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Ipswich Oatmeal Stout
Ipswich Ale Brewery
- From:
- Ipswich Ale Brewery
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #32 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 93
Ranked #4,022 - Avg:
- 4.16 | pDev: 9.62%
- Reviews:
- 422
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 12, 2024
- Added:
- Dec 03, 2001
- Wants:
- 160
- Gots:
- 120
Deep, rich and malty with hints of chocolate and coffee. It's what espresso would be if it had the gumption to be beer. We use two different hop additions, specially selected crystal malts, roasted barley and oatmeal to give it a soft and silky mouth feel. Makes a great dessert or meal.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BuckeyeNation:
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa
4.45/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.45/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Dark side of the moon black with the slimmest slice of lightening along the bottom edge of the pint glass. The mochachino colored crown is thick and rich, having already started to lay down an impressive array of intricate lace.
This is exactly how a stout (oatmeal or otherwise) should smell. IOS is wonderfully roasted malty, with plenty of dark chocolate and freshly ground coffee beans. Given the three hop additions and the 60 IBUs, I'm surprised that hops aren't more prominent. Perhaps they will be on the palate.
This is great beer! Forget subtlety. Stouts need to be big and bold and... stout, dammit! With such a massive explosion of flavor that shocks the taste buds and then seeps in like melted chocolate, what's not to like? And I thought Ipswich IPA was delicious (it is, by the way).
Highly hopped stouts are often amazing (see St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout). The bitterness and hop flavor seem to highlight the dark maltiness even more and make the beer POP! on the palate. This Mercury Brewing brew is full-to-bursting with intense chocolate and iced espresso. Whatever hops were used (at least one of the C-hops, no doubt) provide a relentless undercurrent of bitter citrus peel that is fandamntastic.
The mouthfeel is good, not great. In the end, it needs just a touch more creamy fullness and a little less carbonation.
The hop barrage and the ABV probably disqualify Ipswich Oatmeal Stout as a session beer. That's okay, I rarely session anyway. This expertly crafted ale is a tribute to its brewers and is a beer that I would love to have access to. If you do, consider yourself fortunate.
Mar 18, 2008This is exactly how a stout (oatmeal or otherwise) should smell. IOS is wonderfully roasted malty, with plenty of dark chocolate and freshly ground coffee beans. Given the three hop additions and the 60 IBUs, I'm surprised that hops aren't more prominent. Perhaps they will be on the palate.
This is great beer! Forget subtlety. Stouts need to be big and bold and... stout, dammit! With such a massive explosion of flavor that shocks the taste buds and then seeps in like melted chocolate, what's not to like? And I thought Ipswich IPA was delicious (it is, by the way).
Highly hopped stouts are often amazing (see St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout). The bitterness and hop flavor seem to highlight the dark maltiness even more and make the beer POP! on the palate. This Mercury Brewing brew is full-to-bursting with intense chocolate and iced espresso. Whatever hops were used (at least one of the C-hops, no doubt) provide a relentless undercurrent of bitter citrus peel that is fandamntastic.
The mouthfeel is good, not great. In the end, it needs just a touch more creamy fullness and a little less carbonation.
The hop barrage and the ABV probably disqualify Ipswich Oatmeal Stout as a session beer. That's okay, I rarely session anyway. This expertly crafted ale is a tribute to its brewers and is a beer that I would love to have access to. If you do, consider yourself fortunate.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Darkmagus82 from Texas
4.09/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a deep brown color with a small head of light brown head. The head has a decent level of retention, fading slowly over time and leaving a light level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strong of a roasted malt and oaty smell mixed with some coffee and a bit of brown sugar. Along with these smells comes notes of fudge and crème. Other light notes of brown bread and caramel are there as well, giving a dark and roasty smell overall.
