Dragon's Milk - Smoked Cherry
New Holland Brewing Company

On tap at Ashley’s. Pours black, almost no head, no lacing. Aroma is sweet cherry, vanilla, oak, booze. Taste is strong cherry sweetness with some barrel notes. Very unbalanced. Thin, yet medium bodied, abrupt sweet finish, low carbonation. An interesting idea that just doesn’t come together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On tap, Michigan Summer Beerfest 2013. I was disappointed when I missed the chance to try this at Ashley's in Westland, so I was excited to see it on the tap list for New Holland at the 'fest. Deep brown, very nearly black but not *quite* there just yet. A few millimeters of light tan foam settles quickly to a bang-up collar with a hole in the center. No lacing, none expected.

The aroma is a seemingly balanced battle of wits between a light cherry sweetness and a mildly spicy note of cinnamon. I don't know if cinnamon was actually used, but it sure smells like it was. Cherry is sweet and pure, and doesn't really reach acidic or tart levels at all - a good thing, because I don't think it would suit this stout too well. Bourbon and oak are there, but remain quite tame, more like a supporting cast than co-stars themselves.

Again, the taste starts with some cinnamon notes - undeniable. This has to have something that's imparting that cinnamon-y flavor. Cherry puree-like sweetness follows closely behind, alongside a warm boozy presence - more bourbon-y than the aroma made it seem, but much more smooth and tame than the original Dragon's Milk. The refinement of the bourbon character makes this variant also much, much more drinkable overall.

Spices, mild oak, sweet vanilla, and the large, caramel and brown sugar underbody fill out the rest of the profile quite nicely. The cherry flavors are there from start to finish and even leave a lasting impression on the palate, along with a touch of boozy oak and sweet, sweet maltiness. Carbonation was middle of the road, a pretty good level for this type of beer; thicker than Dragon's Milk, but still not as chewy as I'd like. Soft and a little thinner than creamy.

Well, well, well... if this were to find its way into bottles and in place of the original Dragon's Milk on store shelves everywhere, then I'd always have some on hand. Delicious and drinkable, and far better than the original version. Smoother booze induction, more varied flavors, and just a more enjoyable experience overall. Hopefully they realize how much better this stuff is and brew it again someday.

10 oz serving at Ashleys (Ann Arbor) where it is listed as Ashleys 30th Anniv. Cherry Dragon's Milk Stout.

Black with traces of red-brown at the edges. Small head.
Full, smooth body. Appropriate low carbonation.
Good cherry note in the aroma carries over nicely to the flavor. Fruit is well balanced with dark malts. Somewhat sweet, but just as it seems like the sweetness will build too high, it levels off.

O: Very enjoyable but may be overly sweet for some.