Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout
Independence Brewing Co.


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- From:
- Independence Brewing Co.
- Texas, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #132 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #15,165 - Avg:
- 3.92 | pDev: 10.71%
- Reviews:
- 159
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 30, 2022
- Added:
- Feb 12, 2009
- Wants:
- 28
- Gots:
- 131
SCORE
88
Very Good
88
Very Good


Notes:
None
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by detgfrsh from Texas
4.37/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.37/5 rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
From a can. Solid black color with an inch of dark brown head. Roasted malt and chocolate smell. Full bodied with a smooth feel. Roasted malt and chocolate flavors with a some spice. Dry finish. Absolutely delicious, beware the high ABV though
May 30, 2022Reviewed by CTHomer from Connecticut
3.81/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: opaque; very dark brown - almost black in color; 1+ finger finely pored light brown head that receded to a skim cap; very little lacing;
S: deeply roasted grain and coffee with cream;
T: deeply roasted grain with black coffee from start to finish; moderate bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish; hides the ABV well;
O: very smooth;
Sep 26, 2021S: deeply roasted grain and coffee with cream;
T: deeply roasted grain with black coffee from start to finish; moderate bitterness at the end;
M: medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish; hides the ABV well;
O: very smooth;
Reviewed by hoptheology from South Dakota
3.94/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.94/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can dated 10/10/19 poured into Boilier snifter.
Has a really tall beige head of 3 fingers, receding gradually and slowly to one and a half; strong dark chocolate body underneath.
Aroma is heavy on molasses/dark fruit and black ashy malt. Some cardamom and porta-john as well.
Flavor brings acidic roast to the palate, followed by some buried dark fruits and ash.
Feel is creamy and full with lots of carbonation and bite. Moderate alcohol heat. Moderate dryness. High acidity.
Overall, it's a solid recipe but it's not flavorful/unique enough to have me come back to it. It's somewhere between a bitter Russian Imperial Stout and a milk stout.
Apr 09, 2020Has a really tall beige head of 3 fingers, receding gradually and slowly to one and a half; strong dark chocolate body underneath.
Aroma is heavy on molasses/dark fruit and black ashy malt. Some cardamom and porta-john as well.
Flavor brings acidic roast to the palate, followed by some buried dark fruits and ash.
Feel is creamy and full with lots of carbonation and bite. Moderate alcohol heat. Moderate dryness. High acidity.
Overall, it's a solid recipe but it's not flavorful/unique enough to have me come back to it. It's somewhere between a bitter Russian Imperial Stout and a milk stout.
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas
4.13/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Been a long time since I’ve last had this and was a bit surprised I had not reviewed this before.
Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Dark brown color with beautiful creamy head and great lacing. Smell and taste of dark chocolate and berries. Earthy and a bit herbal. Excellent beer and will drink it again soon!
Apr 01, 2020Poured from a can into a tulip glass. Dark brown color with beautiful creamy head and great lacing. Smell and taste of dark chocolate and berries. Earthy and a bit herbal. Excellent beer and will drink it again soon!
Reviewed by Prince_Porter
5/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Best oatmeal stout I’ve ever had hands down. I have a really hard time finding this beer. If I knew a place in my area that had it I would buy it all the time.
Feb 11, 2020Rated by Hemorrhoy
4.44/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Nice stuff. I like.
Feb 03, 2020Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
3.87/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.87/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – the beer pours a deep brown, nearly black color with a thick head of tan colored foam. The head has a great level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a ton of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strong of a roasted malt smell mixed with a nice oaty aroma as well as some aromas of vanilla and bread. Along with these aromas comes a slightly doughy smell and a bit of cola and an odd, sorta off musty smell.
Taste- The taste begins with a very roasty and toasty taste that has a nice smooth creamy oatmeal tastes associated with it. As the taste moves forward the oatmeal gets even more pronounced all while the darker roasted and toasted notes dwindle a bit. At the same time the sweetness increases as well. Upfront, there is a moderate showing of a caramel and cocoa taste which get stronger and stronger as the taste advances. With a bit more grain joining the taste at the end, one is left with a dark and roasty, but smooth oatmeal taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is super thick and chewy with a carbonation level that is rather light. For the tastes, style, and abv. the feel is fantastic and makes for a nice mouth coating-slow sipper.
Overall – Other then the odd aroma of the brew, this is a great oatmeal stout!! Thick, roasty, creamy, sweet, but not too sweet, and nice and warming/inviting.
Dec 21, 2019Appearance – the beer pours a deep brown, nearly black color with a thick head of tan colored foam. The head has a great level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a ton of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strong of a roasted malt smell mixed with a nice oaty aroma as well as some aromas of vanilla and bread. Along with these aromas comes a slightly doughy smell and a bit of cola and an odd, sorta off musty smell.
Taste- The taste begins with a very roasty and toasty taste that has a nice smooth creamy oatmeal tastes associated with it. As the taste moves forward the oatmeal gets even more pronounced all while the darker roasted and toasted notes dwindle a bit. At the same time the sweetness increases as well. Upfront, there is a moderate showing of a caramel and cocoa taste which get stronger and stronger as the taste advances. With a bit more grain joining the taste at the end, one is left with a dark and roasty, but smooth oatmeal taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is super thick and chewy with a carbonation level that is rather light. For the tastes, style, and abv. the feel is fantastic and makes for a nice mouth coating-slow sipper.
