Scratch Beer 15 - 2008 (Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout)
Tröegs Brewing Company

Scratch Beer 15 - 2008 (Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout)Scratch Beer 15 - 2008 (Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout)
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From:
Tröegs Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Oatmeal Stout
ABV:
6%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.26%
Reviews:
92
Ratings:
101
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 19, 2014
Added:
Nov 07, 2008
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  0
Scratch #15-2008 is our first collaborative beer in the Scratch series. We teamed up with St. Thomas Roasters of Linglestown to create a Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout.

The double in the name refers to the espresso (not the alcohol). Scratch #15’s espresso blend is a medium city-type roast featuring beans from three continents. St. Thomas Roasters roasted and ground the beans; we used them in our hopback. At the end of the boil the hot wort passed through the espresso beans to give a lush coffee espresso nose and hints of coffee flavor.

Chocolate, roasted and caramel malt flavors stand out, while the addition of oats gives Scratch #15 a full, round mouth feel. Galena and Ken Goldings hops are added to balance the overall flavor and not drive up the bitterness. The head retention diminishes quickly because of the oils from the espresso beans.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Zorro:
Photo of Zorro
Reviewed by Zorro from California

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sampled thanks to Kegatron.

Dark brown somewhat opaque beer with a good brown colored head.

Smell is chocolate and patent malt, gives the effect I call "Carrots" when it combines with enough hops. Little bit of chocolate and toffee as this warms and some faint vanilla.

Starts out dry chocolate and dry, with a silky mouthfeel. Chocolate balanced with patent malt gives this a smoky chocolate flavor. Higher hopped than it seems at first.

Mouthfeel is silky as this style should be.

Very user-friendly beer, not too sweet or too bitter, it is just right.
May 10, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by pwoody11 from Delaware

Sep 07, 2014
 
Rated: 4.75 by Durandal_777 from Pennsylvania

May 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by t0rin0 from California

Mar 04, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by DmanGTR from New York

Jan 31, 2013
Photo of orangesol
Reviewed by orangesol from Pennsylvania

2.56/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
* First and foremost, this rating is based on how this one is drinking right now, not in the past. *

The beer that would become Java Head. Again, big thanks to Deuane for providing me with yet another old Scratch Beer tick. Shared this one with spoolinvw earlier tonight.

A - Pours deep dark brown, bordering on black, with a small film of tan head leaving very little, if any, lace down the glass.

S - Smells of very little coffee - it is all but gone now - smoke, dark roast and quite a bit of oxidation. The second I smelled this beer I knew this beer was going to be a chore to finish.

T - Starts off with some dark roast and light smokeyness quickly giving way to a ton of oxidation - both cardboard and sherry like - that never really goes away, lingering on the palate long after the finish.

M - Medium-Heavy body with moderate to low carbonation. Thin feel with plenty of oxidation.

O - This one has taken the proverbial fall off of a giant cliff, never to be seen again. We ended up drain pouring about half the bottle, I didn't want to but it was that bad. I actually feel bad that I am adding this rating as it will be the lowest it has ever received. If you still have one of these now is the time, I hope it is better for you than it was for me.
Nov 01, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Tyrawlings from Ohio

Feb 11, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Beertracker from Oklahoma

Jan 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Khazadum from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 2 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Dec 15, 2011
Photo of twiggamortis420
Reviewed by twiggamortis420 from Texas

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle from dashirey back in Nov 2010, lets see how this one held up...pours dark brown with a modest cap of mocha colored head.

Roast and chocolate are both really big here. Light dusting of dark fruit and cocoa powder. Not much oxidation for a 3 year old beer!

Taste is still delicious, surprisingly. Little bit of cardboard has crept in and all traces of hops are long gone, but the malt base is quite solid. Lots of roast for an oaty stout and the sweetness cant quite keep up. Kind of dusty and mineraly on the finish while the mouthfeel is not smooth and creamy like the best of the style. I have no doubt this one was better fresh, but still quite fun to drink.
Jul 03, 2011
Photo of dimenhetfield
Reviewed by dimenhetfield from Florida

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Received as an extra in a trade. After a few years in the bottle this beer really as seemed to mature quite a bit. The aroma isn't quite like your typical stout. It has malty licorice qualities about it. The flavor definitely has that chocolate oat twist but with an almost boozy feel. Sort of hard to put my finger on it at the moment, but I like it.
Jan 29, 2011
Photo of TheManiacalOne
Reviewed by TheManiacalOne from Rhode Island

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Acquired from Imstillthegman courtesy of the BA Vets BIF, so a big "Thank You" goes out to him. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a very thin beige head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains a lot of coffee and chocolate along with roasted malts and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste very malty and creamy with flavors of black coffee and dark chocolate that dominate the whole way through. There's a little bit of smokiness in the background along with a faint but complementary hops presence. The after-taste is semi-sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, this beer is a very poundable stout that is worth drinking for a long time.
Oct 21, 2010
Photo of kkipple
Reviewed by kkipple from South Carolina

3.42/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Massive Mega Scratch Beer Tasting @ the Meat Meet, 8.21.2010. Thanks Unclejedi!

