Headline Milk Stout
North Brewing Company

A- Pours out of the can a solid dark brown/charcoal black like colour and seems clear enough, but is opaque enough to not see through. The head is caramel in colour, starts out around two and a half fingers in thickness, before gently settling into a half finger layer of milky foam over top the liquid.....super creamy! As for the lacing it is also super creamy, provides a nice layer over the inside of the glass, super sticky and clings very well....one of the better lacings that I have seen in some time! Overall this is a fine looking milk stout!

S- This has a generalized dark chocolate and black coffee aroma, with plenty of background notes of vanilla, lactose, dairy cream and bready yeast about! The vanilla in particular is noted, and gives off vibes of a Christmas chocoalte vanilla creme truffle. Also noted are muted caramello chocolate bar, even some sweetened coconut and smooth milk chocolate are wafting into my nostrils. The finish is sweet, yet curt and overall this smells dessert like.

T- The flavours, while somewhat following the aromas lead, are more like a traditional stout, but of course with the aforementioned lactose sweetness. There is some coffee cream effect, along with dark/milk chocolate, vanilla infused half & half creamer, yeasty robustness, and some chocolate and/or black malt bitterness. The finish, as just stated, is slightly bitter, yet balanced by some lactose sweetness, and a tinge of vanilla that lingers for a couple of minutes after the swallow.

M/O- This has a creamy, medium body, and as said, the carbonation is creamy smooth...very nice! The drinkability is good in my opinion, that being that this is a sweet stout, but it isnt in your face, and is actually very much what I would call a traditional milk stout.....creamy sweet but maintaining a good portion of the original character....the bitterness is key on the finish. Would pair well with a beef stew, chocolate based cake, but also does well on its' own. A winner and I'd have this again if given the chance!

Dark brown with a tall foamy head leaving lots of lacing. Sweet creamy milk nose. Medium chocolate malt body, slightly more crisp than smooth. Lighter weight.

 

 

Picked this up at Cristal Wine Merchants in Bedford

A: Black with tan head
S: Coffee, nothing strong. I can barely smell anything, to be honest.
T: Bitter cocoa with some sweetness.
F: A bit creamy.