Mike's Udderlicious Milk Stout
Mike's Organic Brewery

Pours a dark coffee colour, letting some light through. Head is deep beige, creamy and smooth, just a thin crown but very nice-looking.

Smells quite stouty but also spicy. Dark rye notes, with a touch of toastiness, some cinnamon and licorice providing texture on the back. Not really chocolatey or sweet, but not bad.

Lots of vanilla on the palate, and plenty of other spices too. Chocolate is more prominent here, malts giving that kind of flavour with a touch of sweetness on the back. More cinnamon and licorice, and yeah plenty of vanilla late. Pretty nice but not quite what I was expecting from the style.

Full body, pretty smooth as it goes down.

Not a bad milk stout. Creamy texture, bit of spice adds interest but not quite reaching the mark for the style. I can imagine dark beer haters recoiling from this, at least a little bit.

Tried on tap at GABS 2013 in Melbourne.

Pours a middling brown hue, faint at the edges but solidly hazed. Body is decently weighted. Head forms as a firm, golden brown ring that leaves lace in sheets. Looks really good when tilted. Good start.

Nose is slightly musty, prominent grain characters, some toastiness and a hint of acid (perhaps just coming from the dark malts). There's a rounded sweetness to it as well, but it's a little dull.

Milky but light entry on the palate that moves to a smooth roast character later. It maintains this lightness and clarity that is unusual in a stout, especially a sweet stout. The only richness comes towards the back when the sweetness really kicks in, although it still finished pretty clean and smooth.

Feel is very clean and light.

It's very drinkable stuff, and the lightness is probably a bonus, even if I'd prefer something a little heavier. As it is, it didn't blow me away personally, but I feel as though I can still appreciate it for what it is.