Dragon's Milk Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout
New Holland Brewing Company

 

I am a big fan of barrel aged beers. That said very nice bourbon taste. Not too heavy but you know it’s barrel aged. Nice look. Small head. Great blend of coffee, chocolate and vanilla for both taste and smell. . Enjoyed with lobster and porterhouse. Fantastic trifecta. Aged for year, think will let the rest sit for a while longer if I can.

 

 

How can this crazy strong, black stout be so smooth?!?

Just saying, Eire, if Guinness were this good, you’d be the one with the immigration issue as tens of millions of asylum seekers tried to row across the Irish Sea.

bottle into glass
Moderate amount of tan head. Opaque and basically black appearance. Light amount of heavily toasted grains, with a very slight bit of spiced caramel, for the aroma. Really good, medium amount of dark roasted grains, caramel tinged, subtle bourbon and oak barrel flavors. Medium, slightly creamy, initial mouthfeel, then finishes with mellow, dark roasted grain flavor.

 

 

 

 

 

Solid, deep brown appearance topped by a fairly large tan head. Aroma could described as an ice cream topping with the semi-sweet chocolate, nuts and vanilla being so prominent. The oak and associated bourbon helps it get back on solid footing. Focus of the taste is on the roasted malts and the strength of the alcohol. Specific hops are hard to pinpoint but overall help keep the flavor from becoming too one dimensional. Oak, coffee and a touch of tobacco pop up near the finish. Modestly carbonated, full bodied mouthfeel. Helped warm up a wet and chilly evening.

 

Predominantly boozy. Lacking in other aroma and flavor departments. Medium thin body. Not horrible...but, can't recommend.

 

A perfect balance between bitter coffee and chocolate flavours, with only a hint of the barrel aging that compliments the base beer rather than overshadowing it. Very thick, with a fluffy head that makes for a great slow-sipping stout.

Look: Black body with a slight brown head.
Smell: Loads of chocolate hit you with the pop of the cap, and a subdued alcohol scent soon follows.
Taste: Whoa. This is good shit. A delicate chocolate sweetness perfectly counteracts the alcohol. The bourbon barrels give a big bold beautiful bite at the end.
Feel: Masterful. Low in the mouth. This fucker’s smooth as silk and creamy to boot.
Overall: This is a consistently delicious bad-ass brew. The 11% abv is well hidden. Even those who dislike BBA stouts will like it. I would definitely recommend.

 

I'm gonna rerate this after my next beers cool, but this is off the bat from a warm beer. (English Pub Style)

I hate it, but I love the stout. I'm just real confused why i need the barfy, bourbon barrel undertones to something that truly could be savoured as a nice thick stout.

This did not rate well with me, but i trust cooling will help tone down some of the unsavoury notes.

A nice stout I hold fairly sacred. It doesn't need the flim flam of a bourbon barrel.

Save that for fragile man soaps around the holidays.

Whisky in my shampoo, why not?

Whatever.

Re-Review:

After the first one, tastes go a bit numb to the light tinge of vomit due to the bourbon barrel not mixing well with the stout forwardness of it all.

I'm onto my second and this one's a bit chilled.

I'll up my overall to 4 from a 2.

It's the initial shock of bourbon flavors in what i consider one of the most pure forms of beer in existence.

A good stout is not to be messed with.

Chock fulla beer vitamins and good cheer.

Happy hunting friends.

Chin Chin

-C

3rd update: Just awful. Stop trying to make beer something it was never meant to be.

Thumbs down and God help us all.

1.5 overall

you're just an impossible mess. Don't do this to yourselves. Have a manhatten or something if you want to feel fancy.

Solid.