Elbow Patches
The Virginia Beer Company

Elbow PatchesElbow Patches
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From:
The Virginia Beer Company
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #124
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
88
Ranked #15,014
Avg:
3.93 | pDev: 7.38%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
44
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 18, 2022
Added:
Mar 23, 2016
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  6
SCORE
88
Very Good
Elbow PatchesElbow Patches
Notes: Roasty, Creamy, Chocolatey.

An Oatmeal Stout to be enjoyed with breakfast, lunch, dinner, or anytime in between. A smooth, velvety base sets the stage for pronounced aromas of Chocolate and Coffee.

- Style: Oatmeal Stout
- ABV: 6.2%
- IBU: 26
- Hops: Northern Brewer

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AWARDS:
- 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Silver, Stout
- 2021 Australian International Beer Awards GOLD, Other Stout
- 2020 European Beer Star Awards Bronze, Stout
- 2019 Brussels Beer Challenge Bronze, Export Stout
- 2019 International Beer Cup Silver, Export Stout
- 2019 Australian International Beer Awards Silver, Other Stout
- 2018 European Beer Star Awards Silver, Dry Stout
- 2018 Virginia Craft Beer Cup GOLD, Dark and Strong British Beer
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.83 by PaulSlazinger from Pennsylvania

Nov 18, 2022
Photo of Guppy314
Reviewed by Guppy314 from District of Columbia

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
From a can, pours as an opaque black with a thin tan quickly dissipating head. Aroma of cocoa and sweet malts. Taste is roasted malt forward with chocolate-like cocoa-ness and caramel; nicely smooth but a bit watery actually. Overall, really pretty solid. Not quite "world-class", but I'd offer this to guests.
Mar 17, 2022
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a very dark color with a slight head and lacing
Aroma has chocolate and malt hints
The taste follows the nose with a chocolate and malt flavor
A medium bodied decently carbonated beer
A good Stout
Jul 23, 2021
 
Rated: 3.79 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Dec 14, 2020
 
Rated: 3.36 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Dec 13, 2020
 
Rated: 3.77 by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

Jun 20, 2020
 
Rated: 3.82 by S_McAteer_95 from Ireland

May 10, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Apr 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.45 by RBorsato from Virginia

Mar 07, 2020
 
Rated: 4.05 by beerrat from Virginia

Feb 07, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by Mattias from Sweden

Sep 27, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by sisterofba from Maryland

Sep 25, 2019
 
Rated: 4.06 by desint from Belgium

Jul 25, 2019
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

3.84/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from the can into a nonic pint glass.

Good sized just under three finger tall head, with a light tan appearance. A bit of foamy styro looking but real good retention. Nice classic dark walnut opaque body to go with it.

Simple yet solid aroma. Touches of light fruity yeast, mixing with a good bit of char but some real nutty almost peanut butter quality on the nose. Flirts with a little bit of chocolate but the nut quality dominates, and doesn’t quite make that chocolate peanut butter character either. Faint touches of roast coffee as well.

Palate manages a bit more subdued. Slightly wet bodied, with a little bit of grass like bitterness. Good flavors of mixing malt Whoppers like candy and a kind of mixing not and char like roast. Misses a lot of the classic chewy texture of a good oatmeal stout unfortunately.

Drinkable, and decent, but this could be better.
Jun 14, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Stengelfoot from California

Nov 18, 2018
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Rated by kevintaraross from Maryland

4.54/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
ON DRAFT AT BRICK ANCHOR BREWERY IN NORFOLK VA
Sep 07, 2018
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

4.15/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
A solid oatmeal stout. Pours dark with a tannish head. Aroma and taste are dark roasted malts, coffee, and bitter chocolate. Well made with no off flavors or sourness.
Aug 06, 2018
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
L: bright dense dark brown with light brown highlights around the edges. A 2” creamy dark tan cap with clingy lace and good retention blankets the top.

S: fresh oatmeal, traces of light city roast coffee, chocolate, a faint nuttiness, and a mild sweetness

T: very creamy, mild, with malty dark sugars, coffee, chocolate, oats and traces of dark dried fruit

F: has a luscious, creamy, velvety, silky, smooth medium full body with a moderate slickness from the oats

O: The brewer achieves a nice balance between the intensity of the oats and the roast
Jun 19, 2018
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
12oz can into a tulip appears black in color with mocha head.

Decent aroma of coffee roast, char and earth. A little tinge of green yeastiness/hops.

This tastes roasty almost acrid with char/earth. A slight coffee appeal lingers with modest bitterness in the finish.

This is medium to lighter in body with ample carbonation. Overall pretty decent.
Oct 10, 2017
 
Rated: 3.87 by Dewsby from Kentucky

Sep 28, 2017
Photo of Eamonn-Cummings3
Reviewed by Eamonn-Cummings3 from New York

4.37/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a 12oz can into a speiglau stout glass.

Look is a deep dark black with no highlights and a cafe au lait head.

Aroma is rich and decadent roast malt a wonderful mix of chocolate and coffee.

Taste is again rich and malty with a definite smoke and roasted note running through it.

Delicious.
Aug 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.32 by louiebianchi from New York

Jul 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.5 by Bdel34 from Pennsylvania

Jul 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by avisong from Virginia

May 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.65 by SadMachine from New Jersey

May 11, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

May 01, 2017
Photo of 11-52_4hops
Reviewed by 11-52_4hops from Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
While this one may not bring anything new, this is a very nicely crafted oatmeal stout. Pretty standard in regards to nose and flavor which seem to come exclusively from the dark malt. Nice velvety mouth feel. No bourbon, no coffee, no spice - but if you are looking for a straightforward oatmeal stout done well - this would be a good one to reach for.
Jan 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by CB2maltygoodness from District of Columbia

Oct 30, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by redfox405 from Virginia

Sep 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by CreightonSM from New York

Aug 22, 2016
 
Rated: 3.43 by VeganUndead from Virginia

Aug 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.58 by Boone757 from Virginia

Jul 01, 2016
 
Rated: 3.67 by Cpmitchno1 from Virginia

Jun 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by bigbutter from Virginia

Jun 17, 2016
 
Rated: 4.02 by John_Beeryman from Virginia

Jun 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4.06 by 2dogbrew from Virginia

Jun 03, 2016
 
Rated: 3.87 by Beer-A-Lot from Virginia

May 28, 2016
Photo of jimpyle48
Rated by jimpyle48 from Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sampled from draft
May 23, 2016
 
Rated: 4.27 by godawgs from Louisiana

May 08, 2016
Photo of cjgiant
Reviewed by cjgiant from District of Columbia

4.16/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at brewery:
Pours black-I have trouble seeing through even at the edges. Head is a medium tight rim around the glass, fairly tan leaning brown. Agitation brings a fleeting resurgence of the head.

I get the oat in the nose, and would like a little more roasted malt notes that are present, but slightly subdued. Charred wood comes out most.

A bitter beer at heart, the wood comes through lightly charred as well as an unsweetened medium roast coffee. The oat hides underneath initially but pops out early mid taste. A medium bodied brew, a light drying friction accompanies this beer like many oat-based beers for me.

A nice representation of the style.
May 08, 2016
Elbow Patches from The Virginia Beer Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 44 ratings