War on Xmas
Illuminated Brew Works

Ordinarily with a beer this complex (troubled?) and so different, I would rate it only.
But, I added this beer and I Had it and I went on their site (and listened to their 5 minute podcast of music on the subject.)
All of which puts me in the not-so-funny position of feeling obligated to review this beer.
None of which I am happy about for four reasons.

First, I put War on Xmas in the milk stout category because it is on the label... not because it reminds -- even vaguely -- of a milk stout. They did call it "egg nog milk stout." In looking at it after a moderate pour, I get the "egg nog" part of the name. The "milk stout" part is, to be charitable IBW, over my head.

Second, I doubt this is 11%. I drank too much of the bottle and -- despite being an old man of usually moderate imbibing -- your beer had surprisingly little impact on me. The big impact was very unfortunate: it has a lingering metallic taste that would not leave my tongue alone for at least 15 minutes.... despite eating holiday sweets. Had to brush my teeth... a first after a beer for me.

Third, the name. Not funny. Never do anything like that again. I hope I don't have to explain why to you. If I do, you are soul-dead.

Fourth... Brewing should be fun. But Fellas, I'm not laughing. While it was my bad judgment that caused me to buy this, your mistake is far more egregious than mine and I want my money back. And until I get it back, I will not drink another one of your beers.

Given that the five reviews I've given your ales were favorable and carried above average ratings, I regret having to end on a bad note.

In commerce, there is an important ingredient called goodwill that, when taken seriously, helps most small businesses succeed. War on Xmas subtracts from yours. As far as I'm concerned, this is my last call for IBW.

2/2/21 Found this review and I'm still fired up. Over three years later, I'm also glad I stuck to my principles... I have not had another IBW and I hope I never do. Of 2500 reviews, never have I given one as bad as this. And I feel proud.

 

Undated 22 oz. bottle, described as "Tequila Barrel Aged White Egg Nog Milk Stout". Pours a murky golden brown with hardly any head and no lacing. Aroma has vanilla, oak, lactose, yeast, and light spices. Taste is sour and yeasty. Alcohol is not as obvious as I thought it would be, but it does creep up on you. Body is medium to full with average carbonation. If the label hadn't said stout, I never would have guessed the style: I would have called it something like a barrel aged imperial wild ale.

 

 

Poured a copper-tinted clear body with with minimal head and lace. Get some spices in the aroma with cinnamon and nutmeg. Thin body that is silk-smooth with a touch of lactic sweetness, although I found this beer too "spicy" to enjoy the sweet aspects as there isn't much balance in this slow sipper. Not exactly what I was expecting and had to nurse this b/c the high ABV crept on me; not one I'd try again but can't say it was horrible.

Had to look on here for reviews bc I thought the wrong beer was in the can! "White milk stout with spices" was expecting super dark, minimal carbonation, cream head. Instead it initially reminds me more of a pale ale, with hoppy finish! I don't get it. Once I got over the initial shock It's not so bad, def heavy as it's 11%. I have one other that I will give away to my friend who is an IPA fan, he will certainly like more than I - I don't have the taste for pale ales.

 

Ba Bam! This one hits you right in the Christmas kisser. Looks suprisingly thin for the style...but boozy and filled with good holiday cheer... Merry Christmas!

 

a bruiser of a beer, but sneaky strong, its so well hidden. i still feel weird calling this sort of thing a stout, but as a christmas sipper, it was a nice one, intensely flavored as they come, oddly bitter rather than sweet, like a spice derived bitterness or even a hoppy one, rather than a roasted barley one that you would find in a conventional stout, but it almost serves the same purpose, and i appreciate this not being too desserty, it had all the makings of diabetes, a blonde milks stout with vanilla at this abv, but it doesnt drink like that at all, a win. the flavors here are bold as can be, obvious nutmeg and cinnamon and vanilla, but also hints of allspice, ginger, and even chili heat, although i dont believe any of those are on the ingredient list. tons of malt body too, really full feeling, a little bit of a caramelized thing, but less deep in actual taste than anticipated, and kind of with a graham cracker vibe as well. its a little over spiced by most standards, but the selected flavors work together quite well, and as a sipper, i liked it quite a lot, especially as it warmed up some. these guys are clearly doing some ambitious stuff, and i am eager to try more of their beer, this is maybe the first one of these blonde stouts i have seen to not use coffee...

creamy milk stout with hint of spices - not overly spicy smooth malty beer

From the tall boy can in a snifter. This odd ball brew pours a
chill hazed golden tinged amber with a fantastic head of white foam
that subsides to a thick ring, thick fluffy layer, and sports nice lacing.
Nose of nutmeg, cinnamon, and sweet malts with an oddly enough
eggnog note like the description. Flavors surpass the nose with a
nice honey and caramel malt backbone with cinnamon and nutmeg
giving herbal notes to the sweet malt with a nice vanilla note on the
back. Nice mouth feel; medium full body, smooth, coating, light
carbonation, and a silky smooth sweet spice rack laden finish.

Overall, I am glad to have tried this one....solid!

Cheers

Had on tap. Would categorize as a spiced beer, not a stout. If stout it is a white stout, with a golden murky body with no head. Taste and smell are the same: eggnog. The spices carry the load, though the lactose provides the cream, surprisingly warm. Not the most clean palate, but gets the flavoring right. Feel is thin save the spices, milky, and smooth. Good for Christmas time, otherwise I don't know why you would have it as it is a little gimmicky, but life is too short to be so serious all the time. The wife liked it more than I

 

 

Horrible beer. Bought to bring to family Christmas, and we all ended up dumping it out. Very sad beer with not much egg nog flavor and nothing else remarkable to speak of.

Taste: creamy, sweet, big taste of Eggnog, hint of fruit, malt, smooth finish. slight sweet, eggnog nose. Peach/amber hue, cloudy, smaller foam head, only some lace. Medium/full body. Unique, but the alcohol taste is coy.