Convict Hill
Independence Brewing Co.

12 oz. bottle poured into a chalice.

Appearance - Pretty dark body with a substantial khaki head on. Almost overflowed my glass. Retention is phenomenal. Lacing is decent.

Smell - Sweet caramel smell first, followed by a chocolate roasted malt aroma. Not a strong smell and not really stout-smelling.

Taste - Very oatmeal-forward. So much oatmeal that a lot of the stout characteristics are lost. Nevertheless, there's a hint of coffee at the start and some milk chocolate in the middle. Lots of oatmeal in the finish and a hefty bitterness as well.

Mouthfeel - Doesn't taste as thick or heavy as I'd expect from 8.5%. High in carbonation, too. Really, it feels too light as a result. Bitter finish is never my favorite in a stout like this, either.

Overall - It's certainly not bad. I am enjoying it, but I wouldn't say it's anything special. The same stout that your local brewery is making right now.

I’m a stout lover, that typically likes the sweeter, barrel aged imperial pastry stouts. This is not that, but is good all the same.

Look - deep, dark brown with two finger head that dissipates at medium speed. Lacing out the wazoo.

Smell - malty, dark chocolate and coffee. Smells like a typical stout.

Taste - it is not sweet, yet not bitter. Follows the nose. Very smooth and drinkable.

Feel - smooth and creamy. Nice level of carbonation. For an out-of-season beer style (it is hot here in OKC this time of year), I drank this very quickly.

Overall - I’m an Okie who is glad to have picked this up in Specs store 171 in San Antonio, TX this weekend. Really cool store. Thoroughly enjoyed and will enjoy the other 5 cans as well.

Convict Hill Oatmeal Stout from Independence Brewing. Single 12 fl oz can, picked up 10/11/25, at Spec’s #69, Live Oak, TX, $2.73(including tax and discount)/$ 0.228/fl oz. On room temperature shelf in store. Reviewed 20/11/25, review 3638. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “7/01/25.” Stored at home at 37 degrees F. Served at 46.5 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 54.6 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Brown (SRM 30), opaque.
Body – Black (SRM 40), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, same with light penetration at the edges, ruby brown.
Head – Average (Maximum 4.1 cm, aggressive center pour). Tan, high density, average retention, quickly dropping to a 0.6 – 1.5 cm jagged lacey crown and thin cap.
Lacing – Good. Wide band of near-microscopic bubbles which is rapidly devolving into torn curtains.
Aroma – 3.5 – Weak toasted malt, no hops, no alcohol (8 % ABV according to the label)
Flavor – 4 – Begins slightly bitter with mild roasted malt, weakly chocolatey, no coffee flavor. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No gastric warming. Ends slightly bitter.
Palate – 3 – Medium: Creamy: Soft but lively carbonation.
Style: Follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 3.75 Uncredited art work. Passible oatmeal stout, slightly above average.

RB transfer

 

 

 

Poured from a can into a glass. It has an almost black color with a dark foamy head and a roasted smell of coffee and barley. It has a strong stout coffee taste and bitter after taste

 

Purchased at wheatsville food co-op on the drag in Austin, TX.
Poured from a 12 oz can I to a glass.

Dark brown almost black with a ruby red tinge. Giant fluffy dark tan head.

Pleasant toasty aroma.flavor is toasty, with caramel and slight coffee notes --- and maybe some cherries and dark chocolate.. Very smooth as expected per the style, but with a slight acidic price

One of the best of the style I've had in a long time, and definitely my favorite dark beer I've had on the trip to austin. I highly recommend this one, it is worth seeking after.

 

Picked up a single. Date on can: 08/01/23.

Pours pitch black and mostly clear, there are some particulates, with an ample brown, frothy head with great retention. A bit of lacing on the glass as you drink. Carbonation is a bit hard to see except on the edge of the glass, but seems average. The look can't get much better, other than the particulates.

Aroma is very roasty and chocolatey with a hint of malty sweetness. Not getting much else but it's a lovely aroma. Exactly what I love about the style.

Taste follows the aroma well. Predominantly dark, roasted malt with notes of cacao and maybe a bit of dark coffee. There is a subtle hoppiness in there as well which adds some additional bitterness. On the swallow some malty sweetness peaks through before the beer dries out and bitters on the tongue with a lasting roasty, cacao maltiness. Never quite comes off as burnt, overly bitter or sweet, a great balance.

This is medium bodied but does feel a bit lighter than expected. The carbonation is average with a bit of zesty on the swallow. Slight syrup, definitely not thin. It's very drinkable, especially for it's ABV.

A simply outstanding example of the style. I'd say it drinks rather simple, but what is there is very high quality. Exactly what I crave when I seek out an Oatmeal stout. Very satisfied and would happily purchase again. Cheers!

EDIT: picked up a six pack. No particulates on the pour for these ones, not sure what was going on with the other one. Updating my look rating to a perfect 5 from a 4.75!

This is a difficult one for me to describe. I don't have a sophisticated palette. Just a really good beer. I think the worst thing about it is the mouthfeel. I have a little trouble swallowing it...maybe it's the carbonation. Kinda fizzes in the mouth and I kinda have to make an effort to swallow.
Definitely taste the alcohol but it's a nice warmth
I usually prefer the initial taste of a beer over the aftertaste but for this one I think I enjoy the taste left over even more than the initial impression.

Smooth, nice roasted flavor, good buzz after just a 12oz can. Nice beer!

Best stout I’ve had the pleasure of drinking. Love the dark color. Pours into a mug with a nice foam that I love to slurp up before overflow. With 8% ABV it lets you know it’s not only good but potent. Not an every nighter but as often my system can handle it’s a go. The very best out there!

Pour: medium head with good retention. Black.
Aroma: Not much, but no complaints.
Mouthfeel: medium, not offensive in any particular way
Taste: deep, dark. Toasted malts. A bit of sweetness, but just enough to help with the bitterness of beer and keep it.from being dry. There's a certain... wholesomeness to it that I can't quite put into words

Solid 4.0/5, would order if I saw it on a menu.

Poured into a pint glass from a can. Beautiful dark color with a fluffy tan head. Smells of coffee, and a little chocolate. Very good taste and the alcohol is hidden well. Notes of coffee

 

 

Poured from a can into a Pint glass.
The beer is almost black with 3 fingers of brown head. Retention is great and there's a lot of lacing.
Strength of aroma is medium. The smell has a lot of roasted and toasted malt, some caramel, some chocolate and a little ash. I detect a slight musty smell. There's a hint of heat from the 8% ABV.
Strength of taste is medium-high. There's a lot of roasty toasty malt, some black coffee and a little ash. Bitterness is slightly below medium.
Feel is thick and chewy. Carbonation and astringency are low. It's quite dry.
Overall, it has some outstanding qualities. I like that it's 8% ABV is almost undetectable. I would prefer that the flavor was a little more complex. I regularly buy this beer due to it's reasonable price and dependability.