New Holland The Poet | New Holland Brewing Company
Brewed by:
New Holland Brewing Company
Michigan, United States
newhollandbrew.com
Style: Oatmeal Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
IBU's: 40
Added by inebrius on 02-01-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 2,452 | Reviews: 754
Reviews by stooge:
4.25/5 rDev +8.4%
stooge, Jun 07, 2013
More User Reviews:
4.12/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beautiful pour: strong, fluffy, creamy tan head, with very good retention and lovely, wide lacing. Brew itself comes out brown, congealing into a dark, dark brown - almost ebony - presentation in the glass.
Roasted barley, cream, overripe fruit, and yes, oatmeal; all present in varying amounts in the nose. A little alcohol presence, as well, alongside some cocoa and coffee.
Very roasty flavor up front, featuring lots and lots of roasted barley (which keeps coming back for more!), coffee, and a hint of chocolate. Cream and overripe dark fruit try to make themselves known on the mid-palate, before being overwhelmed by roasted barley. Delicious!
Thick, creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Some sting; very lively. No hint of alcohol. Nicely balanced with an earthy bitterness.
Among the best oatmeal stouts I've had. Lots of roasted barley; creamy, smooth body; not exactly complex, but not one-note, either. Great beer. Compares favorably with Founders Oatmeal Stout.
967 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beautiful pour: strong, fluffy, creamy tan head, with very good retention and lovely, wide lacing. Brew itself comes out brown, congealing into a dark, dark brown - almost ebony - presentation in the glass.
Roasted barley, cream, overripe fruit, and yes, oatmeal; all present in varying amounts in the nose. A little alcohol presence, as well, alongside some cocoa and coffee.
Very roasty flavor up front, featuring lots and lots of roasted barley (which keeps coming back for more!), coffee, and a hint of chocolate. Cream and overripe dark fruit try to make themselves known on the mid-palate, before being overwhelmed by roasted barley. Delicious!
Thick, creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Some sting; very lively. No hint of alcohol. Nicely balanced with an earthy bitterness.
Among the best oatmeal stouts I've had. Lots of roasted barley; creamy, smooth body; not exactly complex, but not one-note, either. Great beer. Compares favorably with Founders Oatmeal Stout.
967 characters
3.65/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a big creamy tan head that retains well and lace the glass a little.
The aroma is sweet roasty chocolate malt and oatmeal.
The flavor is sweet chocolate malt, some acidic roast. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, a solid oatmeal stout.
306 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with a big creamy tan head that retains well and lace the glass a little.
The aroma is sweet roasty chocolate malt and oatmeal.
The flavor is sweet chocolate malt, some acidic roast. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.
Overall, a solid oatmeal stout.
306 characters
4.33/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Tall, beige head. Chocolate nose. Mouthfeel is soft and pillowy. Chocolate and malt mixes to bring a very rich quality to the flavor. Just a bit of hops for balance at the end. Very well-executed.
201 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Tall, beige head. Chocolate nose. Mouthfeel is soft and pillowy. Chocolate and malt mixes to bring a very rich quality to the flavor. Just a bit of hops for balance at the end. Very well-executed.
201 characters
4.44/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottle purchased at AJ's Beer Warehouse in Henrietta, NY.
Pours a dark black, with a nearly one inch head, and little random streaks of lacing down the glass.
Smells like dark, intense roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee.
Incredible taste here, I was really pleasantly surprised. Both chocolate and coffee are big in play here, even though no chocolate and coffee were added. Great malt work here- the flavors intertwine nicely, and give the feeling of chocolate covered espresso beans. There is some nice roasty malt flavors as well, with a little bit of bitterness on the end of each sip from the hops. I also taste some vanilla as well, as well as mild smoke. How is this only 5.2% ABV? The flavor is so full.
Medium to thick body (again, how is this only 5.2%?), creamy, smooth mouthfeel, low carbonation. Incredibly drinkable, I didn't want to put this down.
