Marooned On Hog Island - 21st Amendment Brewery

Greywulfken

New York

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm about to bump this bad boy's average up!

A: feel bad for the few that didn't witness this properly: mostly center-poured into a nonic pint, semi-translucent black-brown body with a fat head of an foam that persisted throughout and decorated the glass with lace

S: dark, roasty, smoky malt and sea salt

T: I was so delighted with the taste of this beer, I wanted to give it a 5, but as of this moment, it's the only "oyster stout" I've ever had, so I had to hedge my bets... briny dark malts and smoky roast with undertones of salted caramel and yes, oyster-i-ness.

M: medium-light (for a stout) body, puts a little stick in the corners of the mouth, smooth and mellow, mildly bitter aftertaste of salt and malt

O: this was a quick drinking stout - somehow light and refreshing, extremely drinkable, perfect abv - seriously delightful.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 02:30:57 | More by Greywulfken

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

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

Appearance: dark brown, nearly opaque. Fairly thick tan head on the pour that recedes to wisps.
Smell: rich chocolate and a musky hint that must be the oyster shells. Makes for a quite rich and nice nose.
Taste: just as the nose advertises.
Overall: my first oyster stout so not sure how it stacks up. Quite enjoyed this. A rich and creamy stout with a little edge.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 00:24:39 | More by cindyjeffsmith

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce can, canned on 11/19/12 (printed on bottom of can). Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with a half inch tan head. Head retention and lacing are both decent enough. The brew smells like chocolate, roasted malt, coffee, and some oyster shell/brine. I think the taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but the oyster shell/brine salty flavor is stronger in comparison. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit coating with a moderate amount of carbonation. I think it's a good overall brew, definitely worth a try if you've never had it before. $8.99 a 4-pack.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 23:58:39 | More by bluejacket74

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

2.8/5  rDev -28%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz can poured into a pint glass.

A: Pours a very dark red color. It's not very opaque considering it's a nearly 8% stout. It also seems to feature somewhat strong carbonation if I look closely in the glass. The head is a weak looking one finger mocha color with low retention.

S: Seems to be a sweet stout, with primarily chocolate, hazelnut, and faint vanilla. The oysters come through quite well, as a sort of salty, mineraly aroma. Could be a bit less metallic, but that's just nitpicking.

T: Surprisingly, the flavor is sitting on the opposite end of the stout spectrum of the aroma, with tons of roasted malts, lactose cream, and coffee. It comes across as smoky at times, too. After the initial finish, the mineral profile comes through. The flavor has a bit too much metallic presence to be great, especially on the aftertaste. Really, it just doesn't work for me.

M: Tingly and astringent. It seems dry at first, but after a while, the charred, metallic aftertastes seemingly introduces a syrupy quality to the texture that I'm not a fan of.

O: I like oysters. I love stouts. Sadly, I don't love this; even 'like' is too strong of a word here. Just too disjointed for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 21:08:00 | More by ThisWangsChung

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- pours pitch black with a small foamy tan head with somewhat short retention, leaving just a reign after settling

S- smoky charred malt gives some dried meat character, some mineral notes, a bit woody with a touch of chocolate

T- surprising fruity notes with a bit of fig, mid-palate is slightly sweet with roasted malts and chocolate. The finish is mineraly, giving it a slight salty feel on the tongue, smoky and sweet-yet-dry on the finish

M- medium body and carbonation, foamy-turned-creamy mouthfeel with a smooth finish. Alcohol is barely noticeable

O- easy drinking, the oysters give it an interesting mineral flavor and finish. Worth a try once.

Serving type: can

05-14-2013 01:42:06 | More by Treyliff

Spikester

Oregon

3.91/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the can into a Walking Man shaker pint. One finger of tan head and some minor lacing. Smell is coffee, dark chocolate, and a whiff of sea breeze.
Taste is rich espresso with maybe a square of dark chocolate melted into it. Never tasted any real hop character within but plenty bitter from whatever source.
Mouthfeel was medium thick with minor carbonation. Leaves a medium dry bitter finish.
Overall a tasty brew and the alcohol is well hidden. As one who has eaten his fair share of fresh oysters both cooked and raw this beer only showed the oyster ingredient in the aroma. So oyster haters need not fear this stout. One of 21st Amendments better beers.

