Style: Milk Stout

ABV: 5.5 IBU: 16.0

88/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	16
Mouthfeel:	4

Ska Brewing Company Steel Toe Milk Stout

What the brewers say

“This traditional English Cream Stout is brewed with actual milk sugar to create a creamy and sweet brew. Jet-black in color, the latte frothy head will make you mooo for more.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Subtle coffee and bittersweet chocolate notes interweave nicely with the caramel malt sweetness. Little yeast character or hops character. Some moderate chocolate notes with a bit of fruitiness and black licorice. Mild roastiness emerges as it warms.”

Flavor: “Caramel malt sweetness with just a touch of roasted malts to balance. Subtle raisin dark fruit esters. Finish is mostly sweet with no real hops bitterness to speak of. Malty sweetness with less perceived round sweetness from lactose. Some coffee, chocolate, and roast notes, but not enough bitterness to balance the sweetness.”

Overall: “Slightly out of balance, with too much malt sweetness and not enough dark chocolate or roast notes to balance out the stickiness of the beer. Nice complexity in the roast, though. Enjoyable but overly sweet without enough roast. Finish is nice: sweet but not saccharine.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The Dark Side (Winter 2014) (View All Issues)

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Twin Barns Brewing Company McGuigan's Stout

“Very light aromas of roast malt, coffee, piney and earthy hops, and a touch of mint. The roast, dark chocolate, coffee malt flavors are quite delicate. The bitterness is just as soft and the body is light, creating a very clean and simple yet unassuming package.”

Boise Brewing Dark Daisy Milk Stout

“Bold roast, coffee, and dark-chocolate malt aromas accentuated by hints of pine and earthy hops. Hints of bitter chocolate, coffee, black malt, and a touch of smoke. Pleasant bitter finish complements the roast-forward body.”

Southern Tier Brewing Company 2x Stout

**Aroma:** “Pronounced sweetness up front with a touch of roasted malt character. A subtle earthy hops aroma comes through a bit. No fruity esters in the nose. Creamy, roasty, sweet, and dry. Chocolate and hints of coffee.” **Flavor:** “The lactose adds some extra creaminess to the malt sweetness. Lots of coffee in the finish, almost latte-like. A hint of hops spiciness keeps it interesting without overwhelming the lactose. Caramel with a subtle roasted malt character, mostly reminiscent of chocolate. Sweetness is well balanced with enough bitterness from both hops and roast to avoid it becoming cloying.” **Overall:** “A tasty, sweet milk stout that seems to favor hops a bit more than roasted malt character for balancing sweetness. Very tasty and drinkable. This beer manages to keep the focus on the lactose while maintaining a nice complexity.”

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