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Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
Anderson Valley Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Anderson Valley Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #70 - ABV:
- 5.8%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,453 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 11.36%
- Reviews:
- 1,026
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Oct 29, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 08, 2001
- Wants:
- 166
- Gots:
- 400
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding


Notes:
The deep ebony color, voluptuous mahogany head and bold, roasty flavors in our Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout are what serious beer drinkers expect from this style. Aromas of freshly baked bread, espresso, and dried cherries meld seamlessly with rich toffee flavors and a creamy mouth feel to create an unparalleled drinking experience.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by JokersAce
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A well carbonated black body with a brief brown head. Roasted smokey malt profile that takes on dark choclate, coffee, tobacco, and dark fruit notes with a fair amount of sweetness throughout. Pretty enjoyable oatmeal stout with an complex and satisfying flavor profile more reminiscent of a Russian imperial stout than an oatmeal stout.
Sep 27, 2022Reviewed by Roguer from Connecticut
4.01/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.01/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Good head production and decent retention. Attractive enough beer overall.
Very traditional roasty aroma with a hint of oxidation (two year old can). Prune, burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, raisin, toast, molasses, and perhaps a bit of licorice. Really excellent aromatic profile considering the modest ABV.
Appropriate for the ABV, this isn't a particularly thick stout, although it does come across as fuller bodied than you might expect. Very smooth and silky - again, quite appropriate as an oatmeal stout.
Flavor profile is really smooth. While the nose implies some strong roasty bitterness, it's quite even on the palate. Granted, those notes tend to smooth out over time, and this is an aged can. Tasting notes of prune and raisin immediately, followed by licorice, caramel, molasses, grape, toast, light bitter chocolate, and coffee, leading to more dark fruit and cola on the finish (seemingly influenced by age and a touch of oxidation). Very flavorful, although the profile is a little bit fruitier and sharper than I'd prefer; think of this as an evolution of the Guinness profile, not a radical mutational leap.
Overall a very nice beer, especially for the ABV.
May 01, 2022Very traditional roasty aroma with a hint of oxidation (two year old can). Prune, burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, raisin, toast, molasses, and perhaps a bit of licorice. Really excellent aromatic profile considering the modest ABV.
Appropriate for the ABV, this isn't a particularly thick stout, although it does come across as fuller bodied than you might expect. Very smooth and silky - again, quite appropriate as an oatmeal stout.
Flavor profile is really smooth. While the nose implies some strong roasty bitterness, it's quite even on the palate. Granted, those notes tend to smooth out over time, and this is an aged can. Tasting notes of prune and raisin immediately, followed by licorice, caramel, molasses, grape, toast, light bitter chocolate, and coffee, leading to more dark fruit and cola on the finish (seemingly influenced by age and a touch of oxidation). Very flavorful, although the profile is a little bit fruitier and sharper than I'd prefer; think of this as an evolution of the Guinness profile, not a radical mutational leap.
Overall a very nice beer, especially for the ABV.
Reviewed by Christianriveraaa
3.56/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.56/5 rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark black pour with about a finger length of foam risen to the surface.
Smell: The smell was instantaneous, it has a strong sweet oatmeal, chocolatey smell.
Taste: Notes of oatmeal followed by chocolate. Kind of reminds me of a Persian dish called lavashak - acidic fruity especially one that's a Burberry flavor.
Feel: light to medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: It's a good experience but wouldn't buy again. Better than most oatmeal stouts but then again - oatmeal stouts aren't my cup of tea. I like milk sweet stouts.
Mar 07, 2022Smell: The smell was instantaneous, it has a strong sweet oatmeal, chocolatey smell.
Taste: Notes of oatmeal followed by chocolate. Kind of reminds me of a Persian dish called lavashak - acidic fruity especially one that's a Burberry flavor.
Feel: light to medium bodied with light carbonation.
Overall: It's a good experience but wouldn't buy again. Better than most oatmeal stouts but then again - oatmeal stouts aren't my cup of tea. I like milk sweet stouts.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.75/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
355 ml bottle, from Voldby Købmandsgaard. Pitch black colour, moderate tan head. Pleasant aroma of moderately roasted malts, caramel, oats, mild coffee and woodwork, hints of chocolate and liquorice. Nice flavour too, medium dry, with the same elements as the aroma. Very moderate hops. Smooth mouthfeel.
