Beer Of The Day: Barrel-Aged Udder Madness

BOTD: Barrel-Aged Udder Madness

Imperial Oak Brewing (Willow Springs, IL)

( http://www.imperialoakbrewing.com/ )

Imperial Stout, Milk Stout

10.5% ABV

Plus

Equals

Imperial milk stout aged in George Dickel Bourbon Barrels

We've done the math, so you don't have to.

Our second bit of Science on National Beer Day involves a nifty bit of zymurgy, as lactose, the naturally occurring sugars found in milk, are not fermentable by our industrious little yeast. It's addition changes the sweetness and mouthfeel of a beer, typically in stouts, making it sweeter and fuller-feeling. Double up on everything, then throw it in a Tennessee whisky barrel for a year or so, and magic happens.

Draft, Poured into a snifter, pours black with little head, typical of BA stouts. The aroma calls up memories of bourbon and oak over a dark roasted malt & coffee like aroma. To the taste you will notice it's medium body, sweetness, a hint of oak char, and molasses-y character. This is quite good. A balanced (is that a misnomer?) Imperial Stout that hits all the marks.

Available on site draft AND in 22oz. Bombers to go.  Go. Visit. Try it. Bring one home.

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

Untappd: 4.22 / 5

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Beer Of The Day: Coffee End Of Days - Is this The One?

BOTD: Coffee End OF Days
Pipeworks Brewing (Chicago, IL)
( http://pdubs.net/ )

Imperial Milk Stout
10.5% ABV

22oz Bombers
Available at Binny's Beverage Depot, 11.99
Oddly, not listed on Pipeworks' web site.....

"Imperial Milk Stout brewed with chili peppers, cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate and Dark Matter Coffee"

After finding the Prairie Bomb! not peppery enough, and the Cappuccino Stout not Coffee enough, how about THIS stuff?

Well, I'm guessing that it has been a while since Pipeworks brewed this, as it's not listed on their website currently (caveat - may not have the same flavor as when "fresh". Doesn't mean worse, or better. Just different). And it's an Imperial, meaning I expect more. Of everything.

Poured black into a tulip glass, getting a nice brown head that dissipates quickly. Aromas are understated, roasted malt and some dark coffee predominate, along with....something else. The chilis?

A tasty coffee stout flavor, a little sweet, with a warm chili finish. The labelled Vanilla is not obvious, blending with the milk stout malt sweetness.

If you are a Stout fancier, if you find one, buy one. If you hate All Things Spicy, pass. Enjoy.

My rating: 4.25 / 5

Untapped: 4.03 / 5

Beer Of The Day: Escape From Stateville - but not until after you've finished this beer.

BOTD: Escape From Stateville
MyGrain Brewing (Joliet, IL)
(http://www.mygrainbrewing.com/)

Milk Stout; 8% ABV

"...Chocolate Stout with Walnut and Marshmallow"

(Photo of Tommy Touhy, beer bootlegger, Capone rival, and actual escapee from Stateville. Which has nothing to do with this post)

Served in a snifter (as part of a flight). Pours black, with a light tan head.

The marshmallow sweetness comes first, part of a rich, creamy, sweet draught. This is a good build on their Stateville Stout base, with the added elements blending neatly to create a more distinctive and richer beer than a garden variety Milk Stout. This is a standout on their tap list. Go get some - available draft onsite and in carry-out Crowlers. Take one home with you, invite a friend, and have it for dessert, you won't regret it. With a scoop of good vanilla, perhaps? ;-)

Now, when will they release the barrel-aged variant? We're waiting......

My Rating: 4.25 / 5
Untappd: 3.98 / 5


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Beer Of The Day: Stateville Stout. It is precisely what it is...

BOTD: Stateville Stout
MyGrain Brewing (Joliet, IL)
(http://www.mygrainbrewing.com/)

Milk Stout; 7.4% ABV

"A sweeter addition to our lineup, Stateville Stout is brewed with Dutch chocolate malts and just a touch of hops, then finished off with Lactose to give it that extra kick of sweetness."

Served in a snifter (as part of a flight). Pours black, with a light tan head.

Modest nose of roasted malts; A rich, sweet stout with a silky mouthfeel. A good example of what a milk stout should be, displaying the lactose (and therefore unfermentable) sweetness you expect. A very competent entry in the Milk Stout Stakes. Try it. Available draft onsite and in cans locally. Check your Binny's.

My Rating: 4.0 / 5

Untappd: 3.83 / 5

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Beer Of The Day: Sweetwater Hatchery Series #4: Chocolate Milk Stout - "meh"

BOTD: Sweetwater Hatchery Series #4: Chocolate Milk Stout
Sweetwater Brewing (Atlanta, GA.)

( http://sweetwaterbrew.com/brews/ )

"We used lactose and flaked oats to create a silky smooth, sweet and creamy chocolate brew that will remind you of your younger days"

Served draft in a pint glass. (In fairness, it tapped out as it was poured. How this affected the overall experience can not be precisely determined)

Pours nearly black, with a light brown head. 

It sounded like a great dessert beer the wash down the last of the burger, something with enough flavor and substance to fill in the cracks and induce a nice food coma.

It did not.

I did not pick up either the chocolate or the lactose sweetness one would expect from a beer so made. A stout to be sure, with overtones of roasted malt (rather than hop) bitterness, like an espresso, but I struggled to detect more. A casualty of being literally bottom-of-the-barrel? We may never know. As served, it was ordinary. If offered, I'd pass.

It's not bad, it's just not what you'd expect.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Untappd Rating: 3.6/5

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Beer Of The Day: Monkeys With Arrows

Monkeys With Arrows. Arrowhead Ales (New Lenox) / Metal Monkey (Romeoville) Collaboration.
(http://arrowheadales.com/)
(http://www.metalmonkeybrewing.com/home)

Available in-house, draft and as 4-pack carry-out in cans. Limited Supply.

Double Milk Stout with Coffee.

From the Release Party information: ""Monkeys with Arrows"! A double milk stout with coffee roasted by Metal Monkey themselves. 11% abv."

Draft, served in a snifter. Pours jet black, with a substantial chocolate brown head. Roasted Malt and Dark Roast Coffee dominate. Rich, sweet, hint of smoke from either the malt or coffee. Characteristic milk stout sweetness. Rich mouthfeel. Does not betray its high abv.

Excellent example of a double/imperial stout. Coffee flavors blend very well. I only hope they have a barrel of this aging somewhere; I would stand in line to buy that!

If you like your imperial stouts, go get this while you can. Release is limited, act now! ;-)

My Rating: 4.5/5

Untappd Rating: (None yet published)

Prost!