Serving type: can

05-06-2013 07:18:23 | More by Spikester

HardTarget

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Black glass shows a thin ribbon of ruby at the edge with back lighting. Tiny carbonation streams feed a fast dying thin brown cover that holds a halo, but doesn't lace.

Smell: Earthy leafy hops on a thin ribbon of malt sweetness.

Taste: Big malt flavors take the stage pushing the almost tonic bitter hops to the downward side of the teeter-totter. A nice balance lets a lot of flavors come through. A plum jam fruitiness, a hint of tobacco in the dark roasted grain. A hint of soy sauce soured grain shows off the complex malt bill (had to check the website: Pale, Crystal, Rolled Oats, Carafa, Chocolate Malt, White Wheat).

Mouthfeel: There's a bit of chalky dryness in the finish that has to be the oyster shells. Makes an almost gritty end that begs for the next sip.

Overall: Big complex tasty beer, but not really in line with most stouts, or oyster stouts I've had. I could see pairing this with a lot of different foods, or just sipping after dinner. Tasty!

Thanks to Illudium for the can!

Serving type: can

04-27-2013 23:36:01 | More by HardTarget

ToddT

Pennsylvania

4.19/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

L- Dark brown almost black topped with a tan head that fades quickly to a ring but leaves a few spotts of lace on the glass.

S- Roasted malt, caramel, toffee, chocolate, coffee, and chocolate.

T- Chocolate and coffee malts right away, well balanced and not in competition with each other, a bit of caramel sweetness provides a nice counterpoint. I'm not getting any oyster flavor, maybe that is a good thing. Finish is dry with a lingering final note of coffee.

M- More than medium in body and medium in carbonation, creamy and silky in the mouth.

O- Interesting beer, it has some nice stuff going on in it, and if you run across it you should check it out. The 7.9% ABV was a bit of a surprise I was thinking it was a bit lower than that.

Serving type: can

04-24-2013 19:10:53 | More by ToddT

Hoptometrist

Oregon

3.6/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from the can into a globed glass

A- Poured a dark drown with a fluffy mocha colored head that dissipated quickly and left no lace.

S- Huge sweet chocolate notes and roasted barley, very bready and wheat like qualities, caramel

T- Whoa, big salty flavor up front and through the whole sip and lingers. I get that sweet chocolate note and rosted barley from the aroma. Some bready and caramel notes. A little bit of sourness and twang similar to Guinness.

M- Medium body, smooth, quite creamy and finishes dry.

O- A very aromatic and unique stout. The salty oyster quality in the flavor was a bit much, although it did subside a little more as it warmed up some more.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 03:08:07 | More by Hoptometrist

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.21/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

12oz can poured into a snifter.

A: Dark, muddy brown. Hazy. One finger of tan head settles rather quickly. A broken pattern of spotty lacing remains on the glass.

S: Lots of caramel and toffee on the nose. French roast and milk chocolate in the background. Subtle cola and molasses. Hints of fig, berry, and bruised apple. Good whiff of salty brine. Slight tobacco and earthy, leafy hops.

T: Cocoa and milk chocolate. Burnt bread crust. Cola and molasses. Powerful hit of salty brine. Tobacco and leafy hops mingle with all of this and create a sense of burnt vegetation on the palate. Smokey.Tight burst of raspberry. Slight spike of alcohol. Bruised apple. Finishes with milk chocolate and a lasting salty brine.

M: Medium bodied. Creamy and full. Restrained scrubbing carbonation. Warmth from the alcohol. Very smooth. A nice mouthfeel.

O: The brine gets to be overwhelming at times. The better oyster stouts I've had would combat this with a good dose of burnt malts and the accompanying acidity. There just isn't enough of that present here to keep it in check.

