Hello and welcome back to the Eternal Hoptimists,
Today we are taking a trip to the other side of the world, New Zealand to be precise with this award winning milk stout from Cassels. Being a fan of this style, this beer certainly appeals to me and the can art and highlights of their awards featured heavily certainly makes this look like it is a classy beer. But it’s all about what is in the can that counts….I still have high hopes!
1. Name : Milk Stout
2. Brewery: Cassels Brewing Co. Woolston, Canterbury, New Zealand
3. Hops : Not specified
4. Grain : Barley & Malt
5. Aroma : Slight roasted malt with the lactose giving off a sweet, creamy chocolate nose with hints of coffee and a pleasant bitterness.
6. Appearance : Deep black with no light bleed. Pours with a two finger tan coloured head that dissipates
7. Body : Medium body with a lovely rich creaminess that gives off a lovely mouthfeel.
8. Taste : Lots going on in this. First taste is pretty roasty which soon makes way to a lovely milky coffee/chocolate flavour and this is backed by a touch of bitterness that balances proceedings well
9. Allergens: Contains lactose
Cassels Brewing Co is very proud of this beer and is keen to highlight that their milk stout has previously won World Beer Awards in the categories of worlds best milk stout and stout & porter. This is high praise indeed and in all honesty, this is a pretty classy beer.
As soon as the beer hits the palate it is one of those that makes you go oooohhhhh, now this is nice….and it certainly is! There is an awful lot going on within this beer but at no stage does anything ever dominate. The roasty, toasty notes are very pleasant and the milky chocolate/coffee flavours helped by the lactose gives a luxurious creamy mouthfeel and flavour and if that is not enough the beer is balanced even more with a nice bitter edge.
Being a prestigious award winner, I had high hopes and it certainly did not disappoint. For a traditional milk stout this is a fine example and is one that is certainly worth keeping an eye out for. Very enjoyable.
Our overall rating: 4.0/ 5.0
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