River Horse Oatmeal Milk Stout - River Horse Brewing Co.

atmpnj

New Jersey

4.8/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Pours a near pitch black with a creamy mocha colored head. The head dissipates most of the way leaving a thin mocha ring and coating that hangs around for the duration.

S: The smell is not overwhelming, but consists primarily of chocolate, a hint of coffee, and grains.

T: Dark, bitter chocolate dominates at first balanced by a smooth sweetness. Soon most of the sweet feel dissipates leaving dark chocolate and eventually a bitter finish where the hops become noticeable.

M: This beer is low in carbonation making for a very smooth and creamy medium bodied feel.

D: To me this is about as drinkable as they come. The flavors do not get old and the lack of carbonation makes it easy to drink. My favorite River Horse beer and one of my favorites all around.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 22:59:11 | More by atmpnj

Martin2D

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pitch black with a thin tan head that fades with lacing

S - Roasty and sweet

T - Perfectly balanced. Just the right amount of toasted oats with the sweet lactose finish and perfect hop bite.

M - Medium carbonation and medium-full in body

D - This is really not a heavy stout, but it's so ridiculously balanced. You must find this one, it blows all non KBS, CBS breakfast stouts out of the water. TRY IT!

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2009 01:57:40 | More by Martin2D

Bergenboy1981

New Jersey

4.58/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I really really like this one. It's by far my favorite seasonal lately....too bad its only out for winter :(

12oz Bottle (Whole Foods, Paramus,NJ)

This is a wonderful flavorful and very very smooth stout that is actually light enough to drink all the time if you like.
There is no batch # on the bottle that I can tell.

Smells like oatmeal and coffee, some chocolate.
Tastes malty and coffee and lightly chocolaty and a little hint of vanilla.
VERY smooth with great mouth feel very creamy....but at the same time VERY light for a stout....almost has more the body of a creamy porter...but hit the nail on the head with the milk stout taste. The lightness though gives it pretty good drink-ability unlike some heavier stouts which are kinda heavy and you cant drink too many.
As said in another review also, this IS a great breakfast stout....plus unlike some of the other local stouts like Brooklyn Brewery, with 10%ABV...This one wont leave u stumbling if you actually do drink it w breakfast lol
Good Carbonation but not overdone.

Overall this is a great stout, and if you have the chance you should DEFINITELY give it a try...I've also found this to be a good first stout for people who haven't tried it and a rare exception for people who usually don't care for stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 20:50:34 | More by Bergenboy1981

renegadeburger

New Jersey

4.53/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

great to see this style really taking off i saw two milk stouts in my area recently and just traded for one as well i am really intersted in this style so its good to be able to try many different samples

ok the aroma right off the bat is like molasses and burnt brown sugar then a little bit of roasted nuts int he end

taste was deep rich molasses almost like a soy sauce character in the very end but a real pleasant one! i actually drank this bottle super fast because it went down real smooth and was super enticing

my favorite element of all though was definitelyt he mouthfeel absolutely pure silk in there like a rich full bodied creaminess but at the same time a bit layered

the only thing holding it back was perhaps just a little bit too sweet almost savory like a dessert beer but maybe thats what it should be used for...

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2012 05:23:58 | More by renegadeburger

keanex

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle with no freshness date into a tulip.

A: Pitch black with a thin tan head that dissipates rather quickly.

S: Slight sweet cream smells with light milk and a, surprisingly, bitter coffee roast smell. This smells really inviting.

T: Very nice flavor here, really mellow but inviting. Sweet cream up front with a nice bitter coffee finish. I'm enjoying this very much!

M: The body is medium with some weight to it, like a light creamer. There's light carbonation, but enough to leave a little tingle.

O: I'm surprised I'm liking this as much as I am. There's not much going on, but there's a great balance of creamer sweetness with a coffee bitter finish. The value is great at $9 a 6 pack and it's very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 03:44:32 | More by keanex

JJBlanche

California

4.45/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This beer was a total surprise. Based upon local hearsay, I thought River Horse was -- how shall I say it -- less than adept when it comes to brewing. Whoever filled my head with that nonsense should be flogged, because Oatmeal Milk Stout is a fantastic beer. Judging from this offering alone, it's plainly obvious that the guys at Riverhorse know what they're doing. I'll be trying the others from their line in the near future for sure.

