St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
McAuslan Brewing

St-Ambroise Oatmeal StoutSt-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout
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From:
McAuslan Brewing
 
Quebec, Canada
Style:
Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #62
ABV:
5%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,399
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 11.06%
Reviews:
657
Ratings:
1,318
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 01, 2024
Added:
Sep 18, 2001
Wants:
  105
Gots:
  175
Brewed from 40 percent dark malts and roasted barley, this intensely black ale carries strong hints of espresso and chocolate. Oatmeal contributes body and a long-lasting mocha-colored head to this well-hopped beer.
• Dense mocha-coloured head
• Chocolate/espresso flavour, medium sweet with a distinct floral aroma
• Ideal accompaniment to chocolate desserts
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by headlessparrot:
Photo of headlessparrot
Reviewed by headlessparrot from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5
I was quite eager to try this McAuslin's St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, both for its reputation and the fact that I've never had an oatmeal stout before. All I can say is "wow." This is an absolutely amazing brew.

The beer poured from the bottle (with freshness dating marks both on the label of each individual bottle and on the exterior of the six pack I purchased) into my pint glass, a quite dark - almost opaque - brew with just some hints of ruby around the edges. The head is initially a significant light brown-ish mass with good retention; it dwindles to about a finger relatively quickly, but stays at that level and leaves an exceptional amount of lacing. A beautiful looking beer in a glass, no doubt.

The smell... Well, the smell is absolutely heavenly. The dominant scent is a very sweet espresso-like flavour, with hints of regular coffee, milk chocolate, toffee and molasses. There's some toasted oat present, smokiness and malts, and soft hops. Absolutely breathtaking. I could sit here and just smell this brew for an hour and still not pick apart all the wonderful scents emanating from it.

The taste is initially exceptionally smooth (thanks to the oatmeal) and sweet, revealing tastes evocative of the brew's smells - smokey with espresso and milk chocolate at the forefront, some malts and hops noticeable more in the background. After a few seconds, the hops become more distinct and well-defined and the beverage takes on some bitterness as it finishes; it leaves a certain bitterness in the mouth that's a little dissapointing, but also traces of the chocolate and espresso that make you pine for another sip (which is great, until you reach that last sip and desperately want another).

The mouthfeel is downright exceptional; the level of carbonation is just about perfect and the oatmeal contributes to a silky smooth body that is an absolute treat to drink. Drinkability is good - perhaps the bitter finish might slow down less experienced beer lovers, but it's otherwise hard to find anything wrong with this beer. It is an outstanding brew that has encouraged me to seek out more oatmeal stouts in the future - a can't miss.
Jan 14, 2006
More User Ratings:
Photo of paylstep
Rated by paylstep from Canada (ON)

1.6/5  rDev -60.7%
look: 1 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 4
decent value beer
Jan 01, 2024
 
Rated: 3.96 by MakerMachiav from England

Nov 23, 2023
Photo of Spark420
Rated by Spark420

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Silky smooth mouthfeel. Little too sweet for my palate. Nice treat once in awhile.
Feb 12, 2023
Photo of jonphisher
Reviewed by jonphisher from New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Courtesy of @coronaeus

Whoa! This thing poured so quiet and slow with this monster medium brown head. I knew this would have retention the second I poured it but holy cow this thing just doesn’t quit. The thickest, creamiest densest cap with what is possibly the longest retention I’ve seen. Sheets of lacing all the way to the end. Perfection.

Nose is dark fruit; black cherry; and bitter roasty dark chocolate.

The taste brings more chocolate and roast; dark fruit hits and coats the tongue first but then the roast, verging on charred, comes full swing; bitter bitter chocolate. As it warms a licorice note emerges as well.

This is very smooth on the palette, the oatmeal is evident; creamy verging on nitro feel. The long and linger bitter finish is very intense for such a small beer. Like drinking an imperial stout without the abv; really wild.

Super bitter and roasty stout at 5 % and drinkable sipper beer. This thing is awesome.
Oct 24, 2022
Photo of A_dogg000
Rated by A_dogg000

2.03/5  rDev -50.1%
look: 5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2
Beer looked aesthetically pleasing, however it tasted “off”. Surprisingly hoppy with sour notes as well. Somewhat disappointing
Aug 01, 2022
 
Photo of Whyteboar
Reviewed by Whyteboar from Michigan

4.29/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured pitch black with a mocha colored head that left copious amounts of lacing.
Nose was cocoa, coffee and molasses, with a hint of smokyness. Wonderful aroma!
Taste rather followed; the oatmeal may contribute but it's certainly lost in the sharp coffee and dry cocoa flavors. Some spicy flavor plays around on the edges and smoke keeps coming and going. Tasty.
The feel is somewhat thinner than I expected for an oatmeal stout, but I'm not going to complain. It's very tasty and that trumps the feel.
Liked having this, and would bee quite happy to drink it again - provided I can find it again.
Feb 28, 2022
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I bought a can at the LCBO in Ontario Canada 473ml at 5%.
Poured into the glass beautiful 2finger creamy head smell is nice
Smooth and creamy tasty
Dark chocolate and coffee yeah probably espresso coffee flavors.
Enjoyable to drink this beer leaving a lace all around the glass. With a low to medium bitterness level
Very smooth
Nice looking stout beer .
Overall an easy drinking oatmeal stout
Cheers.
Dec 24, 2021
Photo of BPVandenbroek
Reviewed by BPVandenbroek from Canada (AB)

4.11/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout is as black as pitch, the way a stout ought to be. It's thick, supports a dense, coffee and cream colored head. Head shows good retention, being in no rush to go anywhere.

