Dragon’s Milk Reserve Orange Chocolate | New Holland Brewing Company
Brewed by:
New Holland Brewing Company
Michigan, United States
newhollandbrew.com
Style: American Imperial Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 11.00%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Roasty notes of Dragon’s Milk blended with the zestiness of real orange peel and the richness of cocoa.
Added by superspak on 10-21-2018
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 27 | Reviews: 11
3.7/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Pitch black pour with medium to thin toffee colored lacing.
S - Forward aromatic orange aroma with some chocolate, cocoa, and a shot of bourbon underneath.
T - The orange tang is oily and very aggressive from start to finish. Underneath is chocolate, cocoa, and bourbon.
M - Thick, viscous, and lip smacking sticky.
O - The orange zest in this beer is overpowering and detracts from the overall potential it could be. New Holland needs to dial back the orange peel and I need to cellar the remaining three bottles to allow the overpowering orange to fade to an acceptable equilibrium.
600 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Pitch black pour with medium to thin toffee colored lacing.
S - Forward aromatic orange aroma with some chocolate, cocoa, and a shot of bourbon underneath.
T - The orange tang is oily and very aggressive from start to finish. Underneath is chocolate, cocoa, and bourbon.
M - Thick, viscous, and lip smacking sticky.
O - The orange zest in this beer is overpowering and detracts from the overall potential it could be. New Holland needs to dial back the orange peel and I need to cellar the remaining three bottles to allow the overpowering orange to fade to an acceptable equilibrium.
600 characters
3.81/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
12oz bottled 11/19/18 (2 months ago) poured into a NH high gravity series tulip glass at fridge temp 11% ABV. The beer pours dense black with only a hint of ruby highlights under bright light. The head is mocha colored and recedes to a film and thin ring. Spotty lacing. The aroma is orange and chocolate in that order. The taste is semisweet orange rolling into light bourbon and chocolate with a medium bitter finish. Imagine a bourbon orange chocolate candy in liquid form, but not cloying or overly sweet. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. Overall, pretty good. Done with an emphasis on orange, but allowing all the elements to be sensed.
Edit: I'm not loving this one as much as it warms. More rubbing alcohol and thinner feel. YMMV
798 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
12oz bottled 11/19/18 (2 months ago) poured into a NH high gravity series tulip glass at fridge temp 11% ABV. The beer pours dense black with only a hint of ruby highlights under bright light. The head is mocha colored and recedes to a film and thin ring. Spotty lacing. The aroma is orange and chocolate in that order. The taste is semisweet orange rolling into light bourbon and chocolate with a medium bitter finish. Imagine a bourbon orange chocolate candy in liquid form, but not cloying or overly sweet. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, adequately carbonated and mostly dry in the finish. Overall, pretty good. Done with an emphasis on orange, but allowing all the elements to be sensed.
Edit: I'm not loving this one as much as it warms. More rubbing alcohol and thinner feel. YMMV
798 characters
2.76/5 rDev -27.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
overpowering artificial orange flavor, missing chocolate flavor, doesn't taste like stout, maybe like stout mixed with orange wine cooler. they tried and failed.
161 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.75
overpowering artificial orange flavor, missing chocolate flavor, doesn't taste like stout, maybe like stout mixed with orange wine cooler. they tried and failed.
161 characters
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.07/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Orange is beer is one of my favorite. I was excited for this Brew, I like dragons milk original. This is outstanding. I think the Goose Island midnight orange is better but this is a close 2nd. My complaint is that the feel of it is a let down
243 characters
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Orange is beer is one of my favorite. I was excited for this Brew, I like dragons milk original. This is outstanding. I think the Goose Island midnight orange is better but this is a close 2nd. My complaint is that the feel of it is a let down
243 characters
3.01/5 rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Typical Dragon's Milk pour... nearly black with 1.5 fingers of brown head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Overpowering orange... very light chocolate in the background.
T/F: Again just overpowering with the orange... tastes like one of those nasty orange cream chocolates that you get in a box of Russel Stovers. Totally dominates the beer.. chocolate is more muted... not picking up any bourbon or vanilla at all. Medium bodied... actually worse as it warms.
O: Just awful... I usually love the Dragon's Milk variants but to me this is just 'bad pie'. 3 more bottles... egad...
644 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.75
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Typical Dragon's Milk pour... nearly black with 1.5 fingers of brown head. Nice ring of lacing.
S: Overpowering orange... very light chocolate in the background.
T/F: Again just overpowering with the orange... tastes like one of those nasty orange cream chocolates that you get in a box of Russel Stovers. Totally dominates the beer.. chocolate is more muted... not picking up any bourbon or vanilla at all. Medium bodied... actually worse as it warms.
O: Just awful... I usually love the Dragon's Milk variants but to me this is just 'bad pie'. 3 more bottles... egad...
