Barrel Aged Vanilla Imperial Milk Stout
Saugatuck Brewing Company

Undated 12 oz can from the Michigan brewery.

Appearance. A thin, weak head soon recedes to a thin ring over the opaque, near black body.

Light vanilla in the nose with vanilla most clearly apparent in the aftertaste. The flavor also has notes of dark roasted grains, coffee, whiskey barrel, and chocolate, plus some subtle whiskey. It seems overly sweet; a trait encouraged by the use of vanilla
Improved with some warming.

A- This pours like a fine grade motor oil....it seems pretty thick coming out of the can! It is very dark brown....almost black in color and there is no way anyone is looking through this one. The head is an off burnt caramel colour, almost like a cooked brown sugar and is only maybe half a finger in thickness, before shedding itself quickly into a very thin ring around the inside of the glass. There is some fine carbonation rising around the outside glass, maintaining this thin ring that was noted......the lacing is oily, leaving only behind a liquid film on my glass and no known foam. An interesting, yet underwhelming looking stout.

S- A very robust deep and dark aroma overall.....there are heavy influences of vanilla bean that has been freshly scored out of the pod, dark French roast coffee bean and a chocolatey tone that border between both dark and milk varieties....like a dark chocolate chip to be honest. There is some dark/burnt malt, burnt toffee and smooth alcohol aromas abound, leading to the finish, which is creamy and of Earthy char....not much for hop bitterness, but some ashy burnt cocoa crisp.

T- Delectable! This has all the makings of a high end craft ice cream, with dark vanilla, milky chocolate, mocha coffee, slight rum barrel aging, heavy cream, caramel and/or toffee sweetness, medium dark barley malts and a tinge of cleansing hop bitterness on the finish. I find overall that especially as this warms, the creaminess of the lactose intensifies the vanilla flavor and it becomes much more dessert like!

M/O- This is heavy in body for sure and the carbonation is velvety smooth, allowing the intense flavors to coat and seep into the palate in a lovingly way. The alcohol, at over 10%, is superbly well hidden and I don't believe I am enjoying a beer this boozy....honestly! The drinkability is good for something of this style and while I'm not sure I'd have a second can (maybe!!!) in a sitting, I am thoroughly enjoying this one and think anyone who enjoys a proper milk/imperial stout, will enjoy this! I cant wait to try the next two in the series and highly recommend this one.....a real Winter Warmer....so to speak!