Taste – The taste begins with a very roasty and toasty flavor mixed with lots of coffee and some nice oat flavors. Other flavors of toast and roast as well as some caramel and cocoa are there as well. There is a bit of a brownie like flavor as well as some notes of nuttiness. Toward the end the sweetness and roastiness increase a bit, leaving one with a rather dark and roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is thick and chewy with a moderate carbonation. For the big rich flavors the feel is good and makes for a nice slow sipper.
Overall – A decent oatmeal stout nice for a cooler fall day. Rich in flavor and very representative of the style.
Jul 01, 2023Appearance – The beer pours a deep brown color with a small head of light brown head. The head has a decent level of retention, fading slowly over time and leaving a light level of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is strong of a roasted malt and oaty smell mixed with some coffee and a bit of brown sugar. Along with these smells comes notes of fudge and crème. Other light notes of brown bread and caramel are there as well, giving a dark and roasty smell overall.
Taste – The taste begins with a very roasty and toasty flavor mixed with lots of coffee and some nice oat flavors. Other flavors of toast and roast as well as some caramel and cocoa are there as well. There is a bit of a brownie like flavor as well as some notes of nuttiness. Toward the end the sweetness and roastiness increase a bit, leaving one with a rather dark and roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is thick and chewy with a moderate carbonation. For the big rich flavors the feel is good and makes for a nice slow sipper.
Overall – A decent oatmeal stout nice for a cooler fall day. Rich in flavor and very representative of the style.
Reviewed by jeffdr123 from Florida
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
From a can from Beer of the Month. Pours a thick, dark brown with a sizeable head. You can smell the roasted malt, and the taste is even more dominant. Also a good bit of roasted chocolate. A very flavorful beer. I drank it side by side with a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout, which is smoother with a vanilla sweetness. But Ipswich held its own - and was its own version of stout.
Jan 15, 2023Reviewed by KenjiN from Massachusetts
5/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I gave a mixed review to a previous sample of this beer; it turns out that was an improperly-stored sample. This is my updated rave review for Ipswich Oatmeal Stout:
This brew is black and viscous, with an expansive, lingering tan head.
The aroma is rich and earthy. Something about the nose also makes me want to describe it as creamy.
The texture of the brew is creamy, too. The carbonation level is perfect.
The beer abounds in delicious semisweet chocolate flavors. The finish is long, with malt and hop flavors melding beautifully.
This is a glorious beer, with some of the richness of an imperial stout but more drinkability. This is very possibly my favorite stout!
Dec 10, 2022This brew is black and viscous, with an expansive, lingering tan head.
The aroma is rich and earthy. Something about the nose also makes me want to describe it as creamy.
The texture of the brew is creamy, too. The carbonation level is perfect.
The beer abounds in delicious semisweet chocolate flavors. The finish is long, with malt and hop flavors melding beautifully.
This is a glorious beer, with some of the richness of an imperial stout but more drinkability. This is very possibly my favorite stout!
Reviewed by WoodBrew from Ohio
4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I am trying this beer off the tapper at the brewery as part of the "Classic" four sample flight. It poured a dark opaque with nice tan cascading head that left a spotty lace. The scent had subtle malt and roast notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. There was a subtle sweet roast and chocolate malt base with hints of coffee presence. The mouthfeel was smooth in body with good carbonation. Overall it was a great beer.
Dec 05, 2021Reviewed by brewme from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Reminded of this beer by the How many Beers of Fame have you reviewed? post. I did not realize that I had not review this brew before. I have had this many times before, looking forward to trying again.
Mar 20, 2021Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland
4.18/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.18/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pitch black appearance with a large, mocha colored head and lots of lacing; a real treat for the eyes. Charred malt aroma, with notes of coffee, smoke and bittersweet chocolate. Roasted malts rule the taste, but sufficient hops help maintain a good balance. Smooth, full bodied mouthfeel that is nicely carbonated. Dry, bitter, lingering finish. Very enjoyable.
Nov 13, 2020
Ipswich Oatmeal Stout from Ipswich Ale Brewery
Beer rating:
93 out of
100 with
944 ratings
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