Milk Stout
Lancaster Brewing Company

 

 

 

(12 oz can, 16422; purchased single off shelf... poured into a 14 oz mug)

L: dark brown liquid; foam collapsing on impact... head don't hold; next to no lace (scant boogers)

S: roasty-malty, standard smells; bit of the latte sugars poking through... excellent intensity, but little uniqueness in character

T: roasty at its core, but not enough lactose?!... lingering sweet dark coffee flavors in the aftertaste... vague floral and/or dark berry tones build as it goes

F: lightly bitey; taut aft; little residual film... with some shellfish or blackened meats, this would sing

O: bold taste overall, but lacking some depth and nuance... the lactose element is buried... I might be a loyal drinker, if local, but, off the top of my skull, there are a good handful of better examples of the style... as an American stout with a touch of mocha sweetness, it's fine (1921)

 

 

Very sour for a milk stout

Thanks to Ozzylizard for this one, from his box in NBS BIF #14. 12oz can (coded 16721) poured into 14oz teku. Poured a solid black color with less than a half-inch of tan head that had moderate retention and no lacing.

Lightly sweet malts had the front of the nose, with just a light touch of roast in the background. No notable hop presence.

Fairly similar on the tongue, with the roast being a bit stronger, counteracting the sweetness a touch.

The body was solidly average for the style; smooth, even, and had a medium-sweet finish that dried out after a few moments.

Drinkability was very good, a very nice quaff on this rainy PNW Sunday.

Overall, a solid and enjoyable example of the style. worth a shot if you see it.

 

 

At the Philly airport.

This beer poured a nice deep brown/black, with a smaller head than I was expecting, which dissipated quickly. The nose is pleasant.. definite chocolate and coffee notes. The taste was surprising.. an enjoyable blend of chocolate, coffee, and milk sweetness, which really pushed the envelope for a beer with a flat 5%ABV. The sweetness was on the edge of being overpowering, but I will need to have another to determine that! Overall, a welcome find in a reasonably priced, lower alcohol craft beer. I will be buying more of this.. It could be my new light (for me) alcohol daily go to. Great job, Lancaster Brewing!

12oz can purchased from the fridge as a single for $2.99. Has a code 04421 on the bottom - is this a best by date? Not sure...shouldn't really matter with this style anyway.

Look: Pours almost pitch black and has what looks like a bit of viscosity for such a low ABV (5%) beer. A nice one-finger tan head upon pour has quickly dissipated to nothing.

Smell: The aromas are pretty typical here and very pleasant. Lots of dark roasty notes and tons of cocoa powder on the nose. The nose up front has a bit of acidity while the finish is semi-sweet chocolate with a bit of coffee notes. If someone blindfolded you and put a hot beverage in your hand with the aromas from this beer, you would be convinced that you were holding a cup of hot chocolate.

Taste: The taste of this beer fell flat to me, literally. With hardly any carbonation, it makes the experience not as enjoyable. The flavors are actually very good though - up front lots of dark roasted malts and a really nice creamy chocolatey finish. Just a shame that it's so flat though. The sweetness builds up after a while and becomes a bit much, especially with the lack of carbonation.

Feel: Almost no carbonation, so the mouthfeel is a bit weird to me. Otherwise, it's smooth and has a decent medium body to it.

Overall: It's a decent milk stout. I probably just got a bad one that wasn't carbonated or canned properly. I hope that I'll be able to try it again and re-review it.

 

 

 

The beer is an opaque black with a very small reddish-brown head. It is very sweet on the nose while still having a distinct roastiness. Tasting it, I am first meet with sweetness and then the bitterness from chocolatey roasted malts. Those two major flavors are well balanced. There is a good deal of earthiness to it all as well. The body is good, soft and full. There is very little carbonation. But I guess it works with the style. Overall, a simple milk stout that is well balanced.

12oz can into 12oz snifter (against the cans directions of a pint glass, 'cause its a damn stout!!!)

L- Dark, black, checks the boxes for a stout. Head was almost nonexistent though, deducting points for that
S- Light roast, not much else
T- Ok, slight something, hard to id, not really a milk stout kinda taste that I'm used to
F- Not creamy, soothing or fulfilling. Almost a flat, cold coffee kinda feel
O- It ok but I would pass on it in the future. Guess I'm too used to Imperial stouts to go back to these weak milk stouts...

