Southern Tier Oat

BIG beer! pours as dark as the filthiest bourban stouts ive ever had (i know this isnt one, but its just as black). murky, muddy head gives way to tangled spider webs of cottony lace with a few remaining bubbles on the perimeter of the glass. aroma of chocolate and cola, and hearty oatmeal intermingled with the beginnings of the multitude of alcohol found inside. mouthfeel is silky and smooth, clinging to every crevice of my palate. initial flavor is of strong booze (hardly seems 11% though) and spicy hops that fade gradually and just as your mouth begins to feel clean, the oats and chocolate return to soothe and comfort. the echo between aroma and aftertaste, juxtaposed with the initial flavor shows true balance and complexity, the flavor is a journey that peaks with the immediate bitterness then ebbs with the soft, wonderful finish. this is very substantial, seems physically HUGE like a barley wine, a few sips is like a blow to the head. a masterpiece of imperial stouts, and a centerpiece for southern tier amongst a varied and amazing roster.

Beautiful beer. Wonderful aroma of cocoa, coffee, and roasted malt. Flavor adds some sweat, overripe, dark forest fruit. Texture is so creamy that it makes one groan. A small, warm taste of alcohol and even a bit of bit rounds out this beer perfectly. Definitely a beer to buy and serve to friends, or even enemies considering the price and availability.

Pours black with thin head. Beautiful appearance and the lacing is superb. Aroma is first dark fruit and then cocoa. The oat does make it very smooth and creamy. Mouthfeel is very nice but not exquisite - doesn’t linger forever... Flavor is a nice blend of dark fruit, chocolate malt, and a slight bitterness. The high ABV is concealed pretty well.

Bottle. Opaque blackness with mahogany around the edges. Aroma is coffee, burnt oatmeal, roasted malts, dark chocolate and cocoa. Taste is burnt malts, roasted malts, oatmeal, dark, bittersweet chocolate, and strong coffee. Alcohol begins to come through as bit as well. Body is creamy, slightly sticky and medium-full overall. Finishes with more dark chocolate notes, becoming more bitter, dark roasted malts, burnt oatmeal, oily coffee and cocoa. Tasty!

Opaque dark brown pour. Light tan head. A little thin...well not really but compared to some other imperial stouts that pour like motor oil it surprised me how fluid it was. Very creamy aroma with toasted malt and coffee grounds. Bitter roast with milky sourness. Coffee with some cherry and tree fruit. Alcohol is there, but not overpowering and generally well hidden considering its 11%. Bitterness lingers on the tongue a bit.

Tasted 10/2/08. 22oz bomber. Pitch hue with a thick beige head. Big nose! Cocoa and toast. Toffee and a slight woody note. Anise and a touch burnt. Full bodied with a big malt character. Cocoa and coffee. Sticky syrupy. Thick oily palate. Bitter coffee notes. Cloying finish. Rich, full flavors. Smooth malts as it warms. Lotta palate.

Another one of the HUGE stout series, I love what they are doing here. All go in different directions but this one is the closest to the center. It seems like the others are flavored versions of this. Dark and probably thicker than the rest, and for obvious reasons it is the least sweet. The ABV is right there, but I have no problem with that The smokiness is too much for me, so I am going to stick with the coffee & chocolate offerings.

Bottle thanks to BMan1113VR via captaincougar. Looks: Pepsi. The sides of my glass are somewhat coated. NOse: nutter butter, booze, smoke, darkness. Mouthfeel: crazy silky smooth wow, the oats have done freaking wonders with this beer but at the expense of a mouthfeel that is "not that thick." Taste: Dark chocolate, smoke (charred wood), expresso beans, vanilla extract, oatmeal cookie with chocolate chunks on the aftertaste.