Schlafly Vanilla Milk Stout

__Aroma:__ “Super chocolate presence—sweet, bitter, and dark—on the nose, with some evident roast malt, but it’s very faint. The malt is roasty, but has a slight buttery pie crust character and sits in the back. This beer smells like a chocolate bar.” __Flavor:__ “The initial flavor comes across as a very fine dark chocolate, with some level of nuttiness from pecans. Some creamy sweetness cuts through the dark chocolate and roast, lending some complexity. It’s very rich with the cocoa and deep-roasted coffee notes, and the creaminess lifts the flavor. There are also some notes of plums and cherries. The toasted malts carry through the finish, providing medium-full body and lasting sweetness.” __Overall:__ “The chocolate really dominates, and it’s somewhat difficult to pick out other nuanced flavor profiles. It makes for incredibly smooth drinking—it’s rich, sweet, and decadent. The body does a good job of holding up the chocolate, and it’s one of the better examples I’ve had in a stout.”

Delicate but rich, roasty, complex nose; notes of anise, chocolate. Candy-like sweetness shifts gradually toward malt-driven chocolate and vanilla. Runs gamut of bitter roast, rich sweet chocolate, hints of dried fruit. Pleasant, tongue-coating body. Round, velvety finish. Sweet, but with enough character to back it up.

__Aroma:__ “Smells just like those chocolate-covered orange-peel candies, and the sweet citrus notes play off the roast and milk chocolate. There’s also a hint of vanilla and a touch of alcohol. There’s very little beer aroma to this one, and while it’s super fun, it’s very singular in its approach.” __Flavor:__ “A rich, chewy blend of chocolate and orange, like a Terry’s Chocolate Orange you see around the holidays. The flavor starts with the chocolate malt and cocoa before the orange jumps in, which lets it come across as more candy-like than solvent. A hint of cherry peeks through. I’d love more stout character—malt body, sweetness, yeasty fruit, and hops character. A dry, bitter finish from the orange peel.” __Overall:__ “A fun novelty that’s as much candy as beer—a glass of chocolate-covered orange peel. The chocolate and orange were well-showcased, with some very nice flavors. Has a slightly bitter finish and balance.”