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Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout
New Holland Brewing Company
- From:
- New Holland Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,631 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #8,179 - Avg:
- 4.05 | pDev: 12.59%
- Reviews:
- 1,770
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 16, 2024
- Added:
- Aug 12, 2002
- Wants:
- 448
- Gots:
- 2,251
Throughout the ages, the term Dragon’s Milk has been used to describe potent ales and elixirs worthy of celebration – a reward at the end of the journey. We are proud to be stewards of that ancient tradition today, hand-crafting each batch of Dragon’s Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout in Holland, Michigan. The best liquid in our house is now yours.
Roasted malt delivers notes of coffee and chocolate, which are married with sweet undertones of vanilla and oak from a three month stay in bourbon barrels. The result is a truly legendary blend of flavor.
Roasted malt delivers notes of coffee and chocolate, which are married with sweet undertones of vanilla and oak from a three month stay in bourbon barrels. The result is a truly legendary blend of flavor.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by AmitC:
Reviewed by AmitC from New York
4.12/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.12/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz bottle.
Relatively very thin dark brown colored pour. Dark black inside the glass. Very thin tan colored head. Some shine. Fades easily. Excellent lacing on the sides. Opaque.
Aroma is a mix of oak barrel characters. Good amount of vanilla and creamy sweetness. Dark roasted malts. Strength is moderate to slightly faint. No hint of 10% whatsoever. Slightly porter like feel. Not a very robust aroma by any means.
Taste is perplexing. Good amount of warming but not hurting alcohol upfront. A lot of charred and almost ash like burnt up flavor. Too much charcoal. But distinct. I like it slightly. Some hops as well. Nice to see again. Finish is dry.
Mouth feel is medium and slightly thin for a stout. Decent warmth. No astringency of any kind except for some burnt up smokey flavor. Moderate carbonation.
A distinct brew. Could have used a better body, appearance and aromas and it would be a winner.
Edit: A very nice mix and interplay of robust barrel aged tastes. Excellent towards the end.
Feb 20, 2013Relatively very thin dark brown colored pour. Dark black inside the glass. Very thin tan colored head. Some shine. Fades easily. Excellent lacing on the sides. Opaque.
Aroma is a mix of oak barrel characters. Good amount of vanilla and creamy sweetness. Dark roasted malts. Strength is moderate to slightly faint. No hint of 10% whatsoever. Slightly porter like feel. Not a very robust aroma by any means.
Taste is perplexing. Good amount of warming but not hurting alcohol upfront. A lot of charred and almost ash like burnt up flavor. Too much charcoal. But distinct. I like it slightly. Some hops as well. Nice to see again. Finish is dry.
Mouth feel is medium and slightly thin for a stout. Decent warmth. No astringency of any kind except for some burnt up smokey flavor. Moderate carbonation.
A distinct brew. Could have used a better body, appearance and aromas and it would be a winner.
Edit: A very nice mix and interplay of robust barrel aged tastes. Excellent towards the end.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland
4.06/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Black with a big, tight tan head, excellent retention, thick rings of lace. Much better size and retention of head, and lacing than is usual for this strength.
Oak, vanilla, coconut, a little dried fruit, and chocolate aroma
Tastes like it smell. Chocolate comes across as cocoa.
Heavy bodied and appropriately lower carbonation.
For a bourbon-barrel aged beer that you can always find on the shelf, really really good.
Mar 11, 2024Oak, vanilla, coconut, a little dried fruit, and chocolate aroma
Tastes like it smell. Chocolate comes across as cocoa.
Heavy bodied and appropriately lower carbonation.
For a bourbon-barrel aged beer that you can always find on the shelf, really really good.
Reviewed by travis1108 from Missouri
3.86/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
I'm not usually into the bourbon barrel crap so this is a very good score from me. It is not overly sickly sweet like most of them. Has a vanilla flavor that is nice. Good mouth feel. Solid for a beer period but excellent so far as barrel aged goes.
Jan 28, 2024Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts
4.17/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.17/5 rDev +3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours an opaque brown color with a 1/2F tan head with moderate lacing.
Smells mof chocolate and bourbon.
Tastes of sweet toasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, bourbon, cinnamon and vanilla with a lightly bitter, decidedly boozy warm finish.
Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lush, syrupy and smooth mouthfeel.
This is a very strong, flavorful sipping brew that mellows as one's glass warms.
Jan 18, 2024Smells mof chocolate and bourbon.
Tastes of sweet toasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, bourbon, cinnamon and vanilla with a lightly bitter, decidedly boozy warm finish.
Medium heavy body with light carbonation. Lush, syrupy and smooth mouthfeel.
This is a very strong, flavorful sipping brew that mellows as one's glass warms.
Rated by Rwoodroffe
4.08/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Very dark with minimal dark colored head. Smell is unimpressive and flavor is not super sweet but more earthy with vanilla undertones.
Jan 16, 2024Rated by sentrytec from Pennsylvania
3.32/5 rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
3.32/5 rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Not bad if you like Count Chocola and getting drunk.
Dec 13, 2023Reviewed by augustgarage from California
3.81/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottled on September 11th, 2023 - enjoyed on November 24th, 2023 - poured from a 12oz bottle into my snifter.
Opaque black bean body with a dense wheat/almond cap receding to a lasting collar and surface slick. Fine lacing; very good retention; light glassy sheen of legs.
Baker's chocolate, molasses, and brown bread from the malt joined by tobacco and vanilla from the barrel. Fairly one-dimensional yet inviting.
Rich malty palate entry with licorice and char joining the flavors that follow the nose. Medium finish never quite dries out, though there is some faintly acrid acidity from the barrel. A touch boozy hints of cherry and tar. Low bitterness throughout.
Somewhat hot, medium-bodied, but smooth rather than sticky.
A decent, affordable barrel-aged stout, though it lacks nuance/balance compared to the best versions of the style.
Nov 24, 2023Opaque black bean body with a dense wheat/almond cap receding to a lasting collar and surface slick. Fine lacing; very good retention; light glassy sheen of legs.
Baker's chocolate, molasses, and brown bread from the malt joined by tobacco and vanilla from the barrel. Fairly one-dimensional yet inviting.
Rich malty palate entry with licorice and char joining the flavors that follow the nose. Medium finish never quite dries out, though there is some faintly acrid acidity from the barrel. A touch boozy hints of cherry and tar. Low bitterness throughout.
Somewhat hot, medium-bodied, but smooth rather than sticky.
A decent, affordable barrel-aged stout, though it lacks nuance/balance compared to the best versions of the style.
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
4.46/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
A dark brown bottle which contained 22 ounces has been emptied into a clear glass liter mug. That should be enough. The liquid gets the close enough to the black coffee brown color description. There's a very thin tan head. The aroma brings coffee, roasted malt, tannins and just a little alcohol. Although the tannins are there to taste, they're reserved enough to let other flavors emerge. The potent alcohol is nicely incorporated into the overall and is really only noticed during the finish. Those two concerns, either of which could ruin a decent Imperial Stout, are definitely set aside. That makes this a remarkable brew. It's always an impressive brewing feat to get this much alcohol in a beer, with only a little notice of it. Especially when it's Bourbon barrel aged, there's a good chance it's going to taste like a boilermaker made with a Stout. Most beer lovers don't want that and this doesn't. There's almost some dark chocolate and coconut sweetness to it and of course, that black coffee taste reference many Stouts give. Most of these flavor levels are modest and the body could be just a little fuller, if there is to be a criticism. Although the glass lacing isn't copious, it's stratified to mark each episode liquid left the vessel. Sometimes it's a shame there's so much alcohol in a beer, because at the end of the glass, it seemed like a good idea to have another. But, it wasn't.
Nov 12, 2023Reviewed by Oktoberfest from Ohio
5/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +23.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The OG. The pater familias. The alpha and the omega.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if this isn't up your alley, please understand that you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.
Oct 28, 2023Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But if this isn't up your alley, please understand that you are wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.
Reviewed by meast007 from Colorado
3.68/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
3.68/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
First taste amazing, drank out of a bottle unable to admire the look. The feel was nice and smooth as it traverse down. Really love the tast would have ranked higher if it were colder pretty sure, it has a nice stout taste, again very smooth.
Oct 22, 2023
Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout from New Holland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
6683 ratings
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