35K
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse

35K35K
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From:
Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
 
Kentucky, United States
Style:
Sweet / Milk Stout
Ranked #376
ABV:
7%
Score:
88
Ranked #12,987
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 8.1%
Reviews:
144
Ratings:
746
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 02, 2023
Added:
Oct 25, 2012
Wants:
  30
Gots:
  137
Not your typical "Jelly of the Month Club" beer. Dark roasted malt and bittersweet cocoa and coffee flavor and aroma burst from this pitch black milk stout. The full body and sweetness are derived from the addition of lactose (aka milk sugar) which is not fermentable by beer yeast. A healthy dose of English Kent Goldings hops provides a counterpoint to this ale’s rich and complex maltiness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by woodchip:
Photo of woodchip
Rated by woodchip from North Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.3%

May 11, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of BuxMontBeerLover
Reviewed by BuxMontBeerLover from Pennsylvania

3.94/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Purchased at Total Wine & More, Louisville, KY. 4pk/16oz cans. $13.99

After an overly aggressive pour, a massive 2-3 finger, dense, mocha colored head on the initial pour. A dark, almost black color. Mostly opaque. The head lasts a long time with sticky lacing left on the sides of the glass.

A malty, sweet aroma.

A very tasty stout. Roasted malts combine with chocolate, mild coffee flavors, slightly bitter but mildly sweet. Slightly smoky taste as well. Leaves a dry aftertaste. The ABV isn’t noticeable.

Medium carbonation, medium consistency.

Overall, a good tasting, easy drinking stout. Not overly heavy but not as creamy as some stouts. A middle of the road stout…cheers!
Dec 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.07 by Pammie from Minnesota

Jul 06, 2023
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.02/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a jet black with two fingers of tan head that slowly dissipates to a thin cap with plenty of lacing. Aroma of molasses and bitter chocolate on the finish. Tastes a bit boozy despite the lack of a barrel. Full-bodied. Very enjoyable.
Mar 06, 2023
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can will unreadable best before date poured into a nonic pint glass at fridge temp 7% ABV. The beer pours completely black with no highlights and medium brown colored head. The head recedes to a thin cap and completely laces the glass as the level drops. The aroma is mild with earthy, very dark chocolate. The taste is bittersweet roasted malt with more dark chocolate roasty notes and a balancing sweetness from the lactose. Mild bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium plus bodied with average carbonation and a semi dry finish. Overall, very good. No extra ingredients, but very well executed.
Mar 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.31 by mattjp03 from Alabama

Feb 23, 2023
 
Rated: 3.68 by WynnO from Florida

Dec 16, 2022
Photo of EMV
Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a pounder can into a Dogfish Head tulip

L: Dark, dark pour... nearly black with 1.5 fingers of mocha colored head. Nice lacing.

S: Rich and sweet... cocoa and coffee. Burned sugars and malts.

T.F: Semi-sweet chocolate. Lactose, roast, and chicory. Light coffee... more chocolate and some hop bitterness for balance. Medium bodied... smooth and well carbonated.

O: A well executed milk stout. Hits what I'd expect from the style. Solid beer and easy drinking.
Oct 23, 2022
Photo of dd53grif
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color with a foamy head that lasts quite a while. Aroma of vanilla, dark chocolate and roasted malts. Taste is slightly bitter for a milk stout. Not overly sweet.
Sep 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4.04 by petrusek23 from Ohio

Jul 05, 2022
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The pour from a pint can into a clear Imperial pint glass is a pretty good one. All of the contents fit in one try. But that's mostly because there wasn't much head at all, even at room temperature. The color is a black coffee brown, bright, but also opaque. There's nothing more to smell than roasted malt. This has a good flavor, with some nice bitterness derived from the well roasted malt. The included lactose doesn't hurt that character, although it does contribute to some initial sweetness that may not be necessary. But, the body is good, so if that's the trade-off, it's worth it. Very nice, this is, smooth and moderately sweet, with a burnt malt bite at the end. There's no glass lacing and only a slight hit of the ample ABV of seven percent. This is closer to the best than it is to the worst in its style.
May 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.15 by Phoodcritic from Michigan

Apr 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.73 by ckaplanmd from New York

Jan 25, 2022
Photo of HoppingMadMonk
Reviewed by HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
An almost solid black appearance with a thin tan head
Medium light carbonation with a slightly thick creamy body.
Aroma is tobacco, char,dark chocolate, dark fruit,molasses and malt. Some lactose and its probably just me but I swear I smell cinnamon.
Taste is sweet but nicely done with some char,malt and molasses with some dark chocolate.
Overall I'm not describing as well as it deserves but it is a very well done stout. It really doesn't really on added flavor which really worked very well
Jan 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.74 by BlueShepard19 from Kentucky

Dec 04, 2021
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

4.19/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from the can into a nonic(k) pint glass.

Rich dark mocha colored head, making just about three fingers, fine foamy like consistency. Body is very dark, pretty much blackened and quite shiny in the body appearance too.

Aroma goes for deep rich malts, but sticks to basics. Limited hinting of sweetness (which I kind of prefer honestly) but a good char and thick roasted grain character. Flirts with molasses but far darker in aroma more like thick tobacco almost. Quite solid and gives the impression more of imperial porter than milk stout.

Palate is really nice. Lots of unexpected flavors here which make for a real enjoyable drinking experience. Quite silky mouthfeel, with a good rich dark chocolate flavor. Milk sugar adds just the right amount of sweetness for an excellent balance, but wait there's more. Dark roasted coffee and even some nutty carob like tones hit as well. Finishes with excellent creamy character, nearly touches of vanilla to go with it.

Very nice amped up milk stout with a good rich body to go with it. Good stuff.
Nov 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.07 by NastyNorseman from New York

Oct 07, 2021
Photo of Treyliff
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia

4.04/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16oz can poured into a pint

A- pours black in color with a tow-finger foamy khaki colored head that has good retention and leaves some lacing behind

S- charred malt and dark chocolate, followed by a sweet lactose aroma that gives notes of vanilla and cream. Undertones of caramel chews and toffee

T- sweet milk chocolate up front is immediately followed by a creamy lactose note that adds a vanilla like sweetness. Mid-palate brings out some bitter charred malt, adding notes of coffee. The finish gives more sweet cream, chocolate and a hint of caramel on the linger

M- medium body with medium carbonation leads to a foamy mouthfeel that turns creamy into the finish

O- a solid milk stout that has high drinkability
Sep 08, 2021
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.09/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
16 oz can, picked up at the brewery in Louisville last week

Pours black with dark tan colored head. Decent head retention. Milk chocolately aroma. Similar taste, with more of a dark cocoa finish. Full bodied, pretty smooth
Aug 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.8 by lackard-b from Tennessee

Jul 10, 2021
35K from Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 746 ratings