-
Stop lurking! Log in to search, post in our forums, review beers, see fewer ads, and more. — Todd, Founder of BeerAdvocate
Oil Man
Elevation Beer Co.
- From:
- Elevation Beer Co.
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,633 - ABV:
- 10.8%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,918 - Avg:
- 4.04 | pDev: 9.16%
- Reviews:
- 45
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 16, 2022
- Added:
- Jan 23, 2013
- Wants:
- 19
- Gots:
- 49
Much like the "sweet light crude oil" from the eastern plains of Colorado- this beer pours a deep black with a tantalizing off-white head. Aromatics of sweet malt and bourbon envelope the nose like the sunset of the eastern plains. The malt profile continues through the palate from beginning to end with subtle hints of chocolate, coffee, and of course bourbon. This is a true beer for the malt and bourbon lovers alike.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by UCLABrewN84:
Reviewed by UCLABrewN84 from California
3.98/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle pour at the bottle share held at Chloe's inside Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.
Bottle # 00772. Bottled Winter 2012.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight smoke flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a solid barred aged presence.
Apr 06, 2013Bottle # 00772. Bottled Winter 2012.
Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and bourbon aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight smoke flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a solid barred aged presence.
More User Ratings:
Rated by MountainBeerMan from Colorado
5/5 rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Not a beer snob like the others.
I just love it.
Dec 16, 2022I just love it.
Rated by Captain69 from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
just recieved order from Beer Drop tis was one of the best stouts malty and creamy great beer to enjoy
Jan 20, 2022Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
3.82/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Im glad I get the barrel flavors at least to some extent but this is just boring and kinda cheap. Still pretty good and drinkable as well still but idk. I guess I just personally wouldn't find this to be too much of a treat.
Dec 18, 2021Reviewed by Wxb1111 from Rhode Island
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark appearance. Very faint bourbon aroma. Nice head that disappears quickly. Taste is a very stout with a hint of bourbon. Overall it is a very good bourbon barrel aged stout with a subtle finish.. nice abv!
Dec 23, 2020Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.21/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750 ml bottle into a snifter. Bottled 11/19/18, had 5/1/20.
Pours near black and opaque, with a one inch foamy head and some foamy lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, char, vanilla, malt, bourbon, light coffee, light licorice. Flavors of malt, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, oak, char, caramel, a fair amount of bitterness, light licorice. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
Really opens up when it warms, especially the barrels. Liked the coconut version a little better, because of the coconut, but this is just as good. Gets better as you work through the bottle. Very enjoyable and well worth a purchase.
May 07, 2020Pours near black and opaque, with a one inch foamy head and some foamy lacing. Aromas of roasted malt, chocolate, char, vanilla, malt, bourbon, light coffee, light licorice. Flavors of malt, chocolate, bourbon, vanilla, oak, char, caramel, a fair amount of bitterness, light licorice. Smooth, a very good full body, well carbonated.
Really opens up when it warms, especially the barrels. Liked the coconut version a little better, because of the coconut, but this is just as good. Gets better as you work through the bottle. Very enjoyable and well worth a purchase.
Reviewed by ScruffySouthpaw from New York
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Served in a wine glass from a 750ml bottle.
Appearance: Dark black color with medium bubbles to the body. Tan head off the body which rose maybe one finger's length. Dropped to almost nada after two or three sips. No lacing at all due to the slightly thin body.
Smell: Heavy brown sugar, smells warm...as if it was melted in a saucepan with the coffee brewing next to it.
Taste: Complex and a touch sweet...brown sugar which hits your with a touch of strong coffee and whiskey shot to go with it. Lightly malty with butterscotch finish which becomes addicting.
Mouth: Sticky brew with a soft carbonation. Sweet finish which lingers in the mouth cheeks for a very very long time.
Overall: Beer hit the spot, reminds me a bit too much of two other similar imperial stouts I have had. Light and strong al at once, Salud!
Aug 13, 2019Appearance: Dark black color with medium bubbles to the body. Tan head off the body which rose maybe one finger's length. Dropped to almost nada after two or three sips. No lacing at all due to the slightly thin body.
Smell: Heavy brown sugar, smells warm...as if it was melted in a saucepan with the coffee brewing next to it.
Taste: Complex and a touch sweet...brown sugar which hits your with a touch of strong coffee and whiskey shot to go with it. Lightly malty with butterscotch finish which becomes addicting.
Mouth: Sticky brew with a soft carbonation. Sweet finish which lingers in the mouth cheeks for a very very long time.
Overall: Beer hit the spot, reminds me a bit too much of two other similar imperial stouts I have had. Light and strong al at once, Salud!
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
4.03/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
$ 16.23 (Including shipping)/750 mL bottle ($ 0.639/oz) from Tavour, Seattle, WA. Reviewed 5/15/19.
“BOTTLED ON 11/19/18” stamped on label. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.5.
