C.O.B.
Free Will Brewing Co.

C.O.B.C.O.B.
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From:
Free Will Brewing Co.
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #109
ABV:
8.3%
Score:
87
Ranked #16,438
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 12.89%
Reviews:
54
Ratings:
301
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 20, 2022
Added:
Nov 24, 2012
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  61
Coffee Oatmeal Brown

This unique and complex seasonal ale is free will’s best-selling seasonal. This very strong brown ale has a delicious malty backbone with notes of caramel, brown sugar and graham cracker. Aged on a unique and complex bean that provides additional peppery and molasses like flavors in addition to the classic coffee presence in the aroma and on the palate.

IBU: 20
°P: 20.6
SRM: 20
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by micromaniac129:
Photo of micromaniac129
Reviewed by micromaniac129 from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Came to me in a tulip, very dark brown in color a mocha head sat on top and was pretty tall.
Aroma has a lot of coffee grounds in it. Some toasted malts and sweetness too.
Drinks like the nose with a big coffee taste. But as it warms the coffee mellows and some roasted malts maybe even a bit of toffee come through. Hints of cocoa mingles in the taste too.
Drinks a heavy medium on the palate, smooth but alittle washed out.
A very good beer.
Jun 22, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of Steve_Studnuts
Reviewed by Steve_Studnuts from Pennsylvania

3.09/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Looks more like a red ale, but the head retention is phenomenal and so is the lace. Nose is almost all coffee. There's some sweetness underneath. Molasses. Taste, too, is a little too coffee-forward, but not quite as overwhelming as I'd have guessed based on the nose. Sweetness balances things out reasonably well, but aging beer on coffee beans seems like a better idea on paper. My own French press experiments with coffee bean infusion almost always go sideways in a hurry. Also drinks a little thin for such a big beer. Maybe it's the light carbonation. Regardless, not my favorite; I was hoping for a Sumatra Mountain replacement (when's the last time Founders made that?) but this ain't it.
Nov 20, 2022
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A thanks to the creator of the canquest, woodychandler, for this beer. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a hazy brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is bursting with coffee. Taste is coffee, chocolate. some brown sugar. Feels medium/full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.
Jan 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.81 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2021
Photo of JJKBeerLvr
Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 16 oz can into pint glass in April 2021. There was no bottled on or drink by date on the can, but I drank this about 1 week after purchasing it.

Appearance: Deep Amber with slightly hazy tint and a light tan head. The head was less than 1 finger when poured, and was gone quickly, There was very little lacing on the glass.

Smell: Strong coffee aroma with some caramel aroma as well. Some spiciness and malty aromas, but with very little hop aroma. Overall the coffee aroma dominates.

Taste: Interesting taste, dominated mostly by the coffee flavors. Some sweetness like licorice or caramel taste, with some other sweet flavors like chocolate. There is very little hops flavor. This is sweet and typical of brown beers.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and strong alcohol which matches the 8.3% listed on the label.

This is an interesting and different brown ale. It is dominated by the coffee flavor, but it also has typical sweetness like other brown ales. The coffee flavor hints of a coffee stout, but this is more sweet and does not have the same body as a stout. I would buy this again.
Apr 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by parkwood from Pennsylvania

Mar 15, 2021
 
Rated: 4.18 by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

Sep 02, 2020
Photo of rudiecantfail
Reviewed by rudiecantfail from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
16 ounce can poured into a Duvel tulip glass.

L---Medium/light brown color with a thin tan head that faded quickly and didn't leave much lacing.

S---Strong coffee. Mild graham cracker & brown sugar.

T---Wifey pegged this one without even knowing what it was. She said strong coffee, some bitter chocolate and mild oatmeal. I'll agree with her, but I actually knew what I was drinking.

F---Medium bodied with light carbonation. One for a winter night.

O---A quality effort by a quality brewery. I'd get this one again and I'm interested in the variants.
May 04, 2020
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

1.66/5  rDev -57.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.25 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 1.25
Pours brown with a little head. Aroma is mild coffee, and dirty socks. Flavor is cold brew coffee, and feet. Good body and feel. Overall taste like coffee brewed through sweaty gym socks.
Jul 11, 2019
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

3.99/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a medium to dark reddish brown with a thin off-white head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of lightly toasted and biscuit malt, graham cracker, coffee and a hint of caramel. Flavor is toasted and caramel malt, coffee, lactose, graham crackers and brown bread. Medium bodied with light creaminess. I am not usually enthusiastic about lighter beers with coffee (although I really like coffee stouts and porters), so I approached this with light trepidation. No need, this is very tasty. A bit on the sweet side, but not cloying and the semi-sweet malt, crackery and bready flavors really support the coffee well. Nicely balanced with clear coffee notes, but in harmony with the malt. Not as heavy as a lot of oat beers, but with a pleasant mouth feel. I really liked this and would get it again if it was available locally. Nicely done.
Feb 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.14 by cambabeer from New York

Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 2.5 by Shenk87 from Pennsylvania

Dec 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.54 by Moosiac from Pennsylvania

Dec 01, 2018
Photo of larryi86
Reviewed by larryi86 from Delaware

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 oz can, dated 11/8/17, poured into a pint glass

A- A lighter clear brown with a two finger off white head.

S- Coffee, nutty, some toffee, caramel, some graham crackers.

T- Coffee, caramel/toffee, hints of graham crackers, slightly earthy.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A tasty brown ale with coffee. Held up pretty good for almost a year old.
Sep 16, 2018
Photo of arrowsmith_
Rated by arrowsmith_ from Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very light color for a brown ale. Unmistakable brown ale aroma and flavor however. Very creamy and satisfying feel.
Jun 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

May 27, 2018
Photo of Brew_42
Reviewed by Brew_42 from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reddish brown with a clean head

Smells like fresh coffee with caramel malts

Taste is malty with a big coffee punch. Tasty beer.

Mouthfeel- medium carbonation, medium body

One of the betree uses of coffee in a non-stout beer. Grab it if you see it.
Mar 29, 2018
 
Rated: 3.91 by Budlum from Maryland

Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.8 by luke12345 from Pennsylvania

Jan 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by SouthCrescent from Pennsylvania

Dec 27, 2017
C.O.B. from Free Will Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 301 ratings