to mind.
Taste was ok but wasnt what I expected. Not as full in the mouth and creamy as I was thinking this stout should be.
Not a bad beer, but not epic either.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2008 14:44:03 | More by dmamiano

nasty15108

New York

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1pt .8oz bottle into a tulip glass.

A - Black with very slight ruby edges. Thick head of tan foam with minimal carbonation.

S - Malty and slightly sweet. Hints of coffee and charred wood.

T - Sweet malty taste up front followed by a slightly bitter and dry finish.

MF&D - Thick and flavorful. Coates the mouth well. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2008 16:31:25 | More by nasty15108