Hold On To Sunshine
Tree House Brewing Company
- From:
- Tree House Brewing Company
- Massachusetts, United States
- Style:
- Sweet / Milk Stout
Ranked #6 - ABV:
- 7.6%
- Score:
- 99
Ranked #200 - Avg:
- 4.49 | pDev: 6.68%
- Reviews:
- 104
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 14, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 15, 2017
- Wants:
- 50
- Gots:
- 76
SCORE
99
World-Class
99
World-Class
Hold On To Sunshine is a rich and delicious stout intended to be savored and enjoyed as we enter the cool Autumn months here in New England. Brewed with Pale and Chocolate malts, Lactose, Coffee, Cacao, and Peanut Butter, it exhibits notes of rich milk chocolate, dark brown sugar, creamy espresso, and chocolate covered peanut butter cups. A luxurious mouthfeel and creamy body contribute to a beer that feels much bigger than it is - a decadent treat and one that won't overwhelm you with heaviness, yet is loaded with delicious bold flavors that express themselves as it warms. Life can come at us fast and hit us with unexpected hardship, inducing stress, fear, anger, confusion, sadness, and uncertainty. But together we must find solace and comfort in each other, and in something wonderful, equal, and free for everyone to hold on to - Sunshine. For Lauren.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by Bishop from Wisconsin
4.44/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.44/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
16oz can dated simply "2025", courtesy of BIF '25 @roguer.
Pours jet black with 3 inches of mocha-tan head from not-all-that-aggressive of a pour; head is bubbly and persists. Smells of peanut, butterscotch, caramel, and chocolate; I do not personally pick up coffee over the other dominate flavors. Taste is on the sweeter side with roasted peanut, bourbon, oak, and dark chocolate up front with vanilla and coffee taking a backseat. Mouthfeel is creamy, somewhat slick on the tongue, moderately carbonated. Finish is chocolate-covered peanuts with slight hop bitterness that turns sweet. This would be a great after dinner beer. I didn't expect to start my Friday dessert first, but hey, we're all adults.
Mar 14, 2025Pours jet black with 3 inches of mocha-tan head from not-all-that-aggressive of a pour; head is bubbly and persists. Smells of peanut, butterscotch, caramel, and chocolate; I do not personally pick up coffee over the other dominate flavors. Taste is on the sweeter side with roasted peanut, bourbon, oak, and dark chocolate up front with vanilla and coffee taking a backseat. Mouthfeel is creamy, somewhat slick on the tongue, moderately carbonated. Finish is chocolate-covered peanuts with slight hop bitterness that turns sweet. This would be a great after dinner beer. I didn't expect to start my Friday dessert first, but hey, we're all adults.
Rated by dpgrifs from Pennsylvania
4.13/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.13/5 rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
The only knock, for me, is the peanut flavor. I love peanut’s with my beer, just not brewed in it.
Jan 13, 2024
Reviewed by Blogjackets from Ohio
4.48/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.48/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from a pint can, a coffee black body with a mocha brown head. Light lacing throughout the tasting.
Aroma is a delightful sweet coffee and chocolate with a wee hint of peanut.
Taste follows nose and adds a slightly fuller peanut flavor that pairs well with the milk chocolate and coffee flavors. The latter is more assertive in taste: bold, roasty flavor. The lactose flavor is present but it stays in the background and is subservient and complimentary to the other flavors.
Mouthfeel is creamy with solid carbonation.
Nov 24, 2023Aroma is a delightful sweet coffee and chocolate with a wee hint of peanut.
Taste follows nose and adds a slightly fuller peanut flavor that pairs well with the milk chocolate and coffee flavors. The latter is more assertive in taste: bold, roasty flavor. The lactose flavor is present but it stays in the background and is subservient and complimentary to the other flavors.
Mouthfeel is creamy with solid carbonation.
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
4.52/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.52/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look - Black with just a fantastic thick tan head and great rimming and lacing
Smell - Roasted Coffee, Chocolate, Caramel, and slight Peanut Butter
Taste - Chocolate and Peanut Butter stand out first, followed by the roasted coffee, caramel, and vanilla. Really blends well without being overlly sweet
Feel - Full, thick and creamy. Lighter carb with a slight crispness to it
Overall - Really fantastic. I'm not usually a fan of PB stouts but this one just kills it!
