This 2025 Top Ten Oatmeal Stouts list is from the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup and other sources. The best oatmeal stout includes oatmeal in their grist, resulting in a pleasant, full flavor and a smooth profile that is rich without being grainy. A roasted malt character which is caramel like and chocolate like should be evident — smooth and not bitter. Coffee like roasted barley and roasted malt aromas are prominent. Bitterness is moderate, not high. Hop flavor and aroma are optional but should not overpower the overall balance if present. Alcohol by Volume: 3.80% – 7.0%. IBU: 20-40.
2025 Top 10 Oatmeal Stouts
1) Thunderball – Eudora Brewing Company – Ohio
A midnight-black pour with a thunderous tan head that rumbles and recedes like a summer squall over the Buckeye prairies. Aromas of fresh-ground espresso and charred oak barrel through the nose, giving way to a velvet cascade of dark cocoa, steel-cut oats, and a fleeting black cherry thunderclap. The finish echoes with a dry, roasty rumble—bold enough to shake the rafters but smooth as a Midwest breeze.
Address: 3022 Wilmington Pike, Kettering, OH 45429
Website: https://www.eudorabrewing.com
2) Backside Stout – Steamworks Brewing – Colorado
Inky as a backcountry shadow, topped with a nitro-laced crema that clings like fresh powder on Purgatory’s hidden runs. Scents of alpine pine resin mingle with roasted malt and wildflower honey, unfolding into silky layers of bittersweet chocolate, toasted oats, and a subtle alpine berry tartness. It glides down with effortless grace, ending in a crisp, high-altitude bite that leaves you craving another descent.
Address: 801 E 2nd Ave, Durango, CO 81301
Website: https://steamworksbrewing.com
3) North Tower Stout – Earth Rider Brewery – Wisconsin
Deep garnet-tinged ebony, crowned by a persistent mocha foam evoking Lake Superior’s foggy dawn. Whiffs of dockside coffee roast and wild blackberry brambles lead to a hearty embrace of dark malt, chewy rolled oats, and understated fig sweetness, balanced by a gentle hop whisper from the north woods. The close is a steadfast, earthy resolve—like a lighthouse beam cutting through the chill.
Address: 1617 N 3rd St, Superior, WI 54880
Website: https://www.earthrider.beer
4) OS Express – Drowned Valley Brewing – Georgia
Opaque as a sunken riverbed relic, with a khaki collar that bubbles like Etowah’s hidden currents. Nose of damp pecan shell and cold-brewed chicory pulls you under, revealing a swift rush of roasted barley, flaked oats for that plush ride, and hints of peach-pit smoke. It barrels forward with medium-bodied momentum, fading to a clean, tannic linger that hooks like a Georgia flood.
Address: 4 S Tennessee St, Suite 115, Cartersville, GA 30120
Website: https://www.drownedvalleybrewing.beer
5) Not a Cure for Baldness – Buck Bald Brewing – North Carolina
Glossy raven hue with a creamy vanilla-laced head that defies gravity like Appalachian fog on a mountaintop. Aromas of toasted coconut husk and fresh-brewed chicory tease the senses, blooming into a lush, oat-driven silkiness laced with dark caramel, subtle bourbon warmth, and a rogue walnut crunch. The aftertaste? A wry, roasty smirk—proof that some legends grow stronger with age.
Address: 104 Tennessee St, Suite D, Murphy, NC 28906
Website: https://buckbaldbrewing.com
6) Overnight Oats – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
Pitch-black with ruby undertones, under a steadfast espresso foam that stands tall like a lone star sentinel. Scents of overnight-soaked rye and mesquite campfire draw you in, unleashing waves of bold roasted barley, plush oats, and a smoky vanilla swirl with faint chili ember heat. It’s a slow-burn revelation, closing with a hearty, grain-forward depth that warms from the inside out.
Address: 8403 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209
Website: https://www.wildbarley.com
7) Buttons the Bear – Bear Chase Brewing – Virginia
Forest-floor dark with a plush, buttoned-up beige cap that laces like paw prints in fresh loam. Bouquet of wild huckleberry jam and smoldering hearth logs hints at Blue Ridge wanderings, evolving into a rich tapestry of silky oats, dark malt chocolate, and a playful cinnamon growl. The finish prowls softly—roasty and restrained, with just enough wild edge to keep you chasing the trail.
Address: 33665 Bear Chase Lane, Bluemont, VA 20135
Website: https://bearchasebrew.com
8) Opacus Oatmeal Stout – StormBreaker Brewing – Oregon
Veiled in impenetrable obsidian, with a caramel-veiled head that drifts like coastal stratus over the Columbia Gorge. Aromas of damp cedar bark and shadowed cocoa pod evoke misty evergreens, unfurling into full-bodied waves of deep-roast coffee, chewy flaked oats, and a caramelized fig undercurrent. It lingers like an overcast hush—smooth, enveloping, and mysteriously moreish.
Address: 832 N Beech St, Portland, OR 97227
Website: https://stormbreakerbrewing.com
9) Scaredy Cat – Vintage Brewing – Wisconsin
Jet-black as a midnight alley cat’s coat, topped with a molasses-kissed foam that arches and settles with feline poise. Whispers of espresso bean and sticky toffee lure you closer, pouncing into robust bites of chocolate malt, rolled-oat creaminess, and a sly caramel claw. Far from timid, it prowls to a bold, espresso-edged close—proving this kitty’s got nine lives of flavor.
Address: 803 E Washington Ave, Madison, WI 53703
Website: https://vintagebrewingcompany.com
10) Brother Sam – Three Tigers Brewing – Ohio
Onyx depths with a tawny head that bonds like kin around a Granville firepit. Scents of sibling-shared s’mores—graham cracker malt and charred marshmallow—unite in a fraternal hug of velvety oats, dark fruit compote, and a harmonious roast of cocoa and black tea. The denouement is a loyal, lingering warmth, as steadfast as Buckeye blood.
Address: 133 N Prospect St, Granville, OH 43023
Website: https://www.threetigersbrewing.com
History of Oatmeal Stouts
Oatmeal stouts emerged in the 19th century as a variation of the traditional stout, a dark beer style originating in the British Isles. The addition of oats to the brewing process was initially a practical choice, as oats were a readily available and inexpensive grain. Brewers discovered that oats imparted a smooth, creamy texture and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor to the beer, distinguishing it from the sharper, roasted character of standard stouts. By the late 1800s, oatmeal stouts gained popularity in England, particularly among working-class drinkers, who valued their rich, filling quality—sometimes even touting them as a nourishing meal replacement. However, the style waned in the early 20th century due to changing tastes, economic pressures, and the rise of lighter lagers, nearly disappearing by the mid-1900s.
The revival of oatmeal stouts began in the late 20th century, fueled by the craft beer movement in the United States and United Kingdom. In 1980, Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery in Tadcaster, England, reintroduced a modern oatmeal stout, sparking renewed interest in the style. Craft brewers, particularly in the U.S., embraced oatmeal stouts for their versatility, experimenting with variations that ranged from sweet, chocolatey versions to bolder, coffee-infused brews. The style’s smooth mouthfeel and balanced flavors appealed to a new generation of beer enthusiasts, cementing its place in the craft beer renaissance. Today, oatmeal stouts remain a beloved staple, with breweries worldwide producing interpretations that honor the style’s historical roots while pushing creative boundaries.
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