Urban Chestnut Cocoa CowTao
What the brewers say
“Tao: Chinese for ‘path’ or ‘way’. Should you follow the Cocoa CowTao of UCBC, it will guide you to a place of confectionary, bovinic, and zymurgic fusion, where you will find fulfillment through the exquisite wisdom of Chocolate Milk Stout.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Sweet chocolate and cream-like sweetness up front dominate the roasty malt character. Caramel and a slight toffee note on the back.”
Flavor: “Creamy milk chocolate hits up front and carries through the finish, followed by vanilla. Roast character sits in the back, along with some slight toasty notes and low bitterness that balance the sweetness. Delicate cherry-like fruit notes are also present. Creamy mouthfeel.”
Overall: “Overall, a very good stout that’s light yet flavorful. It’s sweet, but not too sweet—clean with a good body for only 5 percent ABV. Slightly too-high carbonation was a touch distracting. The chocolate really dominates in the aroma, and the vanilla in the flavor provides a great pivot point for the dark roast of the beer.”
