Dark Star
Fremont Brewing Company
- From:
- Fremont Brewing Company
- Washington, United States
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #69 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,999 - Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 8.33%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 161
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 14, 2026
- Added:
- Jan 13, 2011
- Wants:
- 37
- Gots:
- 55
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Dark Star is inspired by the wandering tribes scattered through the terrible journey of time and space and adrift in the dark matter between the spaces of then and now. Dark Star is a dark, mysterious yet silky oatmeal stout of grand proportions balanced by a firm hop handshake … go ahead, enjoy the journey … Because Beer Journeys Matter!
Down & Dirty: 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, C-60, Carafa 2, and Chocolate malts with Flaked Oats and Magnum and Willamette hops.
IBU: 50
Color: Black
Aroma: Dark chocolate, caramel, coffee
Flavor: Espresso, cocoa, roasty
Availability: January 1 – February 29
Down & Dirty: 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, C-60, Carafa 2, and Chocolate malts with Flaked Oats and Magnum and Willamette hops.
IBU: 50
Color: Black
Aroma: Dark chocolate, caramel, coffee
Flavor: Espresso, cocoa, roasty
Availability: January 1 – February 29
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Wasatch:
None found.
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey
4.42/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.42/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
(shaker pint nitro pour at Central Saloon in Seattle last week... review from recollections)
took a top up or two to build in the glass; fantastic creamy cap of pale brown foam cresting over the lip of the glass... roasty, rich-malty, almost amaro-like dark sugar character on the nose, carrying over imprinting the same character upon the palate, but with an unmistakable alcohol infusion; vaguely cakey, confectionary undertone... levity to the thickish body owing to the gas mix infusion; bit of slickness and warmth in the finish... overall a very tasty, very oatmeally stout I wanted a refill of but thought better of, having to catch a plane soon (2549)
May 14, 2026took a top up or two to build in the glass; fantastic creamy cap of pale brown foam cresting over the lip of the glass... roasty, rich-malty, almost amaro-like dark sugar character on the nose, carrying over imprinting the same character upon the palate, but with an unmistakable alcohol infusion; vaguely cakey, confectionary undertone... levity to the thickish body owing to the gas mix infusion; bit of slickness and warmth in the finish... overall a very tasty, very oatmeally stout I wanted a refill of but thought better of, having to catch a plane soon (2549)
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Some_Beer_Sometimes from California
3.1/5 rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
3.1/5 rDev -24%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Stouts just aren’t my thing, generally. I tried. Tastes like vague coffee and dark cherry. Vague toasty caramel malt and molasses on the finish. Too watery. Not much going on. Flavor profile isn’t bad. It’s just not well-executed.
Feb 14, 2026
Reviewed by Braunmeister_1943 from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Received in a trade with @snaotheus !
L- Pours a viscous ebony with a dense light tan head.
S- Cappuccino, dark bread and a slight date aroma.
T- Coffee, dark roasted malt, sweet caramel flavors.
F- Lush mouthfeel, subtle carbonation, tannic finish.
O- Absolutely superb Imperial Oatmeal Stout!
Feb 08, 2026L- Pours a viscous ebony with a dense light tan head.
S- Cappuccino, dark bread and a slight date aroma.
T- Coffee, dark roasted malt, sweet caramel flavors.
F- Lush mouthfeel, subtle carbonation, tannic finish.
O- Absolutely superb Imperial Oatmeal Stout!
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
4.19/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.19/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Black color with a big, nice-looking beige head. Roasted malt and coffee in the aroma. Smooth and silky mouthfeel. Malty taste with pleasant roasted bitterness.
Aug 18, 2025
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Can poured into a Mountain Rambler Brewery snifter
A: Pours basically black with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little nice lacing.
S: Roasty, earthy char, a touch of smoke, espresso, a little dark chocolate, resinous and spicy notes, dark fruit, molasses, and burnt sugar.