Sep 22, 2023Smell - Roasted Coffee, Chocolate, Caramel, and slight Peanut Butter
Taste - Chocolate and Peanut Butter stand out first, followed by the roasted coffee, caramel, and vanilla. Really blends well without being overlly sweet
Feel - Full, thick and creamy. Lighter carb with a slight crispness to it
Overall - Really fantastic. I'm not usually a fan of PB stouts but this one just kills it!
Rated by RT-Kris from New York
4.42/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.42/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Super tasty very dark desert beer. Very thick and a bit overpowering so one will do it.
Jun 28, 2023
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire
4/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Can from Jeff, thanks for the hookup!
Inky black with a huge frothy creamy light tan head that slowly recedes. Rich milk chocolate and creamed coffee with bits of licorice and dark fruits. Pretty nice!
Mar 12, 2023Inky black with a huge frothy creamy light tan head that slowly recedes. Rich milk chocolate and creamed coffee with bits of licorice and dark fruits. Pretty nice!
Reviewed by JJKBeerLvr from Pennsylvania
4.56/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 16oz can into pint glass in February 2023, that I purchased at their brewery in Charlton, MA. There is a date of Winter 2023 on the bottom of the can, and I drank this about 1 month after I purchased it.
Appearance: Very dark black with 1-finger head. The head was dark brown, and disappeared after a minute. It left only a little lacing on the glass, and no head remained after a minute.
Smell: Strong mix of aromas filled the room as soon as the can was opened. Roasted coffee, caramel, and chocolate aromas. Not much hop style citrus or pine aromas.
Taste: There is taste of coffee, chocolate, and licorice. Also, some vanilla, peanut butter, and roasted malt flavors. They are more balanced than I expected from the aroma. Flavors are very bold. There is a strong alcohol presence that matches 7.6% advertised. A sweet chocolate, and vanilla aftertaste with edge of coffee, that is really enjoyable.
Mouth-feel: Very thick, but with an extremely smooth and creamy body.
This is a very good Porter, and one of the best Porters I have ever drank. It has a variety of flavors that adds a nice complexity to the beer. The balance of flavors is outstanding. The flavors of coffee and roasted malt nicely balance the bitter coffee with the sweet chocolate and caramel flavors. This is even better than the Tree House Cartharsis Porter, which is very good. This is very smooth and enjoyable to drink. I have enjoyed all the beers I've bought at Tree House, and I would buy this again.
Feb 26, 2023Appearance: Very dark black with 1-finger head. The head was dark brown, and disappeared after a minute. It left only a little lacing on the glass, and no head remained after a minute.
Smell: Strong mix of aromas filled the room as soon as the can was opened. Roasted coffee, caramel, and chocolate aromas. Not much hop style citrus or pine aromas.
Taste: There is taste of coffee, chocolate, and licorice. Also, some vanilla, peanut butter, and roasted malt flavors. They are more balanced than I expected from the aroma. Flavors are very bold. There is a strong alcohol presence that matches 7.6% advertised. A sweet chocolate, and vanilla aftertaste with edge of coffee, that is really enjoyable.
Mouth-feel: Very thick, but with an extremely smooth and creamy body.
This is a very good Porter, and one of the best Porters I have ever drank. It has a variety of flavors that adds a nice complexity to the beer. The balance of flavors is outstanding. The flavors of coffee and roasted malt nicely balance the bitter coffee with the sweet chocolate and caramel flavors. This is even better than the Tree House Cartharsis Porter, which is very good. This is very smooth and enjoyable to drink. I have enjoyed all the beers I've bought at Tree House, and I would buy this again.
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.08/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.08/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark brown with a half finger of audibly fizzy dark khaki head that quickly settles into a lasting crown. No real lacing.
Roast peanuts, peanut butter, roasted malt and quality breakfast blend coffee in the aroma.
The taste spotlights peanut butter, very light chocolate and caramel and some roastiness from the complementary coffee.
Creamy, full bodied feel with a mouth-coating oiliness and light zip to the carbonation.
Peanut beers aren’t my thing, but this is a very nicely made one.
Feb 20, 2023Roast peanuts, peanut butter, roasted malt and quality breakfast blend coffee in the aroma.
The taste spotlights peanut butter, very light chocolate and caramel and some roastiness from the complementary coffee.
Creamy, full bodied feel with a mouth-coating oiliness and light zip to the carbonation.
Peanut beers aren’t my thing, but this is a very nicely made one.
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