This is a perfect example of how full, complex flavor can still be packed into beers of lower ABV. I had heard decent things about this one, but didn't know it was going to be so good. Highly recommended.
1,073 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Bottle purchased at AJ's Beer Warehouse in Henrietta, NY.
Pours a dark black, with a nearly one inch head, and little random streaks of lacing down the glass.
Smells like dark, intense roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee.
Incredible taste here, I was really pleasantly surprised. Both chocolate and coffee are big in play here, even though no chocolate and coffee were added. Great malt work here- the flavors intertwine nicely, and give the feeling of chocolate covered espresso beans. There is some nice roasty malt flavors as well, with a little bit of bitterness on the end of each sip from the hops. I also taste some vanilla as well, as well as mild smoke. How is this only 5.2% ABV? The flavor is so full.
Medium to thick body (again, how is this only 5.2%?), creamy, smooth mouthfeel, low carbonation. Incredibly drinkable, I didn't want to put this down.
This is a perfect example of how full, complex flavor can still be packed into beers of lower ABV. I had heard decent things about this one, but didn't know it was going to be so good. Highly recommended.
1,073 characters
4.09/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A real pleasure to drink if you like this style. It has a nice roast profile and a very smooth mouth feel (from the oats obviously). Things I like about it - smooth mouth feel, great roast flavor, local brewery, fresh beer with date, decent price.
249 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A real pleasure to drink if you like this style. It has a nice roast profile and a very smooth mouth feel (from the oats obviously). Things I like about it - smooth mouth feel, great roast flavor, local brewery, fresh beer with date, decent price.
249 characters
5/5 rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
When poured it gives a rocky head. Leaves lacing all the way down the glass. Delicious. Deep red brown when held to a light in a pint glass. I like that you can see through it. No sediment. Again a plus. Been drinking this beer for long time. I stack all oatty stouts against this one. It's my favorite. Excellent job by the brewers.
334 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
When poured it gives a rocky head. Leaves lacing all the way down the glass. Delicious. Deep red brown when held to a light in a pint glass. I like that you can see through it. No sediment. Again a plus. Been drinking this beer for long time. I stack all oatty stouts against this one. It's my favorite. Excellent job by the brewers.
334 characters
4.04/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle bough as part of a mixed 6 pack. Poured into an imperial pint glass, the beer is borderline black with a dense and large brown head. It has good lacing, it is a looker.
I get roasted malts and dark fruit on the nose.
First sip is of heavily roasted malts, there is a bit a nice char. There is also some sweetness from the oats and a bit of baker’s chocolate. Mid-glass some dark fruits and a hint of coffee emerge.
The mouth is pretty much spot on with some heft and silkiness.
Nothing not to like about this beer. I will be on the lookout for more.
582 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle bough as part of a mixed 6 pack. Poured into an imperial pint glass, the beer is borderline black with a dense and large brown head. It has good lacing, it is a looker.
I get roasted malts and dark fruit on the nose.
First sip is of heavily roasted malts, there is a bit a nice char. There is also some sweetness from the oats and a bit of baker’s chocolate. Mid-glass some dark fruits and a hint of coffee emerge.
The mouth is pretty much spot on with some heft and silkiness.
Nothing not to like about this beer. I will be on the lookout for more.
582 characters
4.22/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
A: [4.50] Fat 2 finger tan head. The head has medium bubbles - not as dense as the ideal look. The head settles most of the way but is always there and forms great lacing on the glass. The beer is a dark brown with slight reddish tinges on the sides. There is a date code that translates to (03/25/15). No indication of the ABV on the bottle.
S: [4.25] Really nice coffee aroma. It is subtle and smooth. There are hints of cocoa too.
T: [4.25] Kind of a reversal on the nose. I got chocolate up front then more of the coffee flavor. There are also traces of vanilla and toasted marshmallow.