A good milk stout with a full body that is well mixed so you get that bit of sweetness characteristic of this style, but also the sweetness is isn't overwhelming.

Black in color with minimal light penetration. There’s a half inch of of creamy brown on top. The aroma is of milk chocolate and lactose. I’m tasting dark malt and lactose. The mouth is creamy and lightly chalky.

Pours a deep dark cocoa brown with a one finger tan brown head. The head quickly subdues into the beer like a tiger stalking its prey from the grass. Nothing remains except a tin beady foam ring hugging the inner glass.
The smell of roasty malts explodes out of the glass followed by some scents of coffee. Smells of vanilla and milk chocolate are also coyly playing like cubs in the background.
The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy with a medium body. The low carbonation helps contribute to this creamy, almost milk straight from the cow’s teat mouthfeel.
The taste follows the nose with roasted malts and coffee leading the way like a ringmaster with a line of elephants. After their act is over the sweet cream and subdued chocolate make a guest appearance in this delightful circus.
The finish is smooth, and a lingering slick sweetness remains on the tongue. The beer is extremely easy to drink like using the high striker mallet to knock the clown in the dunk tank.
Overall a fine offering. If you’re looking for something super complex and unique, this might not be the one. However, if you’re just trying to sit down and have a few solid milk stouts, this is an excellent choice.

 

Rating from notes. Consumed Summer 2012. "Too malty-tart for my liking. Not terrible, just painfully average, and I didn't finish the bottle."

 

 

6/13/19...pours dark brown with light ring of brown foam. Light layer. Light chocolate nose. Nose of oats. Creamy mouthfeel. Light bodied w/ coffee taste. And a modest chocolate. Quite smooth. Sweet. Simple.

Look: Opaque brownish-black with a thick, tan-brown head.
Smell: Mild chocolate.
Taste: Chocolate, coffee, just the right balance of sweetness and bitterness.
Feel: Medium-bodied and nicely carbonated.
Overall: Really nice -- I want to try this one again.

 

 

Deep brown color with a tan head that disappates rather quickly. You need to pour this vigorously to get the head right! Smells of coffee, some dark chocolate and a little roastiness which is what I expect for the style. Mouthfeel is nice with a little touch of classic carbonation yet it stayed smooth like a stout should. Flavors of chocolate, coffee and a nice maltiness came through but this is NOT overly sweet at all. Its a very well-balanced milk stout that is never cloying or "too much". I think they did a great job with this and I consider it as good as any milk stout Ive had. Its a keeper for anyone that likes this style.

As requested by the brewery, I’m pouring this 12 oz. can into a pint glass. It pours a dark brown and forms a pinky width of active, peanut butter colored crown that recedes into nothing but a ring around the glass.

The nose brings a blend of roasted malts, coffee notes, slight cream and milk chocolate.

The taste carries in with the milk chocolate and cream notes. Almost like a hot chocolate but with coffee and roasty notes. A good balance of sweetness, not too much but present.

The mouthfeel is silky with mild acidity. It’s body is on the heavy side of medium for the single milk stout style.

Overall, it’s a solid, well made milk stout that doesn’t depend on sweetness. Instead it balances sweetness and roast to make an enjoyable drinking experience.

 

 

 

12 ounce bottle poured into a tulip/snifter.

L---Impermeable dark brown color. Light brown head with very little retention and good lacing.

S---Sweet. Malts & lactose are prominent. Milk chocolate is apparent. Not getting the advertised coffee.

T---Points for not being overly sweet, like a lot of lactose added beers can be. Milk chocolate is the dominant flavor. Lactose is noticeable. Maltiness is dominant over hoppiness. No real hoppiness to speak of.

F---Not as thick as hoped/expected, but still about right for ABV. Creamy, but not as creamy as expected for style. Not very carbonated.

O---A tasty milk stout. This one might get lost among the competition with extra adjucts/treatments, but it's a damn fine example of the style. I'll keep an eye out for it in the future.

 

12 oz bottle with no date.
Pours essentially black and opaque with a modest size, yet very durable, tan head.
Aroma: coffee, dark dried fruits, faint chocolate and roasted grains.
Flavor: chocolate, coffee, black bread and faint hints of dark dried fruits. Moderate sweetness for style.
Smooth, medium body.

 

"This is what beer should taste like." - my Dad

J