Samuel Smiths Oatmeal Stout

Brewed by Samuel Smith
Style: Stout
Tadcaster, England

Smells very heavily of deep dark malts and a bit of hops, but only the ’normal’ amount for this type of beer. Very, very dark, there was a very nice bit of fine head on the pour but it fades too quickly. The taste is a hazy layering of smokey malt, mid to end finishing hops and alcohal taste. Quite a nice blend, but each element is quite distinct in the flavour. Extreamely smooth, with an aftertaste of each of the flavours for just and instant. A great brew!

Pours black with medium-sized head. Faint aroma of nuts and raisins. Taste is sweet, almost no bitterness, you have your basic dark malts but no specific flavor stands out, drowned out by the sweetness I guess. At least the aftertaste is fairly dry. Very creamy mouthfeel. Didn’t really dig this one.

Pours very dark with a nice lingering tan head. There aroma is just nice, but the flavor is deep and complex. The palate is thick and creamy, and the flavor is bittersweet without being overly sweet. This beer would be better with a higher alcohol content and perhaps some more bitterness.

550ml bottle -drank out of a tulip glass, large tan quickly fading head and great lacing. Aroma of roasted dark malts & oats. Flavor matches aroma with the oatmeal and dark chocolate standing out. With a little cocoa powder for good measure. Palate is creamy, then dry and ashy. A classic and tasty stout.

Anna says this is why she thought she didn’t like stouts. After tasting a few other stouts, nothing really stands out here. Seems to be pretty widely distributed so I could see myself drinking it again if faced with a limited selection. Otherwise I’d pass.

nice head on this one. nothing especially remarkable about this stout, but it’s pretty good all around. doesnt quite have the roastiness or bite of some other oatmeal stours. it’s only 5% abv, maybe a suped up version of this stuff would be killer.

In the past, I have condemned anything coming out of England. I’m still suspicious of English ales, but Samuel Smith actually gets it right from time to time. Stouts are my favorite style and I do not give a free pass to any. This is good. Probably my third time trying, but first time rating. Sweet / bitter balance is supreme with this one.

355ml dark brown bottle, as pictured. Colour is pitch black, with a big, frothy beige head. Great retention, generous lacing. Very pretty beer. ;=) Aroma of chocolate, roasted malt and hazel nuts. White coffee note, too. Heavy-bodied stout with thick, creamy mouth feel. Low carbonation, just right. Flavours include caramel, licorice and coffee. Not too sweet, not too bitter - extremely well balanced - and no "coal like" notes as in Guinness Draught and some other stouts. Dry, bitter finish and lingering espresso after taste. Heavier in style than their "Taddy Porter", a supreme winter beer. One of the great stouts out there, and, with the bitter finish, highly sessionable. A great beer, from a great brewery, of Britain.