Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout

bottled. dark brown to black pour with a nice coffee like coloured head. oatmeal stouts always seem to surprise people with there smooth yet complex bodies and overwhelming coffee and chocolate tones that come through in this version. this stout is extemley easy to drink and more than well balanced through out.

THOUGHTS: A really nice beer. Almost like a training beer for imperial stouts. The flavor was nice but a little watered down. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a nearly opaque, dark brown that was black in the glass with a small, light brown head that mostly diminished. The aroma was heavy chocolate syrup and lighter mild coffee and light pine hops. The initial flavor was lightly sweet, acidic and bitter, while the finish was moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic and moderately bitter with and average to long duration. The flavor was chocolate with a little coffee, then piney hops and roasted malt with a pretty good balance. The medium to full body was a little creamy, but also a little dry. with soft to fizzy carbonation and a moderately astringent and almost soapy finish.

Thick, rich, and complex? 91 percentile? Really? I am glad I got 2 bottles, because I apparently really need to try this one again. The bottle I had was very watery and unremarkable. Nothing pronounced in the armoa or in the flavor. No oatmeal flavor at all. No chocolate, no coffee, no hops, just bland. I will give it another shot after reading these reviews though...hopefully bottle 2 is better, because I really wanted to like this one!

355 ml bottle. Pours a dense opaque blackish brown with an adequate tan head. Rich roasted malt nose with a touch of chocolate. Medium to full body. Complex mix of roasted barley, dark chocolate and coffee with a smooth dry finish.

Reasonably dark pour with minimal tan head. Aroma of oats and chocolate. Body was on the lighter side and the flavor wasn’t as dominant as I had expected. I wouldn’t say it was a let-down but it wasn’t everything that I had hoped for. Probably wouldn’t buy again but overall a decent brew.

pours a "can’t even see through it" black with a dark tan head. smells of coffee. Taste coffee/ chocolate like but without being overpowering. Has a bitter side to it but definitely sweet. I ate it with pancakes/ maple syrup and it was great!

old rating: 6/4/7/3/15 - 3.5 pour is a jet black with a thin, creamy beige head, excellent lacing. smell is of cocoa, coffee, caramel, some toasted oats, vanilla, and malts. taste is semi-watery, bitter sweet chocolate, some coffee, a touch of roasted nuts, slightly sour, oats, and some vanilla, end is somewhat dry and nicely bitter.

Tap @ Toronado. 1/4/08. Pours black with a light brown ring. Nose is big and roasty, and smoky. Taste is sweet and light and overall decent.