Untitled Art Espresso Honey Imperial Milk Stout

Even in the heat of the summer, i can't help but dig on the strong and dark stuff.  In the evening at least.  And the Espresso Honey Imperial Milk Stout from Untitled Art hits in all the right places for the desert beer enthusiast.  The 12% ABV brew pours black with an light tan head and smells of honey, coffee, chocolate, and cinnamon.  The flavor follows suit but with some additional notes of roasted malt, vanilla, and maybe even a little tobacco.  I spend many a Friday or Saturday night sipping on imperial stouts and watching horror movies, and this one filled the bill perfectly.

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Camp Fires and Ghost Stories

First off, dig on that "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" can art.  I am eternally a fan of the dark and heavy stuff, even in the blistering months of summer, so a s'mores brew felt like the way to go.  Camp Fires and Ghost Stories from Ingenious Brewing in Humble, Texas is an imperial milk stout brewed with chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers.  The 10% ABV brew pours a dark, blackish brown with a tan head and smells of chocolate, malt, molasses, and graham cracker.  The flavor is a solid mix of said chocolate and graham cracker with some notes of vanilla and caramel.  No false advertising here, it's basically a s'more in stout form.

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903 Milkshake and Fries

My wife and my kids all do that thing where they stick their French fries into their shakes or Frosties or whatever from the drive thru.  It's not my thing, but i don't judge, especially when i'm buying beer that's essentially a take on that whole process.  And so we have the Milkshake and Fries stout from 903 Brewers, a milk stout brewed with chocolate soft serve and sea salt.  The 10.7% ABV brew pours black with an off-white head and smells of malts and chocolate.  The flavor is a sweet mix of said malt and chocolate with some mild hints of saltiness to balance it all out.  And it never really feels as strong as it is, so watch out.  But also enjoy.

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The Dude Imperial Milk Stout w/ Hazelnut, Vanilla Beans, Cocoa Nibs & Sea Salt

For the last few years, one of my favorite beers to come out of Austin's craft brew scene is The Dude, a White Russian inspired imperial milk stout from the good folks over at Pinthouse.  And a week ago, they released a small batch of the beer along with some wonderful variations, my favorite of which was brewed with hazelnut, vanilla beans, cocoa nibs, and sea salt.  The 10.5% ABV brew pours black with a light brown head and smells of chocolate and creamy vanilla.  The flavor is an all too smooth mix of those same chocolate and vanilla notes along with some hints of salt that really complement the sweetness.  I would have drunk these all night long.

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Left Hand Bittersweet Nitro Imperial Coffee Milk Stout

It's been a spell since i've had anything from Colorado's Left Hand Brewing, so i picked up a 4-pack of their Bittersweet Nitro Imperial Coffee Milk Stout.  And i'm glad i did.  The 8.9% ABV brew pours black with a beautiful off white head that bubbles forever as nitros are wont to do.  Aromas of coffee, vanilla, cream, and roasted malt abound.  The flavor is heavy on coffee and cream with some notes of caramel in the mix as well, finishing smooth and very balanced between the bitter and the sweet.  This beer is wonderful.

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Moondog Imperial Stout

Earlier this week i turned 41, and what better way to celebrate getting one year closer to leaving this mortal coil than by ending the evening with a delicious brew.  The brew in question this year comes from Whitestone Brewing here in Cedar Park and their Moondog Imperial Stout, a milk stout brewed with fig and coconut.  The 11.5% ABV beer pours black with a tan head and smells of figs and molasses with some hints of vanilla and booze.  The flavor is sweet, heavy on the fig, with a boozy finish.  Wonderful.

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3 Nations Devout Imperial Milk Stout

Been grooving on the decadent side of beer lately, and the Devout Imperial Milk Stout from 3 Nations Brewery has had me covered.  Pouring a dark black with minimal tan head, the 8.3% ABV brew smells of chocolate with notes of coffee and cream.  Chocolate and toffee flavors abound along with some alcohol notes and some subtle dark fruit vibes.  It's a wonderful wintertime beer, even if it's warm outside.

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Eureka Heights Nuke The Whales Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout

I love how when i visit a city i haven't been to in a little while, in this instance it was Houston, my friends there will somehow take me to a brewery...often times a new one i had no idea existed in the first place.  That's pretty awesome.  What's also pretty awesome is Eureka Heights Brewing, the brewery and taproom my Houston friends hooked me up with last month.  All their offerings were solid, but i did bring one home with me, a bomber of Nuke The Whales Bourbon Barrel Imperial Milk Stout.  Pouring a dark black with a tan head and weighing in at 13% ABV, this is as about a winter brew as i could hope for.  A mix of malt, molasses, coffee, toffee, cream, and booze both on the nose and on the tongue.  It kept me warm over Christmas.  I must get back some day.

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Stone Xocoveza Imperial Stout

What's that you say?  Stone makes an imperial stout brewed with Mexican hot chocolate?  Well, happy holidays to everyone then.  The Xocoveza comes in at 8.1% ABV and pours a dark black with a brownish head.  The beer smells of cocoa, coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, and spices, those flavors all noticeable in the brew, with chocolate, malt, and hint of chili spice in the forefront.  This is a fantastic winter brew, and definitely worth your taste buds' time.

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Zilker Coffee Milk Stout

I know it's spring, and it's getting warmer, and i'm supposed to be drinking my beer accordingly, focusing on IPA's and pales, hefes, helles, and lagers, but i love the dark stuff, so enter the Coffee Milk Stout from Zilker Brewing in Austin.  The brew pours dark and black with an off-brown head and smells of coffee, cream, malts, and hints of chocolate.  Flavors of burnt sugar and roasted malt swirl with coffee and chocolate notes in a smooth and creamy brew.  Wait for the sun to go down and then enjoy one or two of these 5.9% ABV stouts.

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903 Land of Milk and Honey Stout

One would never know it was a stout if not for it being labeled on the can, but The Land of Milk and Honey Stout from 903 Brewers out of Sherman, Texas is an interesting and tasty little beer.  Copper colored and medium bodied, the brew looks and feels more like an ale, with lighter malts making for a more subdued flavor.  The beer smells of honey and malts, those same notes hitting the tongue with additional hints of caramel.  It's sweet, but not overly sweet, with a crisp finish, a very strange, but delicious stout.

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Solid Rock Trinity Vanilla Milk Stout

As my stout affinity continues through these winter months, i keep searching and keep finding a new variety to choose from.  Solid Rock Brewing, out of Spicewood, Texas, offers up a tasty and easy drinker with their Trinity Vanilla Milk Stout.  Pouring a dark, brownish black with minimal head, this stout smells of malts, cream, and vanilla.  The flavor is akin to most milk stouts on the market, creamy and malty with some cocoa and coffee notes, but with hints of vanilla throughout.  Sweet, but not too sweet, and hanging in there at 5% ABV, it's a lovely brew for a chilly weekend afternoon.

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Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout

I love chocolate milk.  I also love milk stouts.  To that end, the Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout from Odell Brewing Company is a total no-brainer.  The 8.5% ABV brew pours dark and black with a minimal tannish head.  The aromas of milk sugars and chocolate are evident upon first pour, along with some malt and alcohol notes.  The beer is thick, creamy, and smooth, the milk chocolate sweet, but not too sweet, and finishes on the dryer side.  This is definitely more of dessert beer and would go great following a late dinner.

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