Type Set
18th Street Brewery - Gary Taproom

Pours black with a dark tan head that is a pinky finger thick and absolutely no lacing. The first aroma I get in the nose is roasty coffee, followed immediately by the maple and cinnamon, and a bit of chocolate. Wow.

The maple is actually way up front on the taste, then a bit of roastiness from the coffee, then a little spice from the cinnamon and a truckload of milk chocolate at the very end.

And then, just when you think this beer is done favoring you with its savory flavors, you receive the gift of booze, courtesy of the barrel, just a subtle hint, but warming in the best possible way.

The mouthfeel is full and creamy, to the style. 18th Street crushed this, IMHO.

22oz waxed bomber courtesy of that madman ovaltine. No freshness date that I can find. According to the label, this is a "barrel aged milk stout with cinnamon coffee, vanilla beans, cocoa nibs and maple added." It also says "do not cellar." Oops. Been sitting on this at least 6mos...

Poured into a big Tripel Karmeliet tulip glass, this was the color of the sky going to and from work this Xmas Day. Surprisingly long lasting mocha colored head. Not much lace.

The adjuncts rule the nose, and while I get a whiff of all of them, the maple rules the adjuncts. So, a maple bomb, then...

Wait! Sure, the maple is the dominant flavor, but the barrel aging and the cinnamon coffee are not going down without a fight! And it all blends wonderfully together. Very slight, acidity as well in the finish. Lacto is not mentioned, but is subtly nodded to.

Big, creamy body and mouthfeel to this.

Great dessert beer, and a welcome holiday treat after working 12 hours on Christmas. Thanks, Mike!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pours opaque black, no head aside from a thing mocha collar and slight film. Nose is strongly maple you front. You can smell it from a foot or two away. Coffee and vanilla notes follow. Coffee smells pretty thin, not robust or roasty. Maple softens a bit as it warms while cocoa emerges more. Taste follows in line with nose- maple, coffee, slight vanilla. Taste is roastier than the smell. Barrel comes out more as it warms, heat is nearly undetectable. Definitely a touch of smoke as well. some cocoa notes on the finish. Marshmallow note comes through as it reaches room temp. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Nicely balanced beer overall. Not at all a pastry stout as one might presume based on the ingredients.