M: [3.75] The beer has a slightly water feel. At 5.2% it is doing its best but there is not much chew to it. The finish is really nice and makes up for a little bit of a lack of body.
O: [4.25] I was really surprised by this one. I just grabbed it in a mix 6 to fill it up. But it is really good. The coffee flavor is done really well - it comes across in the nose and when you drink it. There are also other flavors in there that compliment it really well. As notes the body is a little thin but the other aspects really cover that up. Also, if this is something you care about this is a really low calorie beer for a stout with such flavor.
1,254 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
A: [4.50] Fat 2 finger tan head. The head has medium bubbles - not as dense as the ideal look. The head settles most of the way but is always there and forms great lacing on the glass. The beer is a dark brown with slight reddish tinges on the sides. There is a date code that translates to (03/25/15). No indication of the ABV on the bottle.
S: [4.25] Really nice coffee aroma. It is subtle and smooth. There are hints of cocoa too.
T: [4.25] Kind of a reversal on the nose. I got chocolate up front then more of the coffee flavor. There are also traces of vanilla and toasted marshmallow.
M: [3.75] The beer has a slightly water feel. At 5.2% it is doing its best but there is not much chew to it. The finish is really nice and makes up for a little bit of a lack of body.
O: [4.25] I was really surprised by this one. I just grabbed it in a mix 6 to fill it up. But it is really good. The coffee flavor is done really well - it comes across in the nose and when you drink it. There are also other flavors in there that compliment it really well. As notes the body is a little thin but the other aspects really cover that up. Also, if this is something you care about this is a really low calorie beer for a stout with such flavor.
1,254 characters
4.19/5 rDev +6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: Persistency of the small tan head lacks. Otherwise, pours a nice dark brown with garnet on the edges.
S: Char smoked toffee, coffee, chocolate and brown sugar notes.
M: Smooth, silky, and creamy. Medium body with a medium high carbonation level.
T: Well-rounded beer, artistically crafted. Remnants of char after a sweet toffee and rolled oat start. Sweet brown malts parlay into a bittersweet chocolate leading to a roasted coffee finish. All flavors combine to create a slight licorice effect with the sweetness covering the medicinal char. I'd be drinking this medicine everyday.
590 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
A: Persistency of the small tan head lacks. Otherwise, pours a nice dark brown with garnet on the edges.
S: Char smoked toffee, coffee, chocolate and brown sugar notes.
M: Smooth, silky, and creamy. Medium body with a medium high carbonation level.
T: Well-rounded beer, artistically crafted. Remnants of char after a sweet toffee and rolled oat start. Sweet brown malts parlay into a bittersweet chocolate leading to a roasted coffee finish. All flavors combine to create a slight licorice effect with the sweetness covering the medicinal char. I'd be drinking this medicine everyday.
590 characters
4/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours brown with a thinnish creamy head of tan foam that refreshes with each tip. Opaque. Nose is roasty malt and the impression of coffee and cream. Taste is smooth and graceful yet hearty with the flavor of oats. Flavor from oats you say? Yes in this beer they are a bit nutty. Creamy mouthfeel that is a bit fuller than you think with just enough hop bitter to finish it dry. Hops smell like a stemmy mild herbal as the beer warms. Slight oily slickness . Silky smooth gentle flavor .
497 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours brown with a thinnish creamy head of tan foam that refreshes with each tip. Opaque. Nose is roasty malt and the impression of coffee and cream. Taste is smooth and graceful yet hearty with the flavor of oats. Flavor from oats you say? Yes in this beer they are a bit nutty. Creamy mouthfeel that is a bit fuller than you think with just enough hop bitter to finish it dry. Hops smell like a stemmy mild herbal as the beer warms. Slight oily slickness . Silky smooth gentle flavor .
497 characters
4.23/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Look - Pours inky brown, little tan head that rose and fell fairly quickly.
