Cinnamon Caffe-latte
Mirror Twin Brewing

Amping up the caffeinated Milk Stout of Mirror Twin, the addition of lactose and cinnamon to the Caffeinated Cow takes the coffee infused dark ale to the spicier, creamier side of late fall.

Now named Cinnamon Caffe-latte, this makeover edition yields the same very dark brown, a hair's shade off of black crowns with a dainty swirl of foam. Above which rests a scent of coffee, cinnamon, cocoa and roasted nuts to define a fragrance of all-things-fall. Sweeter on the tongue, the malty sweetness of mild caramel, honey and toffee are relaxed with vanilla and cream for a soothing malt upstart.

As the flavors develop, the middle palate invites a more coffee driven flavor that balances with cream, vanilla and a nearly affagato character. Pour on the cinnamon and an autumn type of cappuccino stout begins to emerge. Trending gently bitter, roasty and with a broad hop bite, the coffee flavors just get stronger as the late palate emerges.

Medium full in body, the beer's low lying carbonation allows for a fuller and fatter feel much in the vein of cask ale for a slightly more weighted effect on the palate, but the lack of creaminess limits the beer's vibrancy and causes a lumbered texture to lay flatly against the tongue. A hint of kahlua comes in late as a long and roasty after palate rides along with those strong cinnamon overtones.