Gingerbread Stout
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
- From:
- Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- Sweet / Milk Stout
Ranked #27 - ABV:
- 9.2%
- Score:
- 95
Ranked #1,516 - Avg:
- 4.29 | pDev: 10.72%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 270
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 14, 2026
- Added:
- Dec 08, 2011
- Wants:
- 669
- Gots:
- 531
SCORE
95
World-Class
95
World-Class
Brewed with baby ginger from Casselmonte Farm and wildflower honey from Bearer Farms, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout captures the terroir of central Virginia in a rich, creamy libation with a velvety mouthfeel and an intriguing evolution of flavors from milk chocolate and vanilla to honeycomb and cinnamon to a snap of ginger in the finish.
Deep, dark chocolate in color with a mahogany tint and a frothy, caramel colored head, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout offers aromatics of holiday spice originating from the ginger, and balanced with a generous dose of whole Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans and Vietnamese cinnamon. Milk sugar (lactose) contributes to the full body of this stout and tames its roasty character, while oats lend a silky quality. Enjoy fresh, or cellar for a special occasion. We hope Hardywood Gingerbread Stout contributes to your merriment this season.
55 IBU
Deep, dark chocolate in color with a mahogany tint and a frothy, caramel colored head, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout offers aromatics of holiday spice originating from the ginger, and balanced with a generous dose of whole Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans and Vietnamese cinnamon. Milk sugar (lactose) contributes to the full body of this stout and tames its roasty character, while oats lend a silky quality. Enjoy fresh, or cellar for a special occasion. We hope Hardywood Gingerbread Stout contributes to your merriment this season.
55 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Reef:
Reviewed by Reef from South Carolina
4.74/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.74/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
16 oz can dated 11/4/24 "Catch Me If You Can"
Pours a deep mahogany with small fine tan head. Spotty lacing, surface ring.
Strong ginger, brown sugar, malt aromas.
Ginger, molasses, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, light fig flavors.
Smooth and creamy. Chewy vanilla and cinnamon up front. Full bodied, low carbonation, lingering ginger flavor. Low alcohol heat. Sweetness and vanilla develop as the glass warms.
Full strength imperial milk stout with gingerbread. Perfect for a snow day.
Jan 22, 2025Pours a deep mahogany with small fine tan head. Spotty lacing, surface ring.
Strong ginger, brown sugar, malt aromas.
Ginger, molasses, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, light fig flavors.
Smooth and creamy. Chewy vanilla and cinnamon up front. Full bodied, low carbonation, lingering ginger flavor. Low alcohol heat. Sweetness and vanilla develop as the glass warms.
Full strength imperial milk stout with gingerbread. Perfect for a snow day.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina
4.06/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.06/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Look: It pours dark brown with a tan head. Head retention is low.
Smell: It has ginger aromas with roast. There are some dark chocolate with cinnamon notes.
Taste: It has chocolate, roast and ginger flavors up front with vanilla and cinnamon.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a silky texture. The finish is tilted towards the sweet side.
Overall, a quality blend of flavors and nice alcohol warming.
Feb 14, 2026Smell: It has ginger aromas with roast. There are some dark chocolate with cinnamon notes.
Taste: It has chocolate, roast and ginger flavors up front with vanilla and cinnamon.
Feel: It has a medium full body with a silky texture. The finish is tilted towards the sweet side.
Overall, a quality blend of flavors and nice alcohol warming.
Reviewed by tradershmulie from Connecticut
4.02/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -6.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thought I had this before and rated it...but here goes...
Pour is fine, good dark color, head leaves quickly.
No real nose which is disappointing - from this beer was really hoping for some good smell.
Taste is fine. Again, was really hoping for something to kick in for all the flavors...hard to find a kosher beer with that much flavorings.
Fine beer, disappointing for flavoring.
Dec 15, 2025Pour is fine, good dark color, head leaves quickly.
No real nose which is disappointing - from this beer was really hoping for some good smell.
Taste is fine. Again, was really hoping for something to kick in for all the flavors...hard to find a kosher beer with that much flavorings.
Fine beer, disappointing for flavoring.
Reviewed by beergoot from Colorado
4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Clear, dark brown pour; opaque in the glass; fairly dense and persistent head, thick and light khaki colored; Pleasant scent; roasted malts, gingerbread, holiday cookie spices. Wonderful taste; milk chocolate and cocoa powder baseline; light brown sugar; notes of ginger and cinnamon; vanilla sweetness; minor sense of bitterness. Rich, silky mouthfeel; coats the palate with a fine and pleasant chewy sweetness.
The taste will wow you and the mouthfeel will leave lingering feelings of dark, sweet goodness on the palate. A super beer!
ABV: 9.2%; pouring temperature: 49.6 °F; canning info: 10/9/25
Source: unsure
Dec 14, 2025The taste will wow you and the mouthfeel will leave lingering feelings of dark, sweet goodness on the palate. A super beer!
ABV: 9.2%; pouring temperature: 49.6 °F; canning info: 10/9/25
Source: unsure
Reviewed by HardWied
4.1/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours very dark with reddish amber around the edges. Nose is heavy on the ginger, hmmm this is new. Taste follows the nose with ginger being very forward. Someone else mentioned ginger snap cookies and that nails it for me. A mix of ginger and molasses. Very nice flavor and fairly drinkable for the ABV. Everyone else is talking about snow falling on cedars and I'm drinking this beer in the dead of summer. Oh well, it's pretty damn good. Enjoy
Aug 12, 2025
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York
3.95/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.95/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours with rich red highlights on the edges of this clear black Stout. The head forms a brief, thin, almond head of fine foam. The head quickly forms a ring, leaving no lace on a Pretentious Glass Company Imperial Snifter.