First pour – Dark polished horse-chestnut brown, clear.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque.
Head – Large (Maximum 7.5 cm, aggressive center pour), khaki, high density with heaped rocks above the glass rim, average retention, diminishing to an eleven mm crown and cap. An irregular band of extremely tiny bubbles remains after head retraction is complete.
Lacing – Excellent. Continuous band of extremely tiny to small bubbles with some plumes. See also above.
Aroma – 4 - Initially strong bitter chocolate, mellowing to a weaker milk chocolate. As the temperature reaches 56 degrees, a bit of bourbon appears.
Flavor – 4 - Begins moderately bitter with a roasted chocolate malt flavor rather than a chocolate bar flavor. No alcohol (10.8% ABV) appears directly in the taste but appears ephemerally in the post-swallow exhale. No dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Full, creamy, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 - The label states the hops, fermentables, and the (generic) aging barrels used, along with food pairings, ABV, and IBUs, all potentially useful data. The appearance is excellent, the aroma and flavor very good, and the palate above average for an American Impy stout. Overall, a very good and well above average brew.
May 15, 2019“BOTTLED ON 11/19/18” stamped on label. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 4.5.
First pour – Dark polished horse-chestnut brown, clear.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque.
Head – Large (Maximum 7.5 cm, aggressive center pour), khaki, high density with heaped rocks above the glass rim, average retention, diminishing to an eleven mm crown and cap. An irregular band of extremely tiny bubbles remains after head retraction is complete.
Lacing – Excellent. Continuous band of extremely tiny to small bubbles with some plumes. See also above.
Aroma – 4 - Initially strong bitter chocolate, mellowing to a weaker milk chocolate. As the temperature reaches 56 degrees, a bit of bourbon appears.
Flavor – 4 - Begins moderately bitter with a roasted chocolate malt flavor rather than a chocolate bar flavor. No alcohol (10.8% ABV) appears directly in the taste but appears ephemerally in the post-swallow exhale. No dimethylsulfide, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Full, creamy, lively carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 4.25 - The label states the hops, fermentables, and the (generic) aging barrels used, along with food pairings, ABV, and IBUs, all potentially useful data. The appearance is excellent, the aroma and flavor very good, and the palate above average for an American Impy stout. Overall, a very good and well above average brew.
Reviewed by mmilyko from Nevada
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
If you told me this was an excellent dry stout, I would very much agree and thank you very much.
I’m not getting the bourbon barrel aging at all, so should I lower my score because of that.....Nah,
but keep it in the barrels a little longer next time Elevationers.
May 12, 2019I’m not getting the bourbon barrel aging at all, so should I lower my score because of that.....Nah,
but keep it in the barrels a little longer next time Elevationers.
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Shared at the meeting last night not sure by who, but thanks!
Rich inky black in color with a thin tan head. Rich roasty chocolate with bits of vanilla and light bourbon notes.
Nov 11, 2018Rich inky black in color with a thin tan head. Rich roasty chocolate with bits of vanilla and light bourbon notes.
Reviewed by papposilenus from New Hampshire
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a 750ml bottle, dated 11/28/17. Served in a tulip.
Pours a used-motor-oil chestnut black, impenetrable to light in the glass, with three fingers of pouffy, swiss cheese-bubbled, mocha fluff. Retention is just pretty good, leaving random swooshes and spots of lacing.
Medium-robust nose of fudgy chocolate frosting and bitter nuts.
Tastes of dark bittersweet chocolate, licorice and bitter chicory. Dry, grainy, roasted malt with relatively heavy-handed addition of bittering hops for a stout.
Feel is smooth and creamy going in but acidic and drying going down. Not much more than medium bodied and well carbonated. Zero booziness detected.
Overall, a worthy dry stout and I do enjoy a dry stout. The barrel character is so subtle that I totally forgot about it until I went back to read the label, so it never even got a mention in my tasting notes. Now that I think of it, I guess I can smell it in the glass.
Oct 24, 2018Pours a used-motor-oil chestnut black, impenetrable to light in the glass, with three fingers of pouffy, swiss cheese-bubbled, mocha fluff. Retention is just pretty good, leaving random swooshes and spots of lacing.
Medium-robust nose of fudgy chocolate frosting and bitter nuts.
Tastes of dark bittersweet chocolate, licorice and bitter chicory. Dry, grainy, roasted malt with relatively heavy-handed addition of bittering hops for a stout.
Feel is smooth and creamy going in but acidic and drying going down. Not much more than medium bodied and well carbonated. Zero booziness detected.
Overall, a worthy dry stout and I do enjoy a dry stout. The barrel character is so subtle that I totally forgot about it until I went back to read the label, so it never even got a mention in my tasting notes. Now that I think of it, I guess I can smell it in the glass.
Oil Man from Elevation Beer Co.
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
192 ratings
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!