The first thing I notice is how St. Ambroise smells like an oatmeal stout which is to say it has that rich, luxurious depth that can only come from having oats in the grist. Roasted grains, caramel, and a sort of toasted nuttiness add to the aroma's overall depth. Earthiness and ripe dates round out the profile before moving into a finish that is European in its hoppiness. Hop finish is at once leafy and peppery in nature.

On the tongue, St. Ambroise is thick, rich, roasted, and promising. Again, the oatmeal comes through nicely, adding something slick, rich, and full to the mouthfeel. Flavors of roasted coffee lead, making room for rich, dark caramel and roasted nuts. The finish gives more pleasant roasted grain, offering a dry, lasting finish.

St. Ambroise tastes like a really well executed, well balanced oatmeal stout. I know, “Duh, as it should,” but how many times have we all had a beer advertising itself as a certain style of beer only to have it not taste like that kind of beer. St. Ambroise does it so well that I would say if you want to know what an oatmeal stout should taste like, St. Ambroise is one of the brands you should try.
May 30, 2021
Photo of LeBron_James
Reviewed by LeBron_James from Canada (ON)

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
This beer is my go to for oatmeal stout. It looks great and head retention is okay. The smell is of dark roasted malt and a kind of bready malt. The taste follows and is very good. Dark roasted malt and this beer is not bitter by my taste and also not too sweet. It isn't terribly complex but definitely an outstanding beer. The feel is great with nice carbonation and it's super drinkable. I love this one and will buy it regularly.
Jan 11, 2021
Photo of InspectorHound
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

3.82/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Black with a 2 finger beige frothy head. After 5 minutes the head is holding on around the edge and turning to lace in the middle of the glass.
Smell: Roasted malt, coffee, dark fruits and a slight alcohol smell.
Taste: Bitter dark coffee and smoke.
Feel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation.
Follow the serving temperature recomendations on this beer. If drank straight from the fridge it's smoke flavours get lost in mineral water sharpness, but when the beer warms up the smoky character shines through. This beer earns a B+
Nov 02, 2020
 
Rated: 4.23 by DannyBaldoni from Canada (QC)

Sep 20, 2020
 
Rated: 4.12 by HopBelT from Belgium

Jun 28, 2020
 
Rated: 4.73 by Jon421 from Canada (ON)

Jun 26, 2020
Photo of Blasterson
Reviewed by Blasterson from Canada (ON)

4.32/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Look: Black. Head was borderline whipped-cream in thickness, and a pleasant tan. So thick I could write in it with the last few drops from the can.

Smell: Nothing special, which didn't give me high expectations. I could smell the toasted malts obviously, and a hint of smoke.

Taste: here is where this beer shines, which is obviously the most important quality. I mostly drink dark lagers and am not a huge fan of ales in general, but this one was excellent. For a dark beer it had a dry, smoky, coffee flavour devoid of the sometimes overly sweet caramel notes you usually get with toasted malts. Very rich and almost savory. A meal in a can.

Feel: thick and creamy. How I like my beers.

Overall, a superior dark beer.
Jun 21, 2020
 
Rated: 4.22 by Teion from Canada (AB)

Jun 11, 2020
 
Rated: 3.69 by hockeypuck from Maine

Feb 19, 2020
Photo of altstadt
Reviewed by altstadt from Canada (BC)

2.94/5  rDev -27.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Opaque dark brown. Almost no head, just a tan fringe around the edge of the glass. No lacing. Can't see any bubbles rising.

Sweet smell with a bit of malt. Swirling the glass kicked up some barnyard and a little more malt.

Main flavor is dark roasted malt, but not very much of it. This has a darker roast flavor profile than Guinness stout. Turns to a bit of bitters in the mid and aftertaste.

Relatively mild carbonation leads to very little foaming. Heavy body.

Basic flavor profile for a North American stout. Not as clean or "light beer" as Guinness. Thankfully the barnyard smell didn't show up in the taste.
Oct 27, 2019
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From old, undated notes. Poured from the bottle.

Black liquid; a touch of light passes 'round the edges.

Nice dark khaki head; strong lacing.

Oats & nuts in the nose; very bold nose.

Medium thin mouthfeel.

Great flavor; tons of nuttiness, tons of roasted oats.

Thin mouthfeel makes it a rare oatmeal stout that's super easy to drink, yet full of flavor.

These tend to be my least favorite stouts, but this is a home run.
Oct 09, 2019
St-Ambroise Oatmeal Stout from McAuslan Brewing
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 1318 ratings