In any case, back to the Oatmeal Milk Stout. A friend gave me a few bottles, and I was immediately impressed. So much so that I went out and laid down 40 bones on a 24.

A - More or less what I'd expect a carbonated stout to look like. Black and opaque, but not hazy. Two finger brown/beige head quickly diminishes to one finger, then sticks around for a bit. Near perfect lacing. I can't imagine it getting any better, short of nitro.

S - Very much what you'd expect something called "oatmeal milk stout" to smell like. A hint of roastiness and coffee fades into a kind of cadbury milk chocolate aroma. Perhaps one of the most enticing stouts I've ever put my nose to.

T - Delicious. Smooth, mild lactose up front, followed quickly by oats and roasted grain in the nose, and caramel malt on the palate. Finishes off with the perfect degree of hop bitterness, and a hint of fruity esters. Very, very good. Perhaps the best sweet stout I've ever had -- and I've had a lot of them.

M - Perfect. Carbonation is spot on. Silky, heavy -- substance to spare. A benchmark in this regard.

D - It's heavy, but most of my favorite beers are. For me, well made, smooth stouts are far more drinkable when compared to the other end of the spectrum. Something like Fuller's ESB might be a five for drinkability, whereas a much heavier brew like this would be cut off sooner.

All in all, very deserving of an "A" rating in general, and truly exceptional within the style. It's a limited edition, and disappearing from the shelves rather fast, so grab it while you can.

UPDATE: I've since tried Sierra Nevada Stout, and have to say it's very similar to the Oatmeal Milk Stout. If anyone is having a hard time finding the River Horse variant, the Sierra Nevada shouldn't be difficult to track down, and will give you a very good idea of what to expect. Think of the River Horse as a slightly thicker, slightly maltier, and less bitter version of the Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2009 11:28:08 | More by JJBlanche

drcarver

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

A - I rarely give an appearance rate over 4, but the 1 finger light brown head that sat onto of the classic stout body sat through THE ENTIRE BEER!!!. The lacing hung to the side of the glass and followed it down the whole way.

S - Heavy in the roasted malts with oats, lactose, and alcohol. Bits of chocolate, but not much.

T - Burnt and roasted malts. The heartiness of the oats mixes well with the sweet flavors of the lactose.

M - Creamy and smooth with a clean dry finish

D - Oh yeah, very much.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2009 23:23:26 | More by drcarver

csrbv

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I really like this stout! The aromas here are amazing, smells almost like a latte with roasted coffee and sweet mixed with some oatmeal.

The tastes follow the nose but with less sweetness. Roasted chocolate malts and coffee, a very small bit of hop bitterness, but creamy and smooth for sure. The mouthfeel is great here too, pretty creamy, sweet oat flavor is left on the tongue as a good after taste.

Overall the drinkability is excellent, pretty filling though and the roasty character might overpower the sweets after a while, another great brew from River Horse!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 17:07:09 | More by csrbv

Timmush

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have visited this brewery a few times and its a nice place but was never impressed with the products. They were ok, not great. I would choose them easily over a Macro but was never blown away with there offerings. I said Was because this is a very good Stout.

Color is more brown than black.
The smell (as mentioned before ) is of coffee grounds.
I wasnt too pleased with the head but next pour was a little faster and it fluffed up a nice tan inch.

Taste. Now lately, I have been drinking the BCS from Brooklyn so I wasn't expecting much from this beer but it has a very good taste. Coffee, with a very. very slight hint of sweet chocolate. No alcohol taste at all, I cant tell if I miss that or not but this is a worthy beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2009 21:40:15 | More by Timmush

Beerisheaven

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was out on a Saturday night making a beer stop and nothing was grabbing my attention. They had a couple of cases of this next to the Ten Fidy that initially caught my eye. I remember some people talking about this so I picked up a cold sixer of it out of the case.

A - Pours very dark with a nice tan head rising up from the pour.

