Left Hand Milk Stout: Silky, Tasty, and A Lot Like Coffee

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Left Hand Milk Stout from Longmont, Colorado

Serving style: Draft

Location: Iona

Cost: Free (because my roommate bought it for me, suckers)

ABV: 6.0 %

Appearance: Deep, brown, and beautiful, the Milk Stout looks a bit like melted chocolate. There’s a slight tan haze throughout, appearing a bit lighter than a Guinness (which seems to be the standard measuring beer when it comes to stouts). The head is brilliant, too, at about two inches deep. It actually took the bartender about five minutes to pour the beer completely. Totally badass, no?

Aroma: It smells like chocolate, also, with hints of cream and sweetness. But I did expect the scent to be a lot more potent, especially considering how thick it looked and felt.

Taste: Usually, I’m not the biggest fan of stouts. I don’t exactly know why, because they always seem like a good idea, but the Milk Stout broke me from my (admittedly stupid) assumption that I won’t like a stout. The flavor is so strong, much more than the aroma lets on, filling my mouth with everything from chocolate to barley to milk. The coffee addict in me loved this brew, too, as its hints of dark roast emerge in full form towards the end of the drink.

Mouthfeel: Oh, buddy. This brew requires a bit of chewing, and I’m not really exaggerating. It’s thick, but smooth. The mouthfeel is one of my favorite things about it, with low carbonation allowing it to be silky and velvety. No doubt, George Costanza would love the Milk Stout.

Overall Experience: Great, great beer. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been drinking a lot of summer ales and IPAs lately, but damn, this hit the spot. In a way, I felt a bit like I was drinking an iced coffee. The bar served it a little cooler than room temperature, but once it warmed up, the flavors really came out, creating a nice blend of coffee and chocolate. Ultimately, the Milk Stout is the perfect dessert beer. Or, you know, it could just replace your meal.