Ol' Bessie's Double Chocolate Milk Stout
Wicked Wort Brewing Company

L: pours deep dark brown under a persistent 4" medium tan foam cap

S: releases an interesting blend of aromas of added chocolate and chocolate from the roast

T: The combination of lactose and rich chocolate make it very rich but the roast malt flavors, traces of coffee, the moderate hop bitterness and the healthy dose of alcohol pull it back from being cloying

F: It has an exceptionally creamy, mousse-like texture with very soft carbonation.

O: This is a big, rich dessert beer. You are not going to slam down a six-pact, but a glass at a time makes a very nice drink

a stout with some vanilla and heaps of chocolate. its a tasty beer, but i wonder how much of it someone might want to actually drink. its strong and its sweet, but more than that, its dense like fudge brownie batter, it has a natural chocolate flavor to it, some bitterness and nib character more than a refined milk chocolate, but the vanilla and what i have to imagine is some lactose really sweeten it up. on top of that, there is a caramely malt middle to it, so its not just sweet at the end but all the way through. never grossly sweet, but a lot of this would catch up with me. the chocolate is natural but strongly dosed, and has a real heavy fudge richness to it, nice with the dark roast, but a small glass type of flavor intensity for me. the vanilla is needed for balance, and remains well behind the chocolate. alcohol is well hidden, but i sure feel it, and this one screams hangover at me. i enjoyed both the beers i had from these guys, but they were both intensely flavored ales. i would be curious to taste some less jazzed up beers from them, its hard to get a good feel for what they are capable of with beers like this and their double dreamsicle. this should be a hit for any chocolate lover.

 

 

 

Quick review: This is what I want in a Chocolate Milk Stout...fine chocolate taste that is a bit understated (it still tastes like an ale), not very sweet at all, higher alcohol level carries the flavors better. Very drinkable...I could definitely consume a number in one sitting without a chocolate/sweetness overload. Excellent.