644 characters
2.74/5 rDev -28.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Love the dragon's milk series, do not love this entry. Orange is artificial and way to powerful in the taste, cocoa is swallowed up, like a sweet and salty orange soda liqueur in taste, with rubbing alcohol and roasted malt, hard pass. Ironically it looked and smelled pretty good, with candied orange, chocolate and some warm booze, but not complex, and appearance looked like typical dragons milk. Feel is thin and burns a little. Drain pour, how did this pass quality control?
483 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Love the dragon's milk series, do not love this entry. Orange is artificial and way to powerful in the taste, cocoa is swallowed up, like a sweet and salty orange soda liqueur in taste, with rubbing alcohol and roasted malt, hard pass. Ironically it looked and smelled pretty good, with candied orange, chocolate and some warm booze, but not complex, and appearance looked like typical dragons milk. Feel is thin and burns a little. Drain pour, how did this pass quality control?
483 characters
2.49/5 rDev -34.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
I was very excited to try this, I'm a big fan of Dragon's Milk. I've enjoyed some of the other flavors they have melded in.
I found this to be very disappointing. Astringent and Rubbing Alcohol have been mentioned, that was exactly what came to mind when I tasted it.
It tasted like they put a shot of Absolut Citron in each bottle.
334 characters
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
I was very excited to try this, I'm a big fan of Dragon's Milk. I've enjoyed some of the other flavors they have melded in.
I found this to be very disappointing. Astringent and Rubbing Alcohol have been mentioned, that was exactly what came to mind when I tasted it.
It tasted like they put a shot of Absolut Citron in each bottle.
334 characters
4.15/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Delicious new Dragon’s Milk variant that I really enjoyed. Pours a nice deep black color with some nice tan head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of one of those chocolate-orange wedge desserts, along with just a hint of bourbon and wood. Tastes of nice bourbon, malt, oak, milk chocolate, light roast coffee, vanilla and a nice hit of orange. Almost reminds me of some of the notes of a good orange liqueur, though not quite with much bitterness. Smooth, rich, decadent, nice thick mouthfeel that coats the palate somewhat. Good carbonation. Nice warming alcohol and as the beer warmed there was more of a slow burn in the aftertaste. I thoroughly enjoyed this one more than other variants of Dragon’s Milk and would look for others in my local store.
759 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Delicious new Dragon’s Milk variant that I really enjoyed. Pours a nice deep black color with some nice tan head and spotty lingering lacing. Smells of one of those chocolate-orange wedge desserts, along with just a hint of bourbon and wood. Tastes of nice bourbon, malt, oak, milk chocolate, light roast coffee, vanilla and a nice hit of orange. Almost reminds me of some of the notes of a good orange liqueur, though not quite with much bitterness. Smooth, rich, decadent, nice thick mouthfeel that coats the palate somewhat. Good carbonation. Nice warming alcohol and as the beer warmed there was more of a slow burn in the aftertaste. I thoroughly enjoyed this one more than other variants of Dragon’s Milk and would look for others in my local store.
759 characters
4.69/5 rDev +22.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
3.89/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.55/5 rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thin body, orange zest forward, no chocolate, no stout like qualities, semi astringent, big disappointment.
107 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Thin body, orange zest forward, no chocolate, no stout like qualities, semi astringent, big disappointment.
107 characters
4.49/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.01/5 rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.75/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.23/5 rDev -15.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
3.61/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Pours black with finger of tan head that has pretty good retention. Strings of lacing all around the glass.
Aroma - The orange is strong with this one, light vanilla and chocolate. I am not really getting much else. I am a little surprise the bourbon is so subdued.
Taste - taste is not for me, I am actually getting more of a rubbing alcohol taste. Very light orange not much else.
Feel - Pretty thin, burn and lots of aftertaste of rubbing alcohol.
Overall - Got a four pack so i will give this another shot but I really like the nose just not a fan of the flavors.
584 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Pours black with finger of tan head that has pretty good retention. Strings of lacing all around the glass.
Aroma - The orange is strong with this one, light vanilla and chocolate. I am not really getting much else. I am a little surprise the bourbon is so subdued.
Taste - taste is not for me, I am actually getting more of a rubbing alcohol taste. Very light orange not much else.
Feel - Pretty thin, burn and lots of aftertaste of rubbing alcohol.
Overall - Got a four pack so i will give this another shot but I really like the nose just not a fan of the flavors.
584 characters
4.53/5 rDev +18.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Just got this one in and had to try it.... it disappointed at all. Dark rich color. Smooth pour and a aroma that catches you. It feels weighty when you drink it ....I’m a orange and chocolate fan to begin with, the notes of each flavor is there unlike some.... this is limited so I had to grab more.
304 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Just got this one in and had to try it.... it disappointed at all. Dark rich color. Smooth pour and a aroma that catches you. It feels weighty when you drink it ....I’m a orange and chocolate fan to begin with, the notes of each flavor is there unlike some.... this is limited so I had to grab more.
304 characters
4.24/5 rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dragon’s Milk Reserve Orange Chocolate from New Holland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
3.82 out of
5 with
27 ratings
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