Serving type: can

04-11-2013 01:35:00 | More by ryan1788a5

Reidrover

Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz can from "Lifesource" in Salem. $2.29 Pours pitch black with a small wispy tan head. Toasty,caramel,dark coffee slightly salty aromas..nice Strong toasty,thick molasses,caramel,liquorice,thick .. Great mouthfeel to this one thick and luscious. Good stout...one to remember for the camping season.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 17:28:57 | More by Reidrover

beepill

California

4.06/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I frequent 21st Amendment fairly regularly, but I bought a 4-pack of this oyster stout at the Whole Foods in San Mateo. I poured a can into a pint glass.

A - A dark brown, nearly black, when in regular indoor lighting. A dark reddish-brown when light shining from other side of glass. Head is beige-tan and thin, dissipating after a few minutes.

S - Smoked oak and french roast coffee, with hints of the ocean (in a very good way).

T - Initially like smooth coffee and hints of oak barrels and smoked seafood. It sounds weird, but you can really taste the sea, again in a good way.

M - Seems heavy and thick when it first hits your mouth, but finishes light and smooth.

O - I gave it a 4. I was impressed with the smell and taste, as it is reminiscent of the ocean. Unique in a beer, as far as I know. The head dissipated quickly, and the carbonation went away quickly, which is okay for stouts because it kind of reminded me of the hand-pumped taps in England. It really brings out the subtle flavors of the beer. That said, this would be a good drink to have on a cold, gloomy day paired with a seafood meal.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 02:38:03 | More by beepill

mfnmbvp

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 fl oz. can, with bottom of the can reading 'canned on 11/19/2012'. Highly anticipated trying this beer, and thanks to the suggestion of some random dude, I ordered two cans via LetsPour.com, and I have been holding onto them for little over a week, and I can't bare to wait any longer. Beautiful looking can art, probably one of the coolest looking cans I've ever seen. Shout out to the random guy who told me about LetsPour.com!

Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Semi-aggressive pour yields two fingers of fluffy doughy tan colored head, on top of an almost opaque black colored body. Small ruby dot showing through some light. Thin, wispy, scattered khaki lacing on the glass.

S - Roasted coffee beans. Inviting, dark roasted malt smell. Dark chocolate. Subdued fishy oyster brine, but it is definitely in there.

T - Wow, very interesting. Smooth, light texture, but still somewhat thick and full-bodied.. Roasted coffee bean & light hop bitterness. Malts, oats and creamy milk chocolate, and thankfully no outrageous salty seafood presence in the taste. Coffee beans become even more prominent as the beer warms. Fairly impressive.

M - Slick, smooth, creamy mouthfeel. Some bitter coffee bean lingerance.

Overall, very glad to have had the chance to try this beer, and glad that I have another can to sit on for a while. Tastes more along the lines of a standard oatmeal / coffee stout than anything else, much like the only other oyster stout I've tried, Flying Dog Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout. Cozy, warming 7.90% abv is also a plus. I would definitely get more of this if it was easier to come by!

21st Amendment Marooned On Hog Island ---4/5.

Serving type: can

04-06-2013 02:51:53 | More by mfnmbvp

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.71/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A - A dark brown, 1 finger of head which dissipates, leaving no lace on the glass

S - Sweet. Sugar. Boozy

T - Boozy stout, very sweet

M - Medium bodied and well carbonated, oily and slick aftertaste

O - Its a decent stout. A little too sweet for my liking, but not bad.

Serving type: can

04-06-2013 00:30:42 | More by BeerDawgs

jimmah120

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz can. split the 4-pack, couldn't bear to buy the "oyster beer" by myself

Dark color, almost black. Small head that doesn't last. The smell is typical - dark malty roasty smell, with some fishy brine off in the background. Taste is rich, roasted, burnt tasting. Some dark fruit, chocolate, coffee, only a hint of oyster - but it's there.

Better (less oystery) than I expected.

Serving type: can

04-01-2013 02:16:14 | More by jimmah120

gabrielsyme

Virginia

3/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Really didn't do too much for me which is strange because I enjoy English Stouts. Poured from 12oz can into a pint glass. Color is dark brown, little foam. Flavor is mostly malt sweetness, maybe some caramel but nothing too complex. Easy to drink. Possibly I served too cold.

