Moo Thunder