Smell - Roast, chocolate, slight hint of rummy booze, Still pretty chilled when poured, will likely open up as it warms. .
Taste - Fantastic. Mirrors smell, hops slightly present but held in check. Blends well with the bitterness of the roast. Coffee and chocolate again, little soft biscuit flavor (oats?) in the middle.
Mouthfeel - Sexy, not sweet but round and slightly chewy. Carbonation is on the money. Enough to help the oats fill out the body but not so much that it washes out or prickles.
Overall - Great beer, great example of the style. Great balance. Not a beer I'd drink a lot of, but one that I'd drink slowly and think about it.
740 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Look - Pours inky brown, little tan head that rose and fell fairly quickly.
Smell - Roast, chocolate, slight hint of rummy booze, Still pretty chilled when poured, will likely open up as it warms. .
Taste - Fantastic. Mirrors smell, hops slightly present but held in check. Blends well with the bitterness of the roast. Coffee and chocolate again, little soft biscuit flavor (oats?) in the middle.
Mouthfeel - Sexy, not sweet but round and slightly chewy. Carbonation is on the money. Enough to help the oats fill out the body but not so much that it washes out or prickles.
Overall - Great beer, great example of the style. Great balance. Not a beer I'd drink a lot of, but one that I'd drink slowly and think about it.
740 characters
4.46/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dark brown hue with a brown head as well. I thought that I might have tried this in the past but not quite.
Cocoa, roasted coffee and dark fruit in the nose.
Rich with cocoa, cream and roasted coffee upfront.
Texture reminds me of a malted milkshake. It's slick. Nice bitter coffee finish.
This is one of the last beers that I received 2 weeks ago from friends visiting from MI. It's easily one of the best.
422 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Pours a dark brown hue with a brown head as well. I thought that I might have tried this in the past but not quite.
Cocoa, roasted coffee and dark fruit in the nose.
Rich with cocoa, cream and roasted coffee upfront.
Texture reminds me of a malted milkshake. It's slick. Nice bitter coffee finish.
This is one of the last beers that I received 2 weeks ago from friends visiting from MI. It's easily one of the best.
422 characters
4.27/5 rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a chocolate syrup brown color with a relatively modest tan head that retains fairly well and leaves a some lace
Smell: Lots of roasty char, with dark chocolate and coffee underneath
Taste: Opens roasty, with a developing bittersweet chocolate element that gets drowned by roasty bitterness at mid-palate; after the swallow, it mellows a bit and introduces a coffee flavor, but the bitterness from the roast and the hops dominate
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; smooth and creamy, but slightly thin
Drinkability: A very nice beer; could use s thicker mouthfeel and perhaps a bit more malt flavor, but still quite good
656 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a chocolate syrup brown color with a relatively modest tan head that retains fairly well and leaves a some lace
Smell: Lots of roasty char, with dark chocolate and coffee underneath
Taste: Opens roasty, with a developing bittersweet chocolate element that gets drowned by roasty bitterness at mid-palate; after the swallow, it mellows a bit and introduces a coffee flavor, but the bitterness from the roast and the hops dominate
Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; smooth and creamy, but slightly thin
Drinkability: A very nice beer; could use s thicker mouthfeel and perhaps a bit more malt flavor, but still quite good
656 characters
4.43/5 rDev +13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very complex and slightly different stout. The flavors are more than just roast & chocolate. This is about as good as it gets, especially for it's class.
155 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Very complex and slightly different stout. The flavors are more than just roast & chocolate. This is about as good as it gets, especially for it's class.
155 characters
2.95/5 rDev -24.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Overall a forgettable offering from NH. The Hatter Series, is where this brewery shines.
88 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Overall a forgettable offering from NH. The Hatter Series, is where this brewery shines.
88 characters
4.86/5 rDev +24%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Opaque black color with a half inch medium-thick tan head that dissipates at a medium-slow rate.