Serving type: can

03-25-2013 00:04:18 | More by gabrielsyme

UCLABrewN84

California

3.4/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Canned on 11/19/12.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and a funky fruit aroma. Taste is much the same with slightly fruity and char flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp but almost flat mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is fairly drinkable but it smells a bit spoiled or something in my opinion.

Serving type: can

03-21-2013 03:05:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

lsummers

California

4.29/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a rich coffee black and reveals a dark amber at the edges when held to the light. Not much head retention or lacing.

Smells of dark dried fruits with some cocoa and a touch of roasted caramel sweetness.

Taste is fantastic and smooth. burnt and roasty rye notes with a touch of hop bitterness. Overall very smooth and balanced with some milk chocolate notes covering it's abv.

Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth. Not overly viscus though.

Overall a fantastic example of an oyster stout. Dry yet creamy, roasted yet sweet. Well balanced with the exception it could look still stand to look as delicious as it is.

Serving type: can

03-17-2013 19:46:48 | More by lsummers

BeerZack

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Smells of rich chocolate mousse or pot de creme with a hint of booze that opens up into a raisiny port-like impression as it warms. The flavor doesn't veer far from the aroma as it begins with the same rich chocolatey quality. It starts sweet, but the mid-palate is smooth and creamy with a drying and very slightly roasted finish. Delicious and dangerously drinkable for its weighty 7.9% ABV. Might be my favorite oyster stout.

Serving type: can

03-16-2013 02:36:54 | More by BeerZack

kojevergas

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dig the label art. It's quite intricate and well done. Canned 11/19/12. 7.90% ABV confirmed. Self identifies as an Oyster Stout; I'll review it as such. Reviewed live. 12 fl oz aluminum can served into a conical Samuel Smith's pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Expectations are high; I'm in the mood for a good oyster stout. Can't remember the last 21st Amendment beer I had.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a two finger khaki-tan colour head of nice cream, pretty good thickness, and good (~5+ minute) retention for the high ABV. Body colour is a solid nontransparent opaque black; maybe a ruby hue in there - it's not jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Looks pretty typical of the style; it's well executed. Light lacing clings to the sides of the glass as the head slowly recedes.

Sm: Cream, dark malts, vague generic floral hops, milky caramel, buried muted roast, and maybe light chocolate malt. A light, muted aroma. No yeast character or alcohol is detectable. A bit bland for a stout aroma. I do get a bit of salty sea creature meat when I really look for it - which I guess is the oysters - but I wouldn't know it was an oyster stout if you handed it to me blind. A mild strength, underwhelming aroma.

T: Nice cream and well executed milk chocolate. Some marshmallow. Good dark malt foundation. Oats. Buried caramel. Maybe hazelnut. I search for oysters but I don't find them; it tastes like a straight-up oatmeal stout to me. Light roast. A bit of vanilla. All around a very well balanced stout, but I'm not finding the oyster notes. In any case, I'm really liking it and it's delightfully well executed, with impressive complexity and subtlety. A very solid brew.

Mf: I love the creamy smooth texture; it really helps bring out the milk chocolate. Dryness/wetness balance is ideal. Carbonation is good. Soft. A bit chewy. Great presence on the palate. Plenty of body. Well-executed. Complements the flavour profile well.

Dr: Extremely drinkable for the ABV - which is itself impressively well hidden. Pleasantly surprised by the quality of this one; I'd definitely get it again and it's one of the better canned stouts I've ever had. A treat from 21st Amendment. I'd recommend this to friends. Lovely stuff. I'll have to revisit this one; I think its merits are unsung.

High B

Serving type: can

03-14-2013 04:07:15 | More by kojevergas

Sam21

Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -17%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3

12oz can. Canned 11/19/12. Poured into snifter.

A- Pours dark brown with an opaque black appearance in the glass. Certainly not black, but no light gets through once in the glass. Thick creamy tan head with excellent retention. Leaves a sheet of lacing on the glass and is slow to recede.

S- The first thing to hit my nose is roasted malts. There is a charred quality to it that sits atop a nice chocolatey sweetness. Good balance there. As it warms up over a few minutes, there is a bit of a savory meaty aroma. Perhaps it is a touch briny. It's hard to place, but it must be the oysters. As it warms up, there is a definite saltiness behind the chocolate and charred malt aromas. It's not overly pungent and adds to the complexity of the nose in a good way.