S - Very enticing smell that led me to believe that I was possibly on to something good here. A nice blend or aroma, some chocolate, some oat, and something that smells a bit sweet to the nose.

T - I really like the Moloko Plus from FFF, but I would say that this holds up as well if not even better. It has a creamy smooth taste. You get the regular oatmeal stout taste but I really like the sweetness that comes through as well. If you like Moloko Plus, you will like this one as well.

M - Delicious. Very smooth and creamy. Very appealing to me. I really like it.

D - Extremely high. I only had one before finishing my night with a Coffee Bender. However, you could drink a number of these to be sure.

I only wished that I had picked up another sixer. It says that it is a limited edition offering. The brewery should definitely bring this one back again. If you see it, pick it up. I think that you will enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2009 23:47:52 | More by Beerisheaven

magnj

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a - Deep brown with a 1 finger, coffee colored head. Little lacing.

s - Light roasted and chocolate notes. Sweet.

t - Really smooth, great body. Chocolate and roasted malts, sweet but not too sweet. Coffee comes along after it has left your mouth.

m/d - Easy to drink, very tasty, light enough to session.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2009 01:29:05 | More by magnj

socon67

New York

4.38/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured into a pint glass, this is poured black with a creme colored foam that is thick at first and settles to a thin line. Impressive lacing.

S - Scent of cocoa is noticeable early. Has a significant malt smell.

T - Sweet and chocolatey. The chocolate flavor is impressive. Finish has a sweet candy taste.

M - Very drinkable, feels ligther than it is. Consistency isn't watery.

O - Surprised how much I liked this. Would have this again, at least on tap.

Serving type: growler

09-11-2011 17:45:46 | More by socon67

NJpadreFan

New Jersey

4.35/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

River Horse- Oatmeal Milk Stout

A- Deep dark brown with a huge, over carbonated, head. Big thick lacing.
S- Sweet milk chocolate with molasses and vanilla.
T- Molasses oatmeal cookies with milk chocolate, vanilla, and light roast coffee beans.
M- Sticky sweet and slightly grainy with a dry bittering coffee finish.

Overall- Very enjoyable and possibly River Horse's best beer!

**Re-reviewed 1/4/09**
Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 16:24:18 | More by NJpadreFan

guinness33

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep brown colour that is essentially black, with a biggish tan head that leaves sporadic marking on the glass.

The aroma has a bit of sweet chocolate milk to it, and is blended with a bit of rugged, earthy malt that is even somewhat roasty in nature. Perhaps some hints of coffee here and there as well. Nice.

The flavour takes the aroma and beefs it up a bit. All previously mentioned flavours come out in fuller effect, with roasted malt blending nicely with the sweetness from the chocolate once again. Coffee steps up a bit toward the middle of each sip and there's a decent bitterness at the finish. Alcohol comes into the mix at the finish as well and might be a touch too visible, but nothing overpowering. Mouthfeel is full bodied and hearty, with a bit of hotness from the alcohol coming through. Again, I'd have made said hotness a bit more tame, but that's just me.

This is a very nice beer overall, and probably my favourite of anything I've sampled from River Horse. I know I've knocked their regular lineup in the past as being mediocre, but the seasonals have been breathing some life back into the brewery and the new (-ish) Brewer's Reserve Series has been doing an even better job cranking out inspired, well made brews. Skip the basics and head for the limited stuff when it comes to River Horse, and make this one your top priority. A very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 05:09:10 | More by guinness33

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a five+ finger tan head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Opaque dark brown color. Light-medium carbonation and medium-heavy bodied. Molasses nose. Flavor is sweet molasses and coffee. $1.83 for a 12oz bottle from Manchester Wine and Liquors Manchester, CT.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2009 23:13:22 | More by jdhilt

marcpal

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I never would have thought River Horse would have went this direction and even more so, that they would have done such a great job with it.

Had on tap at sampling room in Lambertville and brought back a case of bottles.
By the way, I really am a huge fan of their new logo and marketing, fits in great with the higher quality stuff coming out of there. Had the Hopalotamus there as well but will wait to give that a review until I have more than the 4oz sample. Good as well.

12oz bottle poured into imperial pint glass with a sloppy pour on my part.
Bottle Graphics: 7/10.

