Dragon's Milk Reserve - Orange Chocolate
New Holland Brewing Company


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- From:
- New Holland Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,821 - ABV:
- 11%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #19,600 - Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 14.36%
- Reviews:
- 35
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 16, 2021
- Added:
- Sep 26, 2018
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 11
SCORE
86
Very Good
86
Very Good


Notes:
Roasty notes of Dragon’s Milk blended with the zestiness of real orange peel and the richness of cocoa.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by hoptheology from South Dakota
3.87/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle from jvgoor, bottled 11/20/18, poured into BOMB! snifter.
Pours out a bit thin like all Dragon's Milk beers, but thankfully forms a nice dark body with a creamy head of 1/2 finger.
Aromas of chocolate orange and very slight floral/perfumey hops.
Flavor brings a bit of roasted malt, some slight cocoa nibs, and yes a little bit of the chocolate orange candy.
Feel is abysmally thin, I don't know how they could call this a stout, I really forgot how thin this series was. Nice roasty finish, alcohol is well hidden up until the finish.
Overall, not a bad tasting beer, but as with all Dragon's Milk beers, they need to thicken it up a ton to bring it up to spec.
Feb 12, 2020Pours out a bit thin like all Dragon's Milk beers, but thankfully forms a nice dark body with a creamy head of 1/2 finger.
Aromas of chocolate orange and very slight floral/perfumey hops.
Flavor brings a bit of roasted malt, some slight cocoa nibs, and yes a little bit of the chocolate orange candy.
Feel is abysmally thin, I don't know how they could call this a stout, I really forgot how thin this series was. Nice roasty finish, alcohol is well hidden up until the finish.
Overall, not a bad tasting beer, but as with all Dragon's Milk beers, they need to thicken it up a ton to bring it up to spec.
Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida
4.16/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.16/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The label says "Orange Chocolate" and it tastes like it and it works...
No head but beautifully black, nice scent of orange and coconut that I noted with it translating to a strong orange-chocolate flavor that blended well with the one-year old bottle aged in bourbon barrels. The bourbon was not overpowering, neither in the nose or mouth, with a mouthfeel that was carbonated but just so. Overall, this was a nice change-of-pace over the normal version of this brew, and it's something that will make me keep an eye out for all the different versions they have floating out there.
Nov 11, 2019No head but beautifully black, nice scent of orange and coconut that I noted with it translating to a strong orange-chocolate flavor that blended well with the one-year old bottle aged in bourbon barrels. The bourbon was not overpowering, neither in the nose or mouth, with a mouthfeel that was carbonated but just so. Overall, this was a nice change-of-pace over the normal version of this brew, and it's something that will make me keep an eye out for all the different versions they have floating out there.
Reviewed by Franziskaner from Missouri
4.12/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.12/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black in color with a fingernail of brown around the rim and not present much elsewhere. The nose is packed with orange and just a hint of sweet bourbon and chocolate. I’m tasting bitter orangepeel with milk chocolate and some sticky sweet bourbon in the mouth and the flavor is in the finish.
Sep 07, 2019Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
3.11/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.11/5 rDev -18.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a dark brown almost black color. Thin fizzy tan head disappears quickly - cola like in appearance.
Aroma has a strong orange aroma - like a freshly sliced orange. If you kind of mentally push that aroma to the side, you get some light bourbon and vanilla notes with a nice roast malt aroma cascading over that.
Taste is unfortunately as unbalanced as the nose implies. The orange is incredibly potent with a juicy orange like flavor up front that dies out leaving some roasted malts and hot bourbon-y finish. The orange just overtakes the profile here to an unpleasant degree to the detriment of the other flavors. The more I drink it the more it reminds me of aperol - the Italian liquor - its got a strong orange flavor with some spices.
Feel is light to medium bodied for the style. Somewhat thin. Spritzy carbonation.
Overall its not a beer I'd want to drink again - the orange just didn't mesh well for me here. It comes across unbalanced, kind of rough.
Aug 15, 2019Aroma has a strong orange aroma - like a freshly sliced orange. If you kind of mentally push that aroma to the side, you get some light bourbon and vanilla notes with a nice roast malt aroma cascading over that.
Taste is unfortunately as unbalanced as the nose implies. The orange is incredibly potent with a juicy orange like flavor up front that dies out leaving some roasted malts and hot bourbon-y finish. The orange just overtakes the profile here to an unpleasant degree to the detriment of the other flavors. The more I drink it the more it reminds me of aperol - the Italian liquor - its got a strong orange flavor with some spices.