Both the gingerbread and cinnamon open strong against a background of roasted malt that is slight, yet distinctly discernable. Warmth brings out vanilla.
Roasted malt is much more present in the flavor, with cinnamon, then ginger, following. It is fairly sweet on entry, allowing bitterness to build in the slowly approaching then receding finish.\
It has a medium to full body with a soft, smooth texture of cashmere. The alcohol has a light warming sensation and is generally as expected. Carbonation is light and fizzy.
This is a fun Christmas beer and definitely better fresh than after three months of age.
Mar 08, 2025Both the gingerbread and cinnamon open strong against a background of roasted malt that is slight, yet distinctly discernable. Warmth brings out vanilla.
Roasted malt is much more present in the flavor, with cinnamon, then ginger, following. It is fairly sweet on entry, allowing bitterness to build in the slowly approaching then receding finish.\
It has a medium to full body with a soft, smooth texture of cashmere. The alcohol has a light warming sensation and is generally as expected. Carbonation is light and fizzy.
This is a fun Christmas beer and definitely better fresh than after three months of age.
Reviewed by timobkg from New Jersey
2.32/5 rDev -45.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
2.32/5 rDev -45.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
Pours a dark, reddish brown with practically no head.
Aroma is an unpleasant mix of spices and pinesol - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and pinesol cleaner.
The flavor is a mess of spices. There's that same mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger combined like a toddler got into the spice cabinet and started shaking things indiscriminately, laid over a foundation of sweet molasses.
The mouth feel is nice.
Overall, this beer is a mess. Far from "Christmas in a glass", it's more like "A mess of Christmas spices in a glass." I don't know if they changed the recipe or something, but this was pretty unpleasant and not a beer I'd want to drink again. I kept trying it, in hopes that I just got a bad can, but it was consistently unpleasant.
Feb 12, 2025Aroma is an unpleasant mix of spices and pinesol - cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ginger, and pinesol cleaner.
The flavor is a mess of spices. There's that same mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ginger combined like a toddler got into the spice cabinet and started shaking things indiscriminately, laid over a foundation of sweet molasses.
The mouth feel is nice.
Overall, this beer is a mess. Far from "Christmas in a glass", it's more like "A mess of Christmas spices in a glass." I don't know if they changed the recipe or something, but this was pretty unpleasant and not a beer I'd want to drink again. I kept trying it, in hopes that I just got a bad can, but it was consistently unpleasant.
Reviewed by Radome from Florida
3.92/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from a 16 oz can into a snifter. Strong spiced aroma, but it doesn't smell like gingerbread to me. Instead, I get cardamom to a level that is slightly off-putting. Luckily, the flavors are much more appealing, with some gingerbread and honey before the cardamom comes back late in the palate. Medium to heavy body has some silkiness and a low creamy carbonation. Low to medium hops bitterness with warming alcohol. I found this to be an interesting pastry stout, but with its off the scale spice notes, I didn't think it was worth the high ratings others gave it. Perhaps the brewery has changed the recipe, or I just got a beer from a batch where the spice mix was a bit off.
Jan 08, 2025
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
4.26/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.26/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
19.2 ounce can poured into a goblet.
L: Very dark brown, 1/2” beige head, foam leaves slick sheets of lace and recedes to a collar and a sparse cap in a minute or so.
S: Mineral (iron) notes and ginger, caramel, mild alcohol.
T: Ginger forward, coffee and vanilla cream, baking spice and lactose flavor, finishes sweet.
F: Medium bodied, medium carbonation, a bit creamy, goes down smooth and warm with a small finishing bite.
O: Heavy duty seasonal sipper, enough sweetness to balance the spice character.
Jan 06, 2025L: Very dark brown, 1/2” beige head, foam leaves slick sheets of lace and recedes to a collar and a sparse cap in a minute or so.
S: Mineral (iron) notes and ginger, caramel, mild alcohol.
T: Ginger forward, coffee and vanilla cream, baking spice and lactose flavor, finishes sweet.
F: Medium bodied, medium carbonation, a bit creamy, goes down smooth and warm with a small finishing bite.
O: Heavy duty seasonal sipper, enough sweetness to balance the spice character.
Reviewed by maltbeard01 from Pennsylvania
4.33/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Poured room temp from a can into a 16oz pint glass. Appearance is opague dark brown. Initial 2-finger khaki head faded somewhat quickly to a thin ring around the rim. Little lacing.
Aroma is roastiness, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, baking spice, chocolate tones.
Taste is that of a gingerbread cookie. Sweet malt and honey, vanilla, cinnamon. Roasty malt.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Just shy of full bodied but with some chew. Tiny carbonation bubbles give this a velvety mouthfeel. Alcohol is well-concealed.
Overall this is a nice holiday sweet treat. Fits the milk stout profile, add in some baking spices and ginger and wham! Your drinking a liquid gingerbread cookie. Not really as cloying as I was thinking it was going to be. Decent balance, definitely leans sweet though. Good dessert beer on a cold winter night. Would get this one again.
Dec 23, 2024Aroma is roastiness, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, baking spice, chocolate tones.
Taste is that of a gingerbread cookie. Sweet malt and honey, vanilla, cinnamon. Roasty malt.
Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Just shy of full bodied but with some chew. Tiny carbonation bubbles give this a velvety mouthfeel. Alcohol is well-concealed.
Overall this is a nice holiday sweet treat. Fits the milk stout profile, add in some baking spices and ginger and wham! Your drinking a liquid gingerbread cookie. Not really as cloying as I was thinking it was going to be. Decent balance, definitely leans sweet though. Good dessert beer on a cold winter night. Would get this one again.
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!