A: Thich lustrous white head on top of brown/black latte like body. Latching lacing.

S: There are some hops in the nose but the creamy milk presents itself in spades. A plethora of milk chocolate, nearly chocolate milk.

T: Coffee and oats. Sweeter end of a milk stout with the oats the star of the show. Not as hop present as the aroma, while the flavors were complex and pleasing. Roasted nutty malts- well done.

M: Not thin at all- spot on creaminess. Like a dairy queen fribble with precise amount of carbonation.

D: One of the highest I have had for the style. I would guess abv coming in about 4% so obviously well hidden and constructed. Keep em up River Horse.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2009 21:58:17 | More by marcpal

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Its pure black body and bleach white head have a sort of Oreo cookie thing going on. The contrast is most visually appealing and its creamy head appears, fortunately, intent on lasting the full course. The body is opaque and only against a bright afternoon sunlight does it afford even the slightest highlighting.

Surprising to me because I remarked on the appearance before ever smelling the beer, its aroma also draws the mind to Oreo cookies. Perhaps it is the power of suggestion but I doubt it. A dark, roasty chocolaty biscuit flavour is accompanied by a sugary vanilla lining. This smell has me thinking cookies and milk. And it's making me hungry.

But thoughts quickly switch from dessert to breakfast with the unmistakable taste of coffee in the flavour. I'd be shocked if actual coffee wasn't used in the recipe. In the aftertaste, another breakfast staple, oatmeal, is also vividly tasted. Bittersweet chocolate is also present, layered in a roasted and tobacco-like smokiness.

The mouthfeel completes the profile. It is creamy and milky with more smokiness and roast lingering than bitterness. It is quenching and quaffable. The flavours are robustly displayed but the texture is velvety and ultra smooth. The coffee bean taste is far from astringent and blends well into the beer. It's hard to believe this is almost 7% alcohol!

River Horse asks us to "break out of the ordinary" which may be more of a 'do as I say and not as I do' kind of thing. All of their beers I've yet to try were very ordinary styles, albeit ones brewed fantastically. What I do intend to break out in the future is definitely more River Horse offerings; I hope they're all as good as this one!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2009 19:45:49 | More by biegaman

longdivision

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Could not wait for this to come back.
A - Poured and looked like you would expect. Dark chocolate brown with a hefty tan head.

S - Roasted with some hints of a hop bite. Slightly sweet.

T - You get that milk stout character and sweetness. But it's not too sweet, A great example of the style. Roasty, some slight coffee notes, and dark chocolate too. Balanced bitterness toward the end.

M - Pleasantly smooth and creamy. It has a heavier mouthfeel, but it is easy to drink.

O - I have to pick some of this up whenever I see it again. It should be in production more often.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2010 14:44:34 | More by longdivision

peterittenhouse

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Pours pitch black w/ thin coffee colored head.

S-Fruity aroma.

T- Great stuff. Actually easy drinking. Can be a session beer. Lots of different things working here. Vanilla, dark cherries, coffee. Vanilla is the most pronounced, though.

M-Silky smooth.

D- Goes down easy. Very nice. I bought this on a hunch and it didn"t dissapoint.

Go Phillies!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 01:44:31 | More by peterittenhouse

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to mday for opening this at a recent tasting.

A: Pours near-black with a nice, thin tan head.

S: Plenty of roasted malt characteristics alongside a nice blend of coffee and chocolate.

T: Coffee, chocolate, roasted malt, hints of toffee, and a small but existent hop presence.

M: Smooth, medium-body with good carbonation.

D: Very nice. Not normally one of my favorite styles, but I loved the smooth nature of this alongside the very nice balance of coffee and chocolate flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2010 10:55:58 | More by Thorpe429

baldycmu

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark black with a hint of cherry color. Large 2+" tan head. Smells of malted milk with a hint of roasted coffee beans. Taste is more of vanilla toffee or coffee than the milk. Its definitely sweet with a not malt background and a tuch of hops at the finish. Very smooth with a bit af carbonation at the back of the throat. There is not a hint of the 6.7% ABV. Definitely one of the better river horse options.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 03:30:06 | More by baldycmu

wagenvolks

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz. bottle shared at the Austin BA tasting (thanks, I think, to xpimptasticx).

