Milkshaking It: Double Vanilla
Icarus Brewing Company

 

Traded for this last week with a friend who happens to be a big fan of Icarus. I've enjoyed their offerings too and although this wasn't quite on the level of a Milkshake beer from Tired Hands, there was a lot to like here as this was amazingly smooth and sweet with a nicely recessed alcoholic presence.

Like any good New England IPA, this had a cloudy, golden hue to it with a fair amount of light seeping through. A full, smooth head topped it off as it took it's time settling down. Lots of rocky lacing lingered near the middle of my pint glass although there weren't much of any visible rings that could be discerned. Lots of lactose, Columbus, and vanilla in the nose with just a bit of heavy oats underneath that, as the taste burst forth with a ton of easygoing sugary sweetness. Some bubblegum, tangerine, wheat, and mildly dank hops rounded out the mouthfeel as it was incredibly smooth and easy on the palate. Nice body to this and the carbonation was light and persistent although the aftertaste was not as fruity and creamy as I would have liked.

The booze was nearly impossible to detect here as the liquid did not stay in my pint glass for very long, and there wasn't any sediment floating around or at the bottom when I finished this off. Canned on 10/20 with "LA LA LA LA HAZE BOIS ARE WAITING" written underneath that, this was another winner in Icarus' lineup. Completely enjoyable for anyone who loves lactose in their brews!