February 11, 2008
Milk Stout Tasting Notes
So, overall we’ve had some good luck with recent brews. The Amber Ale turned out very good, which was expected, as we’ve made the recipe before. I think I may make some tweaks to it, though, as it’s not quite where I want it. I also will be submitting it to a few competitions, so I’m really looking forward to see what sort of feedback I get.
The other beer, of course, is the Milk Stout. This is a new recipe for me, something that I loosely based on the Left Hand Milk Stout, a beer which I used to drink in Georgia, but isn’t distributed in California. A sweet stout generally has low hop bitterness/aroma, but anywhere from a mild to heavy roast character, and a residual sweetness unlike that of a “dry” stout. The name “Milk Stout” comes from the use of lactose, a partially-fermentable sugar, which due to its limited fermentability lends a sweetness to the finished product.
I just got the opportunity to taste the first of the Milk Stout, and it blew me away. It’s definitely on the upper end of the roast character, but the residual sweetness gives it a very nice balance. It packs a whole bunch of flavor into a rather innocuous (probably just under 5%) package. This is a beer that won’t knock you off your seat, but the flavor will take your socks clean off!
I’m sure there’s some tweaking to be done on this one, since it was only the first attempt, and it was only 5 gallons. I think I’d cut back on the malts which lend that roast flavor a little bit, just to make it slightly smoother. But for a first shot, it was quite tasty!
The Unrepentant Individual linked with Brew Day & Milk Stout Tasting Notes
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I love/hate reading these because they really make me crave some quality beer — and most usually, I have none in the fridge to drink!
Fortunately, this is a fixable problem.
It’s easy, Justin… Just hop on a plane, come to California, and I’ll be sure to give you plenty of beer
Or, since you’re in Georgia, just go to the store and pick up some Left Hand Milk Stout, and you’ll be just about there.
Indeed, I second Justin’s sentiments. However, I can say that I do have some decent beer in the fridge. Sam Adams Cherry Wheat and some Pyramid Apricot Wheat. Looks like the nearest I can get some of that Left Hand stuff is Davenport.
Of course, there’s always the plane to Cali option…;-)
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