Pours a deep mahogany hue with ruby red highlights and a dark khaki head that fizzes out to little more than a wisp of small bubbles. Aroma is an intricate concoction of sweet milk chocolate, vanilla oats, custard, and toasted biscuit malts. A bit lacking on the hop front, but some earthy herbal notes are in there if you dig deep enough.

Flavor delivers a well-balanced mix of toasted chocolate & coffee malts, vanilla oats, and lactose. Body is silky smooth, with a velvet consistency and a gentle carbonation level that coats the palate and allows the complexity of the malts & milk to shine. All in all, a solid, tasty Milk/Oatmeal Stout that I'd be eager to have again.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 06:25:23 | More by wagenvolks

mikey711

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark black with a mocha colored head that poured nearly two inches thick. The head retention was just ok, settling down to almost nothing around about 2 minutes, but leaving great lacing in its wake. I am very impressed by how dark the beer actually is

S: Slightly sweet with some lactose notes, milk chocolate sweetness and a bit roastiness and smokiness that come through in the end.

T: The roastiness and smokiness come through very smooth upfront and transition to some sweetness from the oats and chocolate. It is very nicely balanced between the roasty/smokiness and sweetness

M: It is a bit light in body, but it is not chalky or boozy. It is smooth and creamy as well

D: The smokiness could get overwhelming after a while but one or two of these is great

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2009 00:57:33 | More by mikey711

dogfishandi

New York

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle at fridge temp poured into an imperial pint glass. no freshness date. enjoying on my back porch on a brisk pre-autumn day.

pours pretty much opaque black, some sediment visible, 2 fingers of thick velvety mocha colored head. faded to a ring after awhile, average retention. decent sticky lace. looks close to an imperial.

off the first whiff, chocolate milk and roasted malts come to mind. digging deeper you find milk chocolate as well as dark, sweet oatmeal and some roasted coffee.

delicious taste, all i can think of is that this would be a perfect breakfast beer. this stout is balanced perfectly between oatmeal qualities and milk stout qualities. rich chocolate milk, a little roasted malt, sweet oatmeal. hints of vanilla and toasted marshmallows. finishs with a slight roasted malt and bakers chocolate bitterness.

somewhat chalky mouthfeel, but this is welcomed, medium bodied, almost wish it had just a touch more body to it. good carbonation.

drinks easy and quick. nice for a brisk evening by an outside fire, or perfect for breakfast. i highly recommend this if you can get it. one of the better takes on the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2010 22:40:56 | More by dogfishandi

cmq103

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Duvel Belgian Tulip glass

Appearance: Dark brown, almost black in color. A semi-aggressive pour only yielded a small ¼’ tan head that quickly diminished to a thin ring. Syrupy style lacing, which was a combination of the thicker pour mixed with the few remaining bubbles in the head.

Smell: Sweet roasty malts grabbed my attention right away, followed by mild oats, coffee and chocolate. I really like the smell of this one, probably because it mixes two of my favorite style stouts in one, both oatmeal and milk stout. I don’t catch any booziness at all considering it’s a 6.7% ABV.

Taste: Wow, I think I found myself a new favorite, locally brewed, oatmeal milk stout. Roasted malts and oats shine through. The bittersweet chocolate and coffee bean flavors know how to keep in cadence with the malts and oats. The milk sugar sweetness does a balancing act with the mild bitterness present. I can’t wait until the next sip…

Mouthfeel: Creamy smoothness across the tongue combined with a medium body and moderate carbonation. Sweetness and mild bitterness battle it out at the finish. Great residual flavors are left behind on the palate.

Overall: A very well balanced oatmeal milk stout. I can easily see having a few in a sitting. Heck, I wish I had another one right now, but sadly I only bought a 6-pack and this was my last one. I hope I can make my way back to the local beer store to get one more six pack before this seasonal disappears until next year. River Horse clearly has a winner here. A perfectly done oatmeal milk stout brewed in NJ. What else can a beer lover ask for??

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 03:44:26 | More by cmq103