May 03, 2021Reviewed by andypeters1971 from Georgia
4.62/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.62/5 rDev +14.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Surely the Premier version of the style. This is the perfected art of what an oatmeal stout is supposed to be. I can't imagine will ever be able to top it
Apr 07, 2021Reviewed by sjdevel from Utah
3.52/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev -13.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
LOOK - dark brown / black - no light shines through - nice frothy 2 finger head out of the 12oz can - recedes quickly but some lacing and activity thereafter
SMELL - some tobacco, coffee, and chocolate - woodsy / burnt wood - not very aromatic but hints
TASTE - bitterness from burnt grains greet you at the beginning - it gets just a touch sweet before the bottom drops out and it goes completely dry and bitter - a lot of charred grains in this one - not very rich on flavor - the coffee/chocolate/wood/and caramel are all in there but pretty light
FEEL - pretty thin really for a stout - activity is not the best / feels pretty flat
OVERALL - an ok stout - I have seen/heard about this for quite some time - I think that it is over-rated - not a go to stout for me - it is ok to try - it is bitter and chalky without really having the powerful flavor to back it up - I can't really get any type of hop presence - an oatmeal stout should have a much fuller body and creamy mouthfeel - not impressed
Nov 20, 2020SMELL - some tobacco, coffee, and chocolate - woodsy / burnt wood - not very aromatic but hints
TASTE - bitterness from burnt grains greet you at the beginning - it gets just a touch sweet before the bottom drops out and it goes completely dry and bitter - a lot of charred grains in this one - not very rich on flavor - the coffee/chocolate/wood/and caramel are all in there but pretty light
FEEL - pretty thin really for a stout - activity is not the best / feels pretty flat
OVERALL - an ok stout - I have seen/heard about this for quite some time - I think that it is over-rated - not a go to stout for me - it is ok to try - it is bitter and chalky without really having the powerful flavor to back it up - I can't really get any type of hop presence - an oatmeal stout should have a much fuller body and creamy mouthfeel - not impressed
Reviewed by BWED from Colorado
3.84/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12 oz. cab poured into a tulip glass.
A- Deep brown, with a light brown head. Retains at 1/4" with some minimal lacing left behind.
S- Sweet notes; caramel/toffee, vanilla. Undertones of roasted malt and burnt sugar.
T- Sweet, toffee and brown sugar, with a mild bitterness crisping it up.
M- Nice full oaty body. Thick but still drinkable. Bitterness and some roast level out the sweetness.
O- Pretty tasty, well balanced stout.
Oct 26, 2020A- Deep brown, with a light brown head. Retains at 1/4" with some minimal lacing left behind.
S- Sweet notes; caramel/toffee, vanilla. Undertones of roasted malt and burnt sugar.
T- Sweet, toffee and brown sugar, with a mild bitterness crisping it up.
M- Nice full oaty body. Thick but still drinkable. Bitterness and some roast level out the sweetness.
O- Pretty tasty, well balanced stout.
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.35/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Based on a review from 2012. Poured this into a shaker glass from a can.
A: pours a dark brown/black body with nice, off-white head with nice retention and lacing
S: sweet, milk chocolate smelling beer
T: fairly light, milk chocolate taste; a little thin, but pretty good
M: thin bodied and pretty smooth; ok
D: nice feel and taste combo; nice drinking beer overall; decent beer
Feb 28, 2020A: pours a dark brown/black body with nice, off-white head with nice retention and lacing
S: sweet, milk chocolate smelling beer
T: fairly light, milk chocolate taste; a little thin, but pretty good
M: thin bodied and pretty smooth; ok
D: nice feel and taste combo; nice drinking beer overall; decent beer
Reviewed by EnderFett11 from Virginia
4.23/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured moderately hard from a can into a snifter glass, resulting in a few fingers of frothy head, slowly fading to nothing. Dark brown color. Pleasant malty oatmeal smell. Taste is similar, with the malt fading and becoming more sweet as it warms. Light bodied with light carbonation. A pleasant oatmeal stout.
Feb 28, 2020Reviewed by mikeinportc from New York
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Can marked 19274 . =Sept 1, 2019 ? 5.7 %abv . Does it vary, or is this the new # ? ???
Let warm 10 minutes before opening.