Smell - Sweet roasted malt and earthy smoked wood hops followed by dark chocolate.
Taste - Sweet roasted malt and smokey wood followed by lightly bitter dark chocolate and very mild alcohol with a roasted malt and smokey wood finish.
Mouthfeel - Rich and creamy, very well balanced bitterness/sweetness, medium carbonation,and very mild alcohol feel
Overall - An amazing stout. Very well balanced in every way.
524 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Appearance - Opaque black color with a half inch medium-thick tan head that dissipates at a medium-slow rate.
Smell - Sweet roasted malt and earthy smoked wood hops followed by dark chocolate.
Taste - Sweet roasted malt and smokey wood followed by lightly bitter dark chocolate and very mild alcohol with a roasted malt and smokey wood finish.
Mouthfeel - Rich and creamy, very well balanced bitterness/sweetness, medium carbonation,and very mild alcohol feel
Overall - An amazing stout. Very well balanced in every way.
524 characters
3.65/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
A: Pours a very dark ruby color. The head is two fingers high, khaki in shade. Its soft creaminess retains decently enough, and also leaves behind some streaks of lacing. I wish it was pitch black, but that's a nitpick.
S: There's a very nice combination of nuts and chocolate coming together. I'm not getting a lot of roast or coffee characteristics I really like from a stout, though. It's a touch mineral-y at times. Not the finest aroma ever, but dammit it works nonetheless.
T: The nose threw me for a curveball: it's more roasty than suggested, but still with a subtle dark chocolate background. I'm also getting some notes of coffee, oat, nuts (I want to say almond), and caramel - mostly clustered on the back end. There are faint earthy expressions floating around here and there. No twists or turns, just a really solid stout.
M: For a second, it seems very soft and creamy on the palate. And it is. But wow, does it ever finish dry. A lot of it is due to how damn carbonated it is - it almost stings the palate. The relative lightness doesn't help conceal some of the fizz. Meh, whatever, I'll deal; this is still very tasty and easy to drink.
O: This one just works. It's a good mix of roasty and sweet, without ever being overpowering. My only real nitpick is that it seems a bit too fizzy on the palate. If I could get it locally (I can't :(), I'd put it on my "buy again" list.
1,432 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
A: Pours a very dark ruby color. The head is two fingers high, khaki in shade. Its soft creaminess retains decently enough, and also leaves behind some streaks of lacing. I wish it was pitch black, but that's a nitpick.
S: There's a very nice combination of nuts and chocolate coming together. I'm not getting a lot of roast or coffee characteristics I really like from a stout, though. It's a touch mineral-y at times. Not the finest aroma ever, but dammit it works nonetheless.
T: The nose threw me for a curveball: it's more roasty than suggested, but still with a subtle dark chocolate background. I'm also getting some notes of coffee, oat, nuts (I want to say almond), and caramel - mostly clustered on the back end. There are faint earthy expressions floating around here and there. No twists or turns, just a really solid stout.
M: For a second, it seems very soft and creamy on the palate. And it is. But wow, does it ever finish dry. A lot of it is due to how damn carbonated it is - it almost stings the palate. The relative lightness doesn't help conceal some of the fizz. Meh, whatever, I'll deal; this is still very tasty and easy to drink.
O: This one just works. It's a good mix of roasty and sweet, without ever being overpowering. My only real nitpick is that it seems a bit too fizzy on the palate. If I could get it locally (I can't :(), I'd put it on my "buy again" list.
1,432 characters
4.35/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Darkest mahogany with razor-thin ruby edges. No light is getting through the center of this stout. The wheat toast brown head is firm, sticky, persistent and lays down quite a bit of thick, chunky lace. The nose is dominated by roasted malt with aromas of coffee and chocolate, primarily the former.
The Poet is great beer. Coffee is still more prominent than bittersweet chocolate on the palate, but they're now close to being equal contributors. The degree of roastedness is just about perfect as far as I'm concerned. It's apparent that the malt has been flambed, but that bitter char that can sometimes result with overroasting isn't present.
