Style: Bourbon Barrel Stout

ABV: 17.0 IBU: 75.0

91/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	19
Mouthfeel:	4

New Holland Dragon's Milk Reserve Triple Mashed

What the brewers say

“Bourbon-barrel stout.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Ethanol up in the nose. Rich caramel behind that. Maybe a bit of umami? Hard to get much chocolate, coffee, or roast because the booze is pretty intense.”

Flavor: “Rich dark fruit sweetness. This has great complexity with dark cherries, toffee, and chocolate, but it is missing any stout roast character. Boozy as hell. The finish isn’t particularly bitter, but the alcoholic heat leaves that impression. Still quite sweet overall.”

Overall: “Massive and boozy. Can’t really say this is a stout, but it’s made and exhibits great barrel character on a rich and complex base beer. Toes the line to being cloying, but that’s cut by the heat on the finish.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: Porter & Stout (February-March 2018) (View All Issues)

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How We Review

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New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk

“Layered malt aromas of roast, chocolate, coffee, and caramel are supported by dried-fruit notes and a hint of oak. The flavor is a mash-up of dried fruit, sherry, chocolate, and caramel, with a boozy warmth.”

New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk Solera

“The aroma features caramel with a hint of butterscotch, along with a shot of alcohol warmth. Well within an English-barleywine profile, if simplified—caramel and toffee, some toastiness, but without the dried-fruit character.”

New Holland The Poet

Aroma: “This smells like my dad’s study: pipe tobacco, vanilla, plus a little milk chocolate and hints of dark cherry and blueberry.” Flavor: “Fairly chewy mouthfeel accentuated by the high level of fine-bubbled carbonation. The roast and cocoa cut the silkiness leading to a roasted acidity and dry finish. The esters on the nose are also on the palate but are more subtle.” Overall: “Classic British oatmeal-stout character. A well-made beer. The acidity lingers a bit longer than some may care for, but overall it is very drinkable.”

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