Feel is light to medium bodied for the style. Somewhat thin. Spritzy carbonation.
Overall its not a beer I'd want to drink again - the orange just didn't mesh well for me here. It comes across unbalanced, kind of rough.
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania
3.66/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.66/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
$ 20.14 (Including tax)/four-pack of 12oz bottles ($ 0.420/oz) from Adamstown Beverage, Adamstown, PA. Reviewed 6/28/19.
“BOTTLED 11/20/18” in yellow ink on shoulder of bottle. On shelf in store. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried glass coffee mug.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Brown, clear.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque.
Head – Small (Maximum two cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, below average retention, diminishing to a one to two mm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None. Expected result for 11% and BBA.
Aroma – 3.75 - Chocolate and bourbon with an occasional ghost of orange.
Flavor – 3.75 - Begins slightly bitter from the malt with the orange cutting both the bourbon and the chocolate flavors. Slight alcohol taste but no aroma (11 % ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3 – Less than medium, watery, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 3.75 – The presence of the orange raises this above the average imperial stout.
Jun 28, 2019“BOTTLED 11/20/18” in yellow ink on shoulder of bottle. On shelf in store. Stored at 42 degrees and served at 54 degrees in a hand washed and dried glass coffee mug.
Appearance – 3.5.
First pour – Brown, clear.
Body – Dark brown/black, opaque.
Head – Small (Maximum two cm, aggressive center pour), tan, medium density, below average retention, diminishing to a one to two mm crown and a thin partial cap.
Lacing – None. Expected result for 11% and BBA.
Aroma – 3.75 - Chocolate and bourbon with an occasional ghost of orange.
Flavor – 3.75 - Begins slightly bitter from the malt with the orange cutting both the bourbon and the chocolate flavors. Slight alcohol taste but no aroma (11 % ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide.
Palate – 3 – Less than medium, watery, soft carbonation.
Impression and interpretation – 3.75 – The presence of the orange raises this above the average imperial stout.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
2.92/5 rDev -23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
2.92/5 rDev -23.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Bottled 11/19/18; drank 6/17/19 @ the Yarchives.
Brown/black appearance.
A violent pour yielded a nice tan head; frothy lace.
Terry's Orange Chocolate notes in the nose...seriously, it smells just like the candy.
Creamy medium mouthfeel.
Straight up Terry's Chocolate Orange flavors...no bourbon/booze/oak at all, this tastes like some artificial orange chocolate candy.
Honestly, it's not offensive but it's not a good expression of the brewer's art.
Jun 18, 2019Brown/black appearance.
A violent pour yielded a nice tan head; frothy lace.
Terry's Orange Chocolate notes in the nose...seriously, it smells just like the candy.
Creamy medium mouthfeel.
Straight up Terry's Chocolate Orange flavors...no bourbon/booze/oak at all, this tastes like some artificial orange chocolate candy.
Honestly, it's not offensive but it's not a good expression of the brewer's art.
Reviewed by JakeSip from Pennsylvania
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.98/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
8oz draft, pours very dark brown with almost no head at all, just a few bubbles. Aromas of orange, chocolate, and bourbon. Tastes of orange, orange rind, and chocolate. Feel is a little lighter than expected for the abv, giving the impression of orange juice mixed with an imperial stout. It’s almost refreshing, and the alcohol is present but subdued. Great for breakfast or desert, but I wouldn’t want more than one in a sitting.
Jun 11, 2019Reviewed by DrDemento456 from Pennsylvania
4.5/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Trying this even though I don't like chocolate orange beers. They always use actual bitter orange rind rather than actual sweet orange candy one would expect with a dessert beer. I proceed.
A - Looks like dragons milk very dark pitch black beer with a nice 1/4 inch of deep mocha tinted foam. Love it
S - Smells quite good bourbon and chocolate is on point. Orange rind is muted but there.
T - Kind of works possibly the closest I ever had to a orange chocolate candy. Smooth bourbon tones, sweet milk chocolate, and just a pinch of bitter orange zest. Tasty.
M - Quite smooth for 11% it is quite good. Medium bodied slick and smooth.
Overall this to me is a very tasty variant of the typical dragons milk. Works better than I anticipated
May 25, 2019A - Looks like dragons milk very dark pitch black beer with a nice 1/4 inch of deep mocha tinted foam. Love it
S - Smells quite good bourbon and chocolate is on point. Orange rind is muted but there.
