ketchepillar (475), Viña del Mar, Chile Oct 16, 2008 Aroma is rather disappointing, kinda caramelly poopy. And I guess oaty, but in a way that makes the horse on the bottle seem very appropriate. Flavor is much much better. Very rich and sweet, still with lots of caramel/toffee. Finish is good and lingers, caramelly with some good hop bitterness. Palate is silky, but ever so slightly sticky and with a tiny alcohol bite. Kinda salty. hillfiiiiire (283), Madison, Wisconsin, USA Oct 16, 2008 Pours a dark black with a thin tan head. Aroma is a little gross, but is nutty and chocolate like. Flavor is pretty solid thoughwiht some coffee flavors and nice strong presence of licorice and chocolate. Finishes with a little alcohol burn, but is good. Palate is rather full bodied and tasty. Enjoyable. crowderm (275), Recklinghausen, Germany Oct 15, 2008 Black pour with a very thin tan head. Slightly vinous, salty aroma. Also the standard chocolate, caramel and malt note. Delicious chocolate caramel flavor, that is nicely rounded out by the mildness of the oatmeal. A bit of coffee, licorice and hop bitterness too. Dry, clean finish with a hint of booze coming through, but not really in bad way. Mouthfeel is slightly on the thin side, but still pretty hearty. Good stout. jmikolich (405), Athens, Ohio, USA Oct 15, 2008 22oz, bottle, Pour is a thick black leaving barely any head, taste is super smooth and balanced finished with a roasty taste that lingers. not bad ST not bad at all. Fall 2008 fiver29 (703), Cleveland, Ohio, USA Oct 13, 2008 Side by side bombers. An 07 and 08. This rating is for both. The 07 pours pitch black with a dark tan head that does not last at all. The 08 pours pitch black with a light tan head that lasts a few minutes. The 07 has a nice aroma of coffee, caramel, molasses, and sweet brown sugar. The 08 also has a nice aroma with fresh coffee, caramel, and light brown sugar. Both brews have a heavy body. Flavor for the 07 is smooth molasses, brown sugar, and coffee flavors melded together nicely. The 08 has fresh coffee, light hops, light brown sugar, and sweet caramel. Overall this is a fine brew. Its excellent fresh and has some complexity at 1 year. I’m not sure I’d let this go past a year. Its delicious. Angeloregon (2024), Portland, Oregon, USA Oct 13, 2008 22 ounce bottle from By the Bottle in Vancouver, WA--Another worthy offering from Southern Tier. Pours an almost headless opaque black body with tinges of burgundy around the edges. Chocolate, nutty, boozy nose. Oats shine through and help balance super bold malts. Hops also contribute to spicing and leveling the weight of this beast. Very nice complexity to this beer. Subtle dark fruit flavors backdrop a thick chocolate spine with a clean soft finish. Benjiehorn (15), Chicago, Illinois, USA Oct 13, 2008 A fantastic beer from Southern Tier. The Imperial Oat pours very dark with little white head, and very nice lacing on the glass. (Poured into a brandy snifter.) The aroma was heavy on chocolate and coffee, with hints of vanilla, caramel and oatmeal. The flavors work your way through the palate with dark fruits, oatmeal, coffee, chocolate, and a tinge of sweetness.
Southern Tier does a great job with their seasonal bottles and this is one that I think goes above and beyond the expectations. Great beer! Jine (889), Nutley, New Jersey, USA Oct 12, 2008 bottle. Poweful brew. Black as midnight on a moonless night. Smell is stultifyingly strong. Delicious. Southern Tier wins today.
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