Aurora Chai Tea Milk Stout
Grain Bin Brewing Company

A- Dark brown color in appearance, even showing some very mild clarity, but not enough to see through. Has a head that retains well, starting about a finger in thickness and settling into a thin layer over the liquid. Nice even mountain range in terms of the lacing....of course carbonation is too hard to see. Overall this seems to have some decency to it when looking straight at it.

S- I definitely get the medley of chai spice, especially of the ginger used in the blend, with hints of cinnamon and saltiness. Milk tea astringency, from the tea, but a creaminess from the milk too....nice balance. Chocolate, charred malts (black and chocolate), coffee bean and a dry grainy finish round this one out. Is it weird to say that there is a beef aroma in this? Wasn't looking to have to eat this with a knife.....

T- Bready yeast/biscuit, wheat kernels, ginger spice, and a dry black tea about sum this one up. There are hints of cinnamon, mace, white pepper flavor and a lactose sweetness that I don't feel really blends well together. The finish lingers unfortunately and is of days old chai. Not good.

M/O- Light/medium mouthfeel....smooth carbonation (this is the best quality) and low drinkability......at least the alcohol isn't in ones face....that's something, right? I think this could be good in a beef stew. Don't know what else to say, but, Grain Bin.....please don't have a do over on this one, ok?

16oz glass at Beer Revolution YEG Oliver Square - I suppose I should be happy about this mild spate of tea flavoured brews, since I like tea way better than coffee.

This beer appears a solid black abyss, with scant orange cola basal edges, and one zaftig finger of puffy, finely foamy, and somewhat creamy beige head, which leaves some roiling wave crest lace around the glass as things slowly abate.

It smells of lightly roasted caramel malt, bittersweet cocoa powder, a sort of musty ginger and clove spiciness, black licorice, subtle cafe-au-lait notes, and some equally tame earthy, leafy, and herbal green hop bitters. The taste is semi-sweet, bready caramel/toffee malt, muddled Chai tea spice, a bit of free-range ashiness, English cream, milk chocolate, Scandinavian anise candies, and some weak leafy, floral, and grassy verdant hoppiness.

The carbonation is quite understated in its quotidian frothiness, the body an adequate medium weight, and generally smooth. It finishes off-dry, the milky cocoa and fading exotic spice showing us out.

Overall, this is a well-made version of the style, with the guest spice blend not overstaying its welcome. Tasty, and yet just a little challenging in its, yes, complexity. Good job, brewery from Grande Prairie!