Overall – Other then the odd aroma of the brew, this is a great oatmeal stout!! Thick, roasty, creamy, sweet, but not too sweet, and nice and warming/inviting.
Reviewed by chikinhammr from Arkansas
5/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A stout lover’s stout to be sure. Dark, rich, and creamy. My favorite beer from Texas and in my top 5 beers of all time. As I write this as I’m enjoying the 100 rated Founder’s Breakfast Stout and dreaming of Convict Hill. At its (Convict Hill) current score of 88 it is underrated when compared to the more widely distributed Founders Breakfast Stout. All stouts should be oatmeal stouts forever, Amen.
Nov 21, 2019Reviewed by branham1989 from Texas
4.48/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Independence Brewing’s Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout 8% ABV 25 IBU. This Oatmeal Stout pours a dark roasted coffee brown almost black but a little bit of light shines through the bottom of the glass it has a two finger width khaki colored head that dissipates rather quickly. The aroma is of roasted coffee and rich roasted malts intertwined with dark chocolate. The flavor follows the aroma with roasted malts being the backbone of the flavor with hints of dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee before finishing with a slight hop bitterness the mouthfeel is a little thin for a oatmeal stout but not too bad I do wish it was a bit creamier and thicker. 4.50/5
Aug 22, 2019Reviewed by gr8ful from Texas
3.9/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
looks great...deep, deep brown, almost black with rich dark tan head...not quite 1/2 an inch. it's leaving an attractive lace as I sip more and more. poured from a 12 oz bottle
Smell...it's fairly odorless. not bad...I just don't smell much.
Taste...good , solid stout. smooth tasting without that "bite" in the aftertaste that many stouts have. no real flavors stand out but they blend to make a pleasant-tasting fairly typical oatmeal stout, but executed well
it feels a tad thin but not overly so. i can feel the carbonation but not a ton of it...the way I like a stout.
overall...a solid stout I will have again. I'd like to try it on tap.
Jan 16, 2019Smell...it's fairly odorless. not bad...I just don't smell much.
Taste...good , solid stout. smooth tasting without that "bite" in the aftertaste that many stouts have. no real flavors stand out but they blend to make a pleasant-tasting fairly typical oatmeal stout, but executed well
it feels a tad thin but not overly so. i can feel the carbonation but not a ton of it...the way I like a stout.
overall...a solid stout I will have again. I'd like to try it on tap.
Reviewed by Jeffrey_Moreland from Texas
3.33/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.33/5 rDev -15.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
Looks and feels great but taste is a little lacking in flavor. A little over burnt flavors that overtake most of the rest of flavor. I would drink again but definitely not my favorite oatmeal stout. Doesn’t conform to typical oatmeal stouts. More of a porter.
Jan 10, 2019Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
4.05/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
this is a super solid stout, i had no idea it was 8% abv when i was drinking it, but i guess that explains a lot! its beautiful, no frills, and just really bold and flavorful. near black from the tap with a deep tan head on it, so thick and frothy it almost looks nitro. silky looking, some body but not too enormous. the flavor is great, a lot of dark roast, some coffee to it but not real bitter. the interesting thing is the absence of any sweeter grain elements, its just about the dark ones, which i love. i also think this is an excellent example of what oats can do in a beer, its so smooth and uniform and creamy feeling, which is a direct product of the oats in the mash and in a beer like this without adjuncts or barrels or anything, their contribution really stands out. there is no sign at all of the alcohol at all, and it doesnt feel as big as it is at all. raisin, toffee, and char in the background, but this is dry and direct to the point, not a ton of nuance but it isnt needed. i think this is really good, old school in the sense it is just a stout, but it really does stand up on its own and need nothing. a sneaky good beer, honestly one of the technically best i had here. underrated.
Jul 06, 2018Reviewed by Thomas_Wikman from Texas
4.1/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It's the first I am having this Texas Oatmeal Stout and I like it.
Look: Dark brown almost black with a one inch mocca head
Aroma: roasted malts, oats, a little bit of chocolate
Taste: There's roasted malts, chocolate, oatmeal/oats, figs maybe, and a lingering bitterness tasting like coffee/cocoa.
Feel: medium to full body
Oct 04, 2017Look: Dark brown almost black with a one inch mocca head
Aroma: roasted malts, oats, a little bit of chocolate
Taste: There's roasted malts, chocolate, oatmeal/oats, figs maybe, and a lingering bitterness tasting like coffee/cocoa.
Feel: medium to full body
Reviewed by Tstromer from Texas
3.11/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Am I the only that tastes coffee in this stout? With some cocoa taste as well. However, not a beer I would buy again. Did not expect this to be an oatmeal stout too.
Jul 31, 2017Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana
3.99/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pour is jet black, tan head, aroma is dark chocolate, heavy char, some stone fruit.
The taste is really heavy on the dark chocolate and stone fruit - fig, black cherry, really nice. The feel isn't as creamy as you'd expect with an oatmeal stout, otherwise this is a really nice effort by Independence.
Jul 04, 2017The taste is really heavy on the dark chocolate and stone fruit - fig, black cherry, really nice. The feel isn't as creamy as you'd expect with an oatmeal stout, otherwise this is a really nice effort by Independence.
Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout from Independence Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
492 ratings
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