T - Kind of works possibly the closest I ever had to a orange chocolate candy. Smooth bourbon tones, sweet milk chocolate, and just a pinch of bitter orange zest. Tasty.
M - Quite smooth for 11% it is quite good. Medium bodied slick and smooth.
Overall this to me is a very tasty variant of the typical dragons milk. Works better than I anticipated
Reviewed by Big_BEARD87 from Georgia
4.58/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.58/5 rDev +19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
poured into snifter deep dark color that you would expect smells exactly like a chocolate covered orange quite lovely aroma mouth feel semi creamy but not heavy initial flavor is chocolate the the orange comes through the back a beautiful balance the finish is smooth but sticks around after taste is just like you have eaten a chocolate orange candy a beautifully done stout
May 18, 2019Reviewed by BlackBeerPirate from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Taste: big orange peel citrus notes, dark fancy chocolate, semi sweet, warming bourbon boozy finish. Bold, orange rind and cocoa nose. Black, opaque, very delicate lace and head. Full body. Reminds me of the chocolate covered oranges.
Apr 27, 2019Reviewed by VoodooBear from Puerto Rico
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle with the bottling date printed on the neck. Served in a Sensorik glass.
Appearance: The thick, two finger, tan colored head stays around for a very long time and leaves behind a thin foam layer and a lot of lacing in webs and patches all over the glass. Its a deep, pure black color with some very dark reddish brown showing up on the edges.
Smell: It's a strong, sweet scent of an orange creamsicle and milk chocolate. It's good, but it feels artificial and it's too simple.
Taste: It starts off very sweet and zesty with notes of fresh tangerines and orange peel. There's also some orange candy and refined sugar. At the end there are some darker notes of roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee with some alcohol in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: It's creamy and medium bodied with medium carbonation. The sweetness is cloying but not overwhelmingly so.
Overall: The taste is pretty sweet and one-dimensional at first, with the orange being quite overwhelming, but it develops additional flavors as time passes and the beer warms that make it rich and complex. The notes seem at odds with each other sometimes but overall it's a different and enjoyable beer.
Apr 18, 2019Appearance: The thick, two finger, tan colored head stays around for a very long time and leaves behind a thin foam layer and a lot of lacing in webs and patches all over the glass. Its a deep, pure black color with some very dark reddish brown showing up on the edges.
Smell: It's a strong, sweet scent of an orange creamsicle and milk chocolate. It's good, but it feels artificial and it's too simple.
Taste: It starts off very sweet and zesty with notes of fresh tangerines and orange peel. There's also some orange candy and refined sugar. At the end there are some darker notes of roasted malt, dark chocolate and coffee with some alcohol in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: It's creamy and medium bodied with medium carbonation. The sweetness is cloying but not overwhelmingly so.
Overall: The taste is pretty sweet and one-dimensional at first, with the orange being quite overwhelming, but it develops additional flavors as time passes and the beer warms that make it rich and complex. The notes seem at odds with each other sometimes but overall it's a different and enjoyable beer.
Reviewed by TheBrewsky from California
3.76/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L: Pours dark cola brown, settles near black. No head, no lacing.
S: Orange present with a nice mix of bakers chocolate. Molasses, butterscotch, and fig also come to mind.
T: Tons of orange flavor. It is slightly tart and frankly overloads the flavor. As it warms, I get more chocolate but the orange is almost too domineering.
F: Light in body and weight. Smooth and low carbonation. Abv is well hidden.
O: An enjoyable beer, but compared to GI's BCBS Midnight Orange, this is cast far in its shadow. My favorites Reserve variant was the banana coconut, which was fantastic. I am very grateful to have tried. Cheers!
Mar 22, 2019S: Orange present with a nice mix of bakers chocolate. Molasses, butterscotch, and fig also come to mind.
T: Tons of orange flavor. It is slightly tart and frankly overloads the flavor. As it warms, I get more chocolate but the orange is almost too domineering.
F: Light in body and weight. Smooth and low carbonation. Abv is well hidden.
O: An enjoyable beer, but compared to GI's BCBS Midnight Orange, this is cast far in its shadow. My favorites Reserve variant was the banana coconut, which was fantastic. I am very grateful to have tried. Cheers!
Dragon's Milk Reserve - Orange Chocolate from New Holland Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
118 ratings
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