I found this little description on the website, lefthandbrewing.com.
Milk sugar in your stout is like cream in your coffee. Dark and delicious, America’s great milk stout will change your perception about what a stout can be. Preconceived notions are the blinders on the road to enlightenment. Udderly delightful.
You guys know that I do love Stouts, so let’s taste it.
This beer is packaged in a 12 oz. bottle and has an ABV of 5.2%.
Once in the nonic glass, the beer appeared a very dark black color with the common ruby highlights around the edges and bottom. The ruby really stands out when held toward the light, and I can tell that it’s clear too. With an easy pour, a pretty decent looking, cream colored head was formed that had nice girth, retention and some approved lacing. The cap was creamy and smooth.
With the aroma, I found a very pleasant, toasted chocolate note along with a yummy marshmallow cream fragrance. It totally reminded me of “S’more’s.” I loved those things when I was a kid at camp outs!!! To finish off the bouquet, I found a nominal amount of roasted coffee. Generally, the smell was sweet, balanced honorably and not overly complicated.
As I took the first sip, my taste buds welcomed a flavor that was very reminiscent of chocolate milk. Again, some of that pleasant marshmallow cream was enjoyed. The milk chocolate and cream sweetness balances some touches of roasted coffee bean fairly well. Small tinges of bitterness glide across the sides of the tongue for some added complexity and balance.
The mouthfeel was a small disappointment though. It was medium to thin and even somewhat watery. I was hoping for something a bit thicker, dryer and chewy. I love that type of mouthfeel for my Stouts. It was still smooth, creamy and easy going however. Delicate coffee touches were left on the palate for a moment while I waited to take another sip. Not too bad, just a little thin.
This is a pretty good Stout really. A superb session brew that could double as a decent introductory Stout for someone wanting to experiment with the style. It’s very easy to drink and doesn’t overwhelm the palate with flavor, but gives you enough to explore the characteristics of a good Milk Stout. I sampled this brew back in January on a cold, snowy evening and it seemed to fit the mood to a “T.” Overall, I liked it and would recommend that you pick it up, contemplate and enjoy.
Have you guys had the Left Hand Milk Stout? What did you think of it?
Please, let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
Score: 3.95 out of 5
Grade: B+
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Jay
May 24, 2011 at 12:46 am
I tried this the other night too, and my impressions are very similar. My pour didn't turn out as nice looking as yours, but I always seem to get a very thin head when I pour a stout for some reason. To my nose, the coffee aroma definitely overtakes the chocolate aroma, makes it smell like a dark chocolate mocha that you might get from a starbucks. The mouthfeel I thought was very decent, a creamy, malty bitterness that definitely coated my palatte and stayed with me until my next sip, although yes, I did notice it wasn't as “chewy” as the Founders stout, which I compare all stouts to now. It did drink very easily, and I noticed that as it warmed, the chocolate cream flavor developed nicely, with an increasing bitterness for the after taste that most stouts seem to develop. Over all I would rate this as an excellent brew and would recommend it to anyone. I would probably rate it as an B-, simply because although I did enjoy it very much, it didn't have the best appearance to my eye, and the overall initial aroma was a little lackluster to my nostrils, some people not accustomed to it may be put off by the scent of this beer at first, but the flavor more than makes up for it.
Jay
May 24, 2011 at 12:46 am
I tried this the other night too, and my impressions are very similar. My pour didn't turn out as nice looking as yours, but I always seem to get a very thin head when I pour a stout for some reason. To my nose, the coffee aroma definitely overtakes the chocolate aroma, makes it smell like a dark chocolate mocha that you might get from a starbucks. The mouthfeel I thought was very decent, a creamy, malty bitterness that definitely coated my palatte and stayed with me until my next sip, although yes, I did notice it wasn't as “chewy” as the Founders stout, which I compare all stouts to now. It did drink very easily, and I noticed that as it warmed, the chocolate cream flavor developed nicely, with an increasing bitterness for the after taste that most stouts seem to develop. Over all I would rate this as an excellent brew and would recommend it to anyone. I would probably rate it as an B-, simply because although I did enjoy it very much, it didn't have the best appearance to my eye, and the overall initial aroma was a little lackluster to my nostrils, some people not accustomed to it may be put off by the scent of this beer at first, but the flavor more than makes up for it.
shrews824
May 24, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Jay,
Thanks for commenting, Jay. You know that's the great thing about “craft beer.” We can each find different attributes about the style that we like or don't like. I love that. I appreciate the detailed description also. I, sometimes, rate a Stout a little higher, simply because I really like them. Adversly, I sometimes rate a Hefe a little low because I don't find them as appealing. Not that they are bad beers, per say, but I just don't find myself craving them like I do Stouts or Porters. Overall, I think we had similar opinions on this beer. I didn't quite find the chocolate to be as pronounced as you did, but that's the point of reviews isn't it? I find myself “looking” for the chocolate!!! Haha!!! Again, thanks for the in-depth comment.
Cheers,
Scott
shrews824
May 24, 2011 at 12:59 pm
Jay,
Thanks for commenting, Jay. You know that's the great thing about “craft beer.” We can each find different attributes about the style that we like or don't like. I love that. I appreciate the detailed description also. I, sometimes, rate a Stout a little higher, simply because I really like them. Adversly, I sometimes rate a Hefe a little low because I don't find them as appealing. Not that they are bad beers, per say, but I just don't find myself craving them like I do Stouts or Porters. Overall, I think we had similar opinions on this beer. I didn't quite find the chocolate to be as pronounced as you did, but that's the point of reviews isn't it? I find myself “looking” for the chocolate!!! Haha!!! Again, thanks for the in-depth comment.
Cheers,
Scott
Scott-TheBrewClub
May 26, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Hands down my favorite milk stout! Lancaster Brewing makes a really nice one too, but not quite as nice as the Left Hand.
Scott-TheBrewClub
May 26, 2011 at 3:17 pm
Hands down my favorite milk stout! Lancaster Brewing makes a really nice one too, but not quite as nice as the Left Hand.
shrews824
May 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Hey Scott,
Yes sir. It's a good one for sure. I haven't ever had the Lancaster, but if I see it I will be sure to give it a shot.
Thanks for reading and commenting!!!
Cheers,
Scott
shrews824
May 26, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Hey Scott,
Yes sir. It's a good one for sure. I haven't ever had the Lancaster, but if I see it I will be sure to give it a shot.
Thanks for reading and commenting!!!
Cheers,
Scott