Even though it's no Storm King or Shakespeare in terms of pedal-to-the-metal hoppiness, it's obvious that hops are in the house. The beer is well-balanced in the sense that it favors neither sweet nor bitter at any point along the flavor arc. The mouthfeel is slightly chewy with a nicely mouthcoating finish. I'm trying to find something to criticize, but I'm not having any luck.
The Poet is yet another wonderful beer from New Holland and, along with Snake River Zonker Stout, is my favorite 'just plain ol' stout' to date. Given my BA name, I'm sure that I'm unwelcome in the state of Michigan, but damn, you guys have some great breweries up there. Thanks to deejaydan for this gem.
1,345 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Darkest mahogany with razor-thin ruby edges. No light is getting through the center of this stout. The wheat toast brown head is firm, sticky, persistent and lays down quite a bit of thick, chunky lace. The nose is dominated by roasted malt with aromas of coffee and chocolate, primarily the former.
The Poet is great beer. Coffee is still more prominent than bittersweet chocolate on the palate, but they're now close to being equal contributors. The degree of roastedness is just about perfect as far as I'm concerned. It's apparent that the malt has been flambed, but that bitter char that can sometimes result with overroasting isn't present.
Even though it's no Storm King or Shakespeare in terms of pedal-to-the-metal hoppiness, it's obvious that hops are in the house. The beer is well-balanced in the sense that it favors neither sweet nor bitter at any point along the flavor arc. The mouthfeel is slightly chewy with a nicely mouthcoating finish. I'm trying to find something to criticize, but I'm not having any luck.
The Poet is yet another wonderful beer from New Holland and, along with Snake River Zonker Stout, is my favorite 'just plain ol' stout' to date. Given my BA name, I'm sure that I'm unwelcome in the state of Michigan, but damn, you guys have some great breweries up there. Thanks to deejaydan for this gem.
1,345 characters
4.05/5 rDev +3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a good, well-made stout that fills your nose with bold, dark coffee and malted barley. The taste comes close to matching the smell, but I almost just want to sit with my glass and savor this beer through my nostrils. Worth trying, and better than many offerings, but not quite inspiring me to verse or rhyme. If it were more concentrated in flavor then allowed to mellow in carbonation, it's be overall much better.
A: pitch black, but with a creamy off-white, half-centimeter head that quickly dissipated. Low lacing. Thin bubbles that sparkle and remind me of champagne. The beer swishes thinly, like coca cola, and ripples with every vibration of the table.
S: this is possibly one of the best smelling beers I've ever had. The front smells like sweet chocolate - Hershey melted into a glass. There is coffee and malted barley in the middle. There is caramel on the finish and mixed throughout.
T: I am let down by the taste here. Dark, roasty, and just a touch bitter. Tastes a bit like thinly brewed coffee, carbonated, and mixed into a brown ale. I like it, but don't love it.
M: too thin - this beer would benefit from some added viscosity and a but less carbonation.
1,186 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This is a good, well-made stout that fills your nose with bold, dark coffee and malted barley. The taste comes close to matching the smell, but I almost just want to sit with my glass and savor this beer through my nostrils. Worth trying, and better than many offerings, but not quite inspiring me to verse or rhyme. If it were more concentrated in flavor then allowed to mellow in carbonation, it's be overall much better.
A: pitch black, but with a creamy off-white, half-centimeter head that quickly dissipated. Low lacing. Thin bubbles that sparkle and remind me of champagne. The beer swishes thinly, like coca cola, and ripples with every vibration of the table.
S: this is possibly one of the best smelling beers I've ever had. The front smells like sweet chocolate - Hershey melted into a glass. There is coffee and malted barley in the middle. There is caramel on the finish and mixed throughout.