Scores reflect how the beer is drinking NOW, and not when released.

'Nother Oatmeal stout from Troegs, this one normal ABV and sane. Nice nose with cocoa-roast and smoove, looks a muddy brown-red with a low head. Grainy-raw now in the aroma, thick. Tastes... odd. Metallic oats with lots of dry, earthy chocolate and tastes dirty. Not totally a miss, but there are hints of sourness here and it sort of bounces around in your throat. Hmmmm.... Bold flavor, to be sure. Not totally sure what to make of this. Would have liked to try it fresh. Jangly, to be sure.
Aug 22, 2010
Photo of sisuspeed
Reviewed by sisuspeed from New Hampshire

3.65/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Served at cellar temperature.

Poured into a tulip glass. Big, black body with a decently sized tan head. Light lacing left behind.

Coffee, chocolate and a slight metallic tinge on the nose. Almost appears to have some port/fruit notes as well. Maybe a sign of oxidation? Slight wood presence as well.

Chocolate, caramel and well roasted malts in the taste. Again there are these slightly odd fruit notes in the background that I can't put my finger on. Chocolates are sweet, but the finish is slightly bitter with coffee. Somewhat acidic and dry. Interesting.

The mouthfeel is on the bitter side, slightly dry. Creamy from the oatmeal yet still prickly from somewhat low carbonation.

Drinkability is still pretty good for this stout. I never got to try it fresh, but this cellared version is still drinking quite well. A little acidic and dry at times, but the flavor is interesting and keeps my hand coming back to the glass. Would only want a bottle of this.

Overall, it was cool to get a chance to try this beer. It's currently drinking pretty well, but I feel that it has already started to go downhill somewhat. If you still have bottles I suggest you open them soon. Still a tasty treat from Troegs and a fun series.
Apr 20, 2010
Photo of abuliarose
Reviewed by abuliarose from New Hampshire

3.6/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Received in trade, so thanks is in order for the opportunity to try this one. Poured into a snifter, revealing opaque dark body with a slight light crema head. Some lacing. Smells like licorice and roasted malts with some earthy undertones.

Tastes not very sweet at all, but with some noticeable lactose character. Very earthy flavors from the roasted malt and oatmeal and a slight metallic tinge. Mouthfeel is decently smooth, but still somewhat grainy from the heavy dark malt presence. Medium to heavy-bodied. Decently drinkable.

Overall, it's one of the better straight-up oatmeal stouts I've had. Glad I could try it.
Apr 20, 2010
Photo of Buebie
Reviewed by Buebie from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5
This was either an extra from RThomas436 or mday, I cant recall.

Poured from a brown bottle into a pub glass. A semi hard pour creates about an inch of brown foam, receding to leave a solid cap of retention across the surface. Lace consists of thin even coating streaks. Color is black, no light penetration except for a very mild maroon highlight at the edge of the glass..

Aroma contains a good amount of chocolate with roasty grains and oats. Quite a bit of chocolate actually with a touch of sweetness and toffee as well as vanilla beans and cocoa nibs.

Taste is delicious, filled with cereal grain roasty chocolate flavors as well as some mild sweet grains and malt backbone. Little snip its of vanilla, mild coffee, as well as a nutty flavor. Oats are not as forward in taste as they were in aroma. Mouthfeel is sharp with mild carbonation bite and a slick lightly creamed coating across the tongue.
Finishing a bit more bitter with roasty chocolate grains and a lightly smokey finish.

A delicious brew, that even 2 years old is fresh-like tasting. Very good oatmeal stout.
Mar 30, 2010
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I think this was an extra from HopDerek - trying to work through a backlog of stout. Served in my Half Acre pint glass.

A - A finger of light mocha foam that dissipates to a thick cap. Some solid lacing. Black body with a hint of brown at the bottom of the glass.

S - Dark fruits, chocolate, caramel and molasses. Very sweet and not particularly roasty at all. Alcohol is well-hidden. Maybe the tiniest bit of roast coffee in the periphery.

T - Taste is mild cocoa with a touch of oatmeal. There's a bit of burnt coffee flavor in the background. Sweet caramel finish. Not bad, but not particularly interesting.

M - Very smooth, albeit a bit thin even for 6%. You can feel the oatmeal influence. Carbonation is slightly too tingly. More porter-like.

D - I was able to down the 12oz bottle in record time. I can see why the made an amped up version for Scratch 19, as this is a kind a boring - albeit reasonably well-crafted - beer. Still holding up quite well after 2+ years.
Feb 10, 2010
Photo of Monkeyknife
Reviewed by Monkeyknife from Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from the bottle a dark brown with reddish highlights and and a sparse tan head. No lacing with this one.

Light aroma of sweet chocolate malts, toffee, and dark ripe fruit.

The taste follows the lead of the aroma with chocolate malts, dark ripe fruit, coffee, chocolate milk, and toffee. Finishes clean.

Thinner bodied, dry, and lightly carbonated.

A very easy-drinking Oatmeal Stout from Troegs and definitely worthy of a try.
Jan 21, 2010
Scratch Beer 15 - 2008 (Double Espresso Oatmeal Stout) from Tröegs Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 101 ratings