T- The taste starts off sweet. Chocolate, a touch light sweet fruits, and no real roast flavors. It feels like there is a bit of a gap in the middle of this beers flavor development. It starts off sweet and never builds or goes anywhere from there. The charred roast flavors are not present in the way I expected. Instead, the sweetness remains the constant and there are some mild bitterness notes. I could only describe it as silky, simple, sweet, and straightforward. It's really not taking off for me. I was not expecting it to, but it tastes a bit one dimensional to me. It finishes a bit watery, meaning, lacking in any real finish. It just fades off. As I let it sit in the glass, the flavors do seem to open up a touch more. This is at room temperature.

MF- This is a highlight of this beer. Really creamy, smooth, and wonderful. The carbonation is in balance to the overall viscosity.

O- It's a very easy beer to drink. It certainly isn't unpleasant, but it does not have anything that makes it stand out for me.

Serving type: can

03-13-2013 00:49:36 | More by Sam21

flagmantho

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz can into a pint glass.

Appearance: nearly black with subtle ruby highlights. Head is a steady finger of pillowy tan foam. I like it.

Smell: aroma is quite sweet with a caramel and toffee character. There's also a hint of vegetation in there; probably the hops colliding with the acidic dark malts. Overall not too bad.

Taste: sweet and chocolatey with a little dose of that vegetal hop character. Well-balanced and quite taste, although I'm not getting any of the oyster character hinted at by the can. Still, it's a satisfying dessert-type stout.

Mouthfeel: rich, creamy and delightful. Plenty of body with a good, well-integrated carbonation; wonderful.

Overall: a very tasty and drinkable stout. I would definitely have more of this.

Serving type: can

03-12-2013 20:57:07 | More by flagmantho

rangerred

Tennessee

4.06/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

12oz can into a snifter.

Pours nearly pich black with a one finger dark tan head that is really too quick to fade. Barely a few streams of lacing and no cap at all left on top of the beer.

Aroma of sweet cocoa, coffee, and dark roasted malt. A little bit of briny-ness is present too but it is very faint.

Rich coffee and cocoa on the tasted along with heavily roasted malt. Alcohol is pretty up front as well but it is not offensive. Dark fruit comes in midway along with a little brine but you really have to dig for it. Vanilla comes in towards the finish along with a quite high slightly biting bitterness. The finish is fairly sticky with a breath of alcohol.

Overall, a nice oyster stout that is stronger than some of the others I have had. The oyster shells lend a bit of a unique character and a extra element to a really good stout.

Serving type: can

03-12-2013 01:05:06 | More by rangerred

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is nearly jet black in color—traces of amber are visible near the bottom of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a finger high beige head that gradually died down, leaving a thin head covering the surface and lots of lacy rings down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of chocolate malts are present in the nose, which also has some hints of roasted malts.
T: The taste is similar to the smell, but has stronger flavors of chocolate malts with hints of coffee beans and roasted malts and finally some brine in the aftertaste. Neither sweetness nor bitterness is detectable.
M: It feels light-bodied and airy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer a lot less briney flavors compared to other oyster stouts but is a nice stout in itself, especially if you are looking for something light and has lots of flavors of chocolate malts.

Serving type: can

03-09-2013 15:35:29 | More by metter98

ianjsullivan

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

ST: 12oz can poured into a pint glass.

A: Dark, near black with a red tints and a half-a-fingernail slightly brown head.

S: Cream, mineral, smoke, burnt malt, creamy coffee.

T: Starts with sweet chocolate nibs, then dark bitter chocolate with a hint of smoke and coffee, followed by sweet grilled oyster, and it finishes with a slight bitterness and the taste of gritty oyster shell.

M: Medium, smooth, creamy, dry on the finish.

O: A very tasty beer with a slight hard edge of mineral bordering on metal. Balanced well, the sweetness does not overtake the beer. This is a great stout.

Serving type: can

03-07-2013 21:49:29 | More by ianjsullivan