T: Roasted malt, earthy char, faint smoke, espresso, super dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, plum and cherry, a touch of resin and spice, and a little burnt sugar sweetness.
M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth.
O: Rock solid straight forward Imperial Oatmeal Stout. I'd love to see some variants that build off this base.
Aug 06, 2025A: Pours basically black with a frothy tan head that settles to a light layer and leaves a little nice lacing.
S: Roasty, earthy char, a touch of smoke, espresso, a little dark chocolate, resinous and spicy notes, dark fruit, molasses, and burnt sugar.
T: Roasted malt, earthy char, faint smoke, espresso, super dark chocolate, molasses, dark fruit, plum and cherry, a touch of resin and spice, and a little burnt sugar sweetness.
M: Full body, mild carbonation, creamy smooth.
O: Rock solid straight forward Imperial Oatmeal Stout. I'd love to see some variants that build off this base.
Reviewed by minterro from California
3.97/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Bought at San Diego Wine and Beer. ~3$ for 12 oz can. Canned 01/13/25, consumed 06/01/25. Left out at RT for ~30 mins. Poured into a Spiegelau stout glass.
A&S: The pour seems thick. Brown black beer with a creamy chocolate-colored head when initially poured. I was surprised the head faded as quickly as it did. The aroma contains: cocoa powder, earthy hops, dark coffee, and brown sugar.
T&M: Pretty straightforward. Coffee is the main player in the flavor, but I also get black licorice, smoke, cranberries, and dark chocolate. A good amount of bitterness in the finish, semi-dry. Not as thick as I expected from the pour. For an oatmeal stout, the texture leaves something to be desired. Close to full bodied, but not super smooth, actually quite crisp.
Overall: Glad I gave it a try. Not an incredible beer, but worth the price.
Jun 01, 2025A&S: The pour seems thick. Brown black beer with a creamy chocolate-colored head when initially poured. I was surprised the head faded as quickly as it did. The aroma contains: cocoa powder, earthy hops, dark coffee, and brown sugar.
T&M: Pretty straightforward. Coffee is the main player in the flavor, but I also get black licorice, smoke, cranberries, and dark chocolate. A good amount of bitterness in the finish, semi-dry. Not as thick as I expected from the pour. For an oatmeal stout, the texture leaves something to be desired. Close to full bodied, but not super smooth, actually quite crisp.
Overall: Glad I gave it a try. Not an incredible beer, but worth the price.
Reviewed by Bishop from Wisconsin
4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Can dated 1/9/24 from BIF @roguer
Pours jet black with foamy head. Smells of roasted malt, tobacco, coffee, and slight peat smoke. Taste is roasty, slightly smokey with dark chocolate bitterness. Mouthfeel is creamy thanks to the oats and the finish is smokey bitterness. Very easy drinking, fantastic non-BA stout.
Mar 11, 2025Pours jet black with foamy head. Smells of roasted malt, tobacco, coffee, and slight peat smoke. Taste is roasty, slightly smokey with dark chocolate bitterness. Mouthfeel is creamy thanks to the oats and the finish is smokey bitterness. Very easy drinking, fantastic non-BA stout.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.49/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Canned 8/26/24; drank 1/20/25 @ Roadrunner Lodge.
Opaque brown/black appearance.
A rough pour yielded a huge tan head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lacing remained.
Chocolate, cream, oatmeal & faint fresh earth notes in the nose.
Creamy medium-thick mouthfeel.
Cream, oatmeal, chocolate, mild fresh earth & faint raspberry flavors.
An excellent imperial oatmeal stout; I could drink these all day.
Jan 27, 2025Opaque brown/black appearance.
A rough pour yielded a huge tan head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lacing remained.
Chocolate, cream, oatmeal & faint fresh earth notes in the nose.
Creamy medium-thick mouthfeel.
Cream, oatmeal, chocolate, mild fresh earth & faint raspberry flavors.
An excellent imperial oatmeal stout; I could drink these all day.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!