Dark cola-brown, with about one finger of tan head. Leaves a little lacing.
Smell is roasted almond+walnut, some cola, a little cocoa, wet earth and decaying wood. Smells really good. I want to dive in.
Taste is light char , chocolate liqueur minus most of the sweetness, a hint of walnut (outer coating of the nut meat), and a light cola flavor near finish. Light bitterness that shows up in the latter half.
Feel is light, slightly watery, initially smooth, with some very fine sharp carbonation coming in late, and lingering awhile.
Overall , enjoyable,and would have it again. I do wish it had a little more of the namesake oatmeal.
Jan 30, 2020Let warm 10 minutes before opening.
Dark cola-brown, with about one finger of tan head. Leaves a little lacing.
Smell is roasted almond+walnut, some cola, a little cocoa, wet earth and decaying wood. Smells really good. I want to dive in.
Taste is light char , chocolate liqueur minus most of the sweetness, a hint of walnut (outer coating of the nut meat), and a light cola flavor near finish. Light bitterness that shows up in the latter half.
Feel is light, slightly watery, initially smooth, with some very fine sharp carbonation coming in late, and lingering awhile.
Overall , enjoyable,and would have it again. I do wish it had a little more of the namesake oatmeal.
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana
3.78/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz undated can poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 5.7% ABV per can. The beer pours dense black with only a hint of light penetration and short lived khaki head. The head recedes to a thin ring and a few bubbles. The aroma is sharp, almost ashy roasted malt with just a hint of dark chocolate. The taste follows with ashy, very dark roasted malt followed by some tangy, almost fruity (berry, cherry etc.) flavor before it simply slips away without any real fanfare. Moderate bitterness is minimized by the tangy edge. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, good. I don't mind a little tangyness in a stout, but I don't care for it front, center and throughout.
Jan 05, 2020Reviewed by Gordono from Nevada
3.91/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.91/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Black, opaque in color. Dark sticky head. Aromas of roasted grain. Bitter, slight sour, dark chocolate (I get the dark cherry comparison especially on the finish), slight burnt taste but not in a bad way, and sweet, yet dry. Much better than I’d expected considering the modest price point.
Jan 04, 2020Reviewed by nicholas2121 from Ohio
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing Company, with an ABV of 5.80% This English Oatmeal Stout pours out of a 12oz glass bottle into a pint beer glass. The color of this brew is a deep brown color with a nice light brown head. Has the look of black coffee, not saying that is a bad thing. There is also a nice amount of lacing to this brew, it sticks to the side of the glass well. The smell is Rich with Roasted goodness mixed with sweetness. You pick up on a lot roasted grains and malts in the smell of this brew. So far Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is a nice inviting brew, now for the taste. It is Bold with flavors lot of deep roasted sweetness in this brew. You can definitely pick up on the oatmeal in this brew. This is well put together oatmeal stout. The body is a solid medium. There is nothing overpowering about this brew, it has a super nice balance to it. This brew would nice with a meal or a cool day. The mouth feel is Bold, Rich, Roasted, Clean, Smooth and Refreshing. Overall I am going to give Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout a Solid 4 out of 5. I would definitely look this brew up again giving the opportunity to. Anderson Valley Brewing Company, did a real nice job with this oatmeal stout.
Jul 12, 2019Reviewed by German-Helles from Wisconsin
4.49/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
This 12oz. bottle was poured into a 20oz weizen glass. The beer is black with a pretty two finger pillow of dark tan foam that lasted for minutes giving way to a nice layer of foam and no lacing on the glass.
The aroma is of sweet chocolate and a hint of coffee is all I picked up.
The taste is coffee first giving way to a bit of sweet chocolate.
The feel is thick and creamy and a touch dry at the end of the sip. It seem like a light carbonation on the tongue.
This is an easy stout to drink, it's not a high ABV, it would be perfect after a meal, coffee and dessert all in one!
Mar 23, 2019The aroma is of sweet chocolate and a hint of coffee is all I picked up.
The taste is coffee first giving way to a bit of sweet chocolate.
The feel is thick and creamy and a touch dry at the end of the sip. It seem like a light carbonation on the tongue.
This is an easy stout to drink, it's not a high ABV, it would be perfect after a meal, coffee and dessert all in one!
Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout from Anderson Valley Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
2666 ratings
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