Localized Milk Stout with Nate's Coffee & Ruth Hunt Candy
Left Hand Brewing Company

What once was traditionally British, classic and simple is now uniquely Lexitonian. While the Left Hand Brewing Company reaffirms its presence in the Central Kentucky market, they embrace the local chocolatiers of Ruth Hunt and the roasted of Nate's Coffee for a Milk Stout that's truly localized.

Simply called Localized Milk Stout pours from the pin with a creamy, soft darkness and with a smooth coffee like creme. Its coffee insinuations don't stop there as the nose with rife with cold brewed coffee with a background of chocolate, nuttiness and cream. Sweeter and more savory on the initial palate, the chocolate, vanilla, caramel and candied nuttiness offers a dark maltiness that supports the spice additions well.

But as the sweetness stews on the middle palate, the overcast of coffee in insurmountable. Dark roast flavors are fresh, powerful and just as intense as anything that rolls out of Nate's coffeehouses. Turkish in its earthiness, hints of currant, an overall soilish character along with roasted pecans roll out of the coffee influence and into the beer's finish where a bittersweet chocolate and charred toffee await.

A very fine carbonation adds a subtle creaminess although the dark ale is only moderately full in its texture. The bitterness and tannins of coffee play into the beer's dryness and drinkability to allow the malt dominant beer to be surprisingly drinkable and highly palatable. A long linger of roast surpasses any sweetness or creaminess for a stout of effortless drinkability.