Old Choco Mint Chocolate Milk Stout
Thirsty Dog Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

This beer continues yet another (!) brewery horizontal as I work to eradicate the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody. I am thinking that these must have been part of a mixed-12 pack or a case at Country Garden Six Pack at one point & then they decided to single them out. No matter to me! I was happy to take one of each. I usually go lowest to highest in terms of ABV, but the first one was slightly out of turn due to the previous beer also being an Oktoberfest/Märzen. Please forgive my transgression as I get things back on track!

From the Bottle: "Unleash the Flavor"; "This smooth, creamy milk stout is rich with flavors from the addition of cocoa nibs, and fresh mint."

I was both curious & anxious to try this one as I Pop!ped the cap. Girl Scout Thin Mints are my faves & on the rare occasion that I eat ice cream, mint chocolate chip is usually my choice (sorry, Saul Goodman). My slow, gentle C-Line pour still created a pseudo-cascade that led to massive foaming! I let things settle into two-plus fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, deep-brown head with moderate retention before proceeding. Color was Very Dark Brown to Black/Opaque (SRM = > 34, < 44) with garnet highlights at the edges. Nose was redolent with mint, underlain by an unquantifiable chocolatiness - I could not discern whether it was Baker's, semi-sweet or milk. Mmm. Mouthfeel was big, full & creamy, like a dollop had been scooped into my mouth & onto my tongue. As far as the taste, let me consult this site's "Style Guide" - "Malt sweetness, chocolate, and caramel should dominate the flavor profile" and yet it was still the mint that was dominant. Personally, it was fine, but if I am rating to style, then it needs to be dunned accordingly. As to its chocolatiness, I would say it was more like sweet milk chocolate than anything bitter or semi-sweet. Finish was in that Twilight Zone between semi-sweet & semi-dry, again due to the prevalence of mint. I liked it just fine, but it was not a great example of the style. YMMV.

 

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is strong of mint, some chocolate in the background. Taste reminds me of Thin Mints, Girl Scout cookies, a bit of roasted malts as well. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a quality beer worth trying.

 

I thought the flavor was faint but there. Overall a prerry good stout. Its a sipper for sure and not a chugger. Id buy a whole pack though if I find it. Good beer!

 

 

Pours deep dark brown
Smells strongly of both chocolate and mint
Taste is bitter chocolate and mint. Mint lingers a bit at the finish.
Mouthfeel is thin with strong carbonation.
Overall it's a little too bitter for me... I wanted something sweeter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but is a recent seasonal release. Pours crystal clear nearly opaque dark brown color with a 2 finger dense and rocky light khaki head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Nice dense soapy lacing clings down the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big peppermint, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, cream, toasted dark bread, herbal, light smoke/nuttiness, and roast/toasted earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of mint, roast/bready malt, lactose, and light earthy hop notes; with great strength. Taste of big peppermint, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, cream, toasted dark bread, herbal, light smoke/nuttiness, and roast/toasted earthiness. Light herbal hop/mint and roast bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of peppermint, milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, cream, toasted dark bread, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of mint, roast/bready malt, lactose, and light earthy hop flavors; with a great roasted bitter/sweet balance, and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Minimal dryness. Slight lingering mint cooling after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky, and slightly sticky/chalky mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol as expected of 5.5%. Overall this is an awesome milk stout! All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of mint, roast/bready malt, lactose, and light earthy hop flavors; very smooth and easy to drink. Great presence of mint flavors without overpowering the base stout; and an impressive mouthfeel from the lactose. A very enjoyable offering.