Style: Spiced Stout

ABV: 5.0

86/100

Aroma:	10
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	18
Mouthfeel:	4

Stone Brewing Co. Milk Coffee Stout

What the brewers say

“With lactose and coffee from ACME Coffee Roasting Co., Brian Gallagher put together a delicious stout that can be considered a hybrid between Irish, sweet, and a milk stout.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “The nose starts with a roastiness from the malt and coffee, and behind that roasty character is a creamy sweetness. There is also an earthy aroma up front, accompanied by a slight pepper phenol. Notes of dark chocolate, coffee, and subtle vanilla, or even pine bark essence, are present as well.”

Flavor: “Starts with a cream-like sweetness, but the coffee flavor quickly ushers in with some roast that cuts the sweetness a bit. There are some extremely earthy and herbal notes that come across as tobacco, and the roasty malt dominates. Some hints of vanilla and a touch of chocolate. The body is medium, and the finish is toasty and dry, with slight bitterness.”

Overall: “The flavor at the start is creamy and sweet, but quickly dives into coffee and a lot of tobacco noble hops. It’s a very earthy stout that showcases coffee in all the right ways—dark, black, and strong. If coffee stouts are your thing, this one really delivers in a way that some coffee stouts do not. Great for a winter night.”

What our editors thought

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How We Review

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“Roast malt, dark chocolate, and coffee notes punctuated by an earthy nondescript berry note in the nose. Expresses as tart, underripe raspberry in the sip, accentuating the dryness and bitterness of both the roasted malt and hops. Light vanilla-like sweetness in the finish.”

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Left Hand Brewing Company Milk Stout Nitro

**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.”

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