T: I am let down by the taste here. Dark, roasty, and just a touch bitter. Tastes a bit like thinly brewed coffee, carbonated, and mixed into a brown ale. I like it, but don't love it.
M: too thin - this beer would benefit from some added viscosity and a but less carbonation.
1,186 characters
3.98/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I liked the real nice black color with some ruby hue,off white sticky head real impressive looking.Roasted malt is predominent smell I get from it with some underlying chocolate notes.Taste is roasty and chocolaty but wiith some softness due to the oats I would venture to guess,pretty easy to drink maybe a little thin.All in all pretty darn good.
348 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I liked the real nice black color with some ruby hue,off white sticky head real impressive looking.Roasted malt is predominent smell I get from it with some underlying chocolate notes.Taste is roasty and chocolaty but wiith some softness due to the oats I would venture to guess,pretty easy to drink maybe a little thin.All in all pretty darn good.
348 characters
3.64/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance Ruby black in color with a decent head.
Smell The dark, roasty malt notes were complimented with fine chocolate undertones.
Taste This was your basic dark malty stout. The highlight though was the subtle yet superb chocolate notes. They were kind of like fine cocoa or a bakers chocolate.
Mouthfeel This was the stouts weak point, IMO. I thought it was too thin to make the grade. The flavors were expertly balanced though and felt good in the cheeks, just a bit light in the butt for my tastes.
Drinkability This overall was a nice example of the style. I would probably buy again.
624 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Appearance Ruby black in color with a decent head.
Smell The dark, roasty malt notes were complimented with fine chocolate undertones.
Taste This was your basic dark malty stout. The highlight though was the subtle yet superb chocolate notes. They were kind of like fine cocoa or a bakers chocolate.
Mouthfeel This was the stouts weak point, IMO. I thought it was too thin to make the grade. The flavors were expertly balanced though and felt good in the cheeks, just a bit light in the butt for my tastes.
Drinkability This overall was a nice example of the style. I would probably buy again.
624 characters
4.18/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours the deepest brown you've ever seen, basically black in the middle with a bit of dark-brown shining through the edges. Frothy, creamy looking light-tan colored head, decent retention and minimal lacing. Nose hits with a handful of malts, nuts, roasted grains, charred wood, and a heavy dose of oats and oatmeal. The taste follows the nose perfectly, allowing for great harmony and exemplary synthesis of the senses. Full of a nice, roasted character of malts and grains, complete with some caramel sweetness. Woody and nutty flavors shine through about halfway through, and the oat/oatmeal hints are abundant throughout the entire length of the sip, in an over-the-top, good way. Very creamy, medium body, with a middle of the road type of carbonation.
I know I may slightly be overrating this beer, but I don't care. I love it. It's full flavored, and there's something about the taste I just love - oats, grains, malts, wood, nuts. And the best part is, at only 5.2% ABV, it's very easy to drink, making it the best session beer I could ask for.
1,053 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours the deepest brown you've ever seen, basically black in the middle with a bit of dark-brown shining through the edges. Frothy, creamy looking light-tan colored head, decent retention and minimal lacing. Nose hits with a handful of malts, nuts, roasted grains, charred wood, and a heavy dose of oats and oatmeal. The taste follows the nose perfectly, allowing for great harmony and exemplary synthesis of the senses. Full of a nice, roasted character of malts and grains, complete with some caramel sweetness. Woody and nutty flavors shine through about halfway through, and the oat/oatmeal hints are abundant throughout the entire length of the sip, in an over-the-top, good way. Very creamy, medium body, with a middle of the road type of carbonation.
I know I may slightly be overrating this beer, but I don't care. I love it. It's full flavored, and there's something about the taste I just love - oats, grains, malts, wood, nuts. And the best part is, at only 5.2% ABV, it's very easy to drink, making it the best session beer I could ask for.
1,053 characters
3.5/5 rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
New Holland The Poet from New Holland Brewing Company
3.92
out of 5
based on 2,452 ratings.