Southern Tier Brewing Company 2x Stout

__Aroma:__ “Huge vanilla, like a big vanilla candle dipped in white chocolate, standing in a cream soda shower. Lots of coconut, Cheerios, and even strawberry ice cream. A hint of honeydew melon, but no hint of chocolate or roast under the massive fruity nose.” __Flavor:__ “Lots of strawberry and cherry with a bit of honeydew, but the vanilla takes center stage, pushing any reasonable limit. It’s like Neapolitan ice cream. Chocolate and roast surface in the aftertaste. The body is sweet and creamy but isn’t cloying, and it finishes dry with a bit of astringency.” __Overall:__ “What a trip—there’s just enough roast present to make it taste like a stout, but the fruity esters and vanilla are crazy. It’s clearly a dessert beer, meant to be drunk in small pours and shared with friends.”

**Aroma:** “Strong roasted malt character with sweet creamy lactose coming through. Some chocolate and coffee notes provide a bit of malt complexity. Very pleasant chocolate milk up front, some black licorice, some mild earthiness and pepper. Very sweet on the nose in a classically lactose way.” **Flavor:** “Wonderful round chocolaty sweetness. If it were the right color I would swear I was drinking chocolate milk with a touch of coffee. Chocolate flavors are complex, from semisweet to cacao nib. Nice mild roast with a touch of bitterness to balance the sweetness. Very subtle dark fruit ester notes. Finish is balanced with a lingering roastiness.” **Overall:** “An amazing beer. A very tasty milk stout with a bit more pronounced roastiness for the style, but very well executed. Very sweet from start to finish with hints of chocolate and lactose.”

**Aroma:** “Lactose sweetness, hints of coffee and chocolate. Light-to-moderate hops aroma—earthy, spicy. Some intense dark malt flavors, ranging from black licorice to intense roast. Mild cold-brewed coffee notes. Reminiscent of freshly ground coffee beans.” **Flavor:** “Strong notes of roasted malt and coffee with a touch of caramel malt sweetness. Coffee comes through a bit too bitter and lingering in the finish, but not unpleasant. Tastes of a sweet iced coffee. Light lactose sweetness with light roast and low-moderate hops bitterness—surprisingly high for the style. Finish is spicy, crisp, and lightly bitter.” **Overall:** “Enjoyable, but a little sharp for a milk stout. A nice display of coffee flavor, but the base beer doesn’t entirely hold up against it. Could use a bit more sweetness to support, but any coffee aficionado will like this one.”