Coffee Milk Stout
Zilker Brewing Co.

RB transfer

If you dislike stouts, this one is for you. Truly, this ink-black ale is thin, has no head whatsoever, and has no hint of a coffee or coffee milk flavor. It is slightly fizzy. Upon pouring it, I almost thought I was looking at a glass of Coke. Again, there is no creamy head such as one might find in a stout. Certainly, nothing about this beer suggests a well-balanced profile that includes hints of chocolate. It’s too weak in taste and body to be a stout of any kind. It more resembles a porter, but it would not be a highly rated one. This beer is not bitter (one plus), but that’s about it. I honestly thought maybe I got a bad can, but the second was the same. After reading the other negative reviews here, I fear this beer is brewed to be this way on purpose. Shame.

 

 

 

This coffee milk stout hits the sweet spot in three ways. First, speaking of sweet, while there is an element of sweetness to it, it’s not overwhelming or cloying. Second, while some have wished for a stronger coffee taste, for me the amount of coffee flavor is just right. (I mean, if you want a cup of coffee, have a freakin’ cup of coffee!) Finally, the milkiness too is not overdone. (If you want a latte, have a freakin’ latte!) Really, all I could ask for—and that’s if I’m looking for something to find fault with—is that it be just a bit more stout-y, for lack of a better word. I suspect some stout lovers might find it a bit too mild-mannered.

 

 

 

 

Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a dark brown color with a one finger head of tan foam. The head fades very fast to leave a little bit of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is lighter overall but is strongest of a sweeter coffee smell. There are notes of caramel, cocoa, and vanilla, giving a creamy latte like aroma. Along with theses smells comes a little bit of char and a touch of nuttiness.
Taste – The taste begins with a rather roasted malt taste that is sweet due to a big showing of caramel, vanilla, and brown sugar. There is a decent bit of coffee and chocolate in there as well, but for a coffee stout the coffee is a bit lower than anticipated from the nose. Upfront there is also a milkiness, which with the vanilla seems to get lost as the taste advances to the end all while the sweetness fades a bit. At the end some of the nut and char that were in the nose become evident and leave one with a sweet and moderately roasty taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is average to slightly thicker and creamier with a carbonation level that is average to slightly low. For the dark coffee tastes the feel is very fitting and makes for an easy sipping brew.
Overall – A decent brew overall, but I was hoping for a bigger coffee showing. OK, but nothing to go out of your way for.

 

 

 

 

 

Honestly reading these other reviews intrigued me to get this stout. I have tried a ton of different stouts from milk to imperial. These other reviews are ver deceiving. This stout has the smell of barely any coffee mixed with a lot of a bud light smell. Has no head what so ever. The taste is as if someone mixed a lack luster coffee stout with a bud light. It is smooth but honestly this stout is nothing to be impressed with. And the list of stouts that I have tasted this ranks really low if not worst that I have had.

definitely one of the better beers we had in here, they were kind of all over the map in terms of quality in my experience, but this was one of the good ones! the coffee profile in here is great, a cold brewed clean and concentrated vibe to it, nice dark roast without a lot of frills and without so much lactose in here that it makes the beer too sweet, it stays roasty and bitter from the coffee along with the dark barley, drinkable to the extent that its almost refreshing, the way an iced coffee can be when its not packed with cream and sugar. the beer is nice and dark, frothy from the tap and holding a nice cream head with some thin lace as it drinks down. the aroma is awesome, bold black coffee and subtle dark chocolate, not desserty or strong at all though, and im glad the lactose doesnt sweeten it up much, it just adds some creaminess and a fuller body, coffee lingers longer than the rest of the beer in the finish. lower carbonation but that works in a style like this so it isnt missed. overall a very good beer, nice and sturdy on the coffee and a highlight of our visit here.

edit: just as tasty a couple years latter in the can, maybe even better now, not too much coffee in this but it rises to the fore on the finish in front of the dark grain. there is wonderful smoothness to the texture, oaty and creamy and full, but its dry too for being a milk stout, the carbonation is great, and this is dangerously drinkable. to me this is an ideal four season coffee stout. delicious, i see why its one of their most popular offerings. thanks to my buddy for sending the can!