Milk Stout
Left Hand Brewing Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Left Hand Brewing Company
- Colorado, United States
- Style:
- Sweet / Milk Stout
Ranked #374 - ABV:
- 6%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #11,347 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 12.03%
- Reviews:
- 1,825
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 07, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 20, 2002
- Wants:
- 347
- Gots:
- 1,673
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good


Notes:
ROASTED MALT AND COFFEE FLAVORS BUILD THE FOUNDATION OF THIS CREAMY SWEET STOUT.
Milk sugar in your stout is like cream in your coffee. Dark and delicious, America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. “Preconceived notions are the blinders on the road to enlightenment.” Udderly delightful.
Collection: Perennial
Style: Sweet Stout
Color: Black, 47 SRM
Body: full
ABV: 6%
IBU's: 25
PLATO: 15.5°
PKG: 6-Pack, Keg
Malt: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley and Chocolate
Hops: Magnum and US Goldings
Other: Lactose
Milk sugar in your stout is like cream in your coffee. Dark and delicious, America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. “Preconceived notions are the blinders on the road to enlightenment.” Udderly delightful.
Collection: Perennial
Style: Sweet Stout
Color: Black, 47 SRM
Body: full
ABV: 6%
IBU's: 25
PLATO: 15.5°
PKG: 6-Pack, Keg
Malt: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roasted Barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked Barley and Chocolate
Hops: Magnum and US Goldings
Other: Lactose
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I went to college in Boulder, and I don’t understand why this is so popular, but it’s cool. Became the standard for normal milk stout.
Aug 07, 2022Reviewed by klarcbarr3 from Michigan
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I poured a 12 oz. bottle into a pint glass. A one inch head melted into a thin sheet within minutes, but still provided moderate lacing. The aroma is quite pleasant. chocolate, roasted barley, coffee, milk, and a vanilla-like sweetness prevail. The resultant effect bears a faint barrel-aged resemblance. The taste is about what you expect from the nose. The roasted barley blends well with moderate hops, and the milk sweetens the chocolatey stout. I expected a stickier consistency, but the mouthfeel is nicely balanced... the taste and feel is quite clean and refreshing, compared to a typical stout. I find Left Hand Milk Stout a compelling choice among dark, sweet stouts on the market, and The 6% ABV is right on target for what I desired from this brew.
Aug 02, 2022Reviewed by cato7948 from Texas
4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Nothing about the look and smell really stands out as a major pro or con. Where it excels is taste and feel as it really lends itself to my personal preferences. I don’t like overly fizzy beers and this stout is about as watery as they come, while still maintaining a coffee and milk flavor (tastes like a plain latte).
Feb 19, 2022Reviewed by Guppy314 from District of Columbia
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a bottle, pours black and opaque with a thin khaki head. Roasted mast aroma. Sweet malt, creamy caramel, chocolate, and coffee flavors. Full mouthfeel and lasting, nice!
Feb 13, 2022Rated by Jsteez from Utah
3.44/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.44/5 rDev -13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Roasty and smooth, but a touch too sweet for me. Definitely not a session beer.
Feb 07, 2022Reviewed by wadamslll
4.33/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.33/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really good is the correct rating.
Good taste.
Sweeter than Guinness.
My highest rating so far on BA. I know that’s not saying a lot but still, impresses.
Jan 13, 2022Good taste.
Sweeter than Guinness.
My highest rating so far on BA. I know that’s not saying a lot but still, impresses.
Rated by wagongrrl from New York
4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My go-to Milk Stout. Perfect smooth taste and feel. Consistent head, mellow smell.
Jul 29, 2021Rated by FrMatthewLC from Canada (NS)
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
A really solid milk stout. Kind of what you expect.
Jul 25, 2021Reviewed by rapayn01 from Kentucky
3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I bought a glass bottle of this at my local liquor store and drank it from a shaker pint. I found it to be dry for a milk stout, which is generally fine by me as I'm not a huge fan of sweetness in beer. I thought it tasted more of fig than coffee or chocolate. I'd definitely drink it again.
Jun 16, 2021Reviewed by KT3418 from Colorado
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I prefer other American stouts but this at least met expectations and I'd absolutely have this again. The flavors are there I just know you can find them in other places more intensely. Definitely worth a try especially if new to the style
May 09, 2021Rated by Newtobeet345 from Georgia
3.87/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.87/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Chocolate and coffee with nice malt flavor
Apr 28, 2021Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2. rerate, 355 ml bottle, as Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 6.0%. Black colour, low and creamy beige head. Dryish roasty aroma, notes of coffee, hints of woodwork, cocoa and liquorice. Low carbonation. Medium dry and very roasty flavour with a little lactose sweetness present, notes of strong coffee, a little dark chocolate and liquorice. Should not be drunk ice cold, cellar temperature is better. 1. rerate, 12 fl. oz. bottle, bought at the GBBF 2008 for takeaway (forgot that I had rated it previously). ABV was said to be 5.0%. Dark brown colour, nearly black, nice and lasting tan head. Notes of aroma: same as first time. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy. The flavour has still plenty of roasted malts and lactose sweetness, also notes of chocolate, mild coffee and some liquorice. Good stuff - I’m upping it a few points. Original rating: Sampled bottle, RBNAG 2007 in Grimstad. Dark brown to black colour. Nice roasty aroma, notes of cocoa, hints of liquorice. Moderately sweet flavour, plenty of maltiness (probably also lactose).
Mar 23, 2021Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania
4.04/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle poured into a stout glass. Pours black, opaque with a tan head that falls to a cap. Smell is coffee, cocoa, roast malt. Taste is sweet chocolate, coffee and cream on entry. Middle is where sweet gets evened out as hop bitterness creeps in. You get a bit of earthiness from the hops too, but again, everything is well balanced. Finish is roast, nuts, and a bit of cocoa. Feel is medium bodied, smooth and creamy. Low, tight carbonation. Overall, this is an excellent beer with a ton of flavor that drinks easy.
Feb 06, 2021Rated by randelhall from Ohio
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A really good stout
Jan 27, 2021Reviewed by defunksta from North Dakota
3.85/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance: Pours a nearly completely black color with a soft, tan head. SRM of 24. (3.75)
Aroma: Mild aromas of chocolate and cream upfront. There is also a velvety, cherry, and licorice note. Not much coffee or roast. (3.75)
Flavor: Smooth flavors of velvety, rich chocolate, There are some underlying red velvet and red & black cherry notes here too. Mild roast and minimal coffee here. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Minimal bitterness and roast so allows it to lean malty. (3.75)
Compared to Firestone Walker's Nitro Merlin Milk Stout 1/10/21: Pours a similar color with a darker head. More cherry licorice on the aroma. Less coffee roast. Maybe slightly less bitterrness from the roast, but since it's not nitro doesn't feel as smooth. I mislabeled the two in a blind taste test.
Overall: A pretty nice and easy drinking milk stout. I get some hints of red velvet, cherry, licorice. But overall minimal coffee and roast here. Appropriate sweetness, but the minimal roast allows it to finish slightly malty and fairly easy-drinking at 6%. (Final Rating: 3.85, the flavor helps it here with the rich cherry-chocolate flavor)
Jan 10, 2021Aroma: Mild aromas of chocolate and cream upfront. There is also a velvety, cherry, and licorice note. Not much coffee or roast. (3.75)
Flavor: Smooth flavors of velvety, rich chocolate, There are some underlying red velvet and red & black cherry notes here too. Mild roast and minimal coffee here. (4.00)
Feel: Medium-bodied. Moderate carbonation. Minimal bitterness and roast so allows it to lean malty. (3.75)
Compared to Firestone Walker's Nitro Merlin Milk Stout 1/10/21: Pours a similar color with a darker head. More cherry licorice on the aroma. Less coffee roast. Maybe slightly less bitterrness from the roast, but since it's not nitro doesn't feel as smooth. I mislabeled the two in a blind taste test.
Overall: A pretty nice and easy drinking milk stout. I get some hints of red velvet, cherry, licorice. But overall minimal coffee and roast here. Appropriate sweetness, but the minimal roast allows it to finish slightly malty and fairly easy-drinking at 6%. (Final Rating: 3.85, the flavor helps it here with the rich cherry-chocolate flavor)
Milk Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company
Beer rating:
89 out of
100 with
7120 ratings
We love reviews (150 characters or more)! Check out: How to Review a Beer. You don't need to get fancy. Drop some thoughts on the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) plus your overall impression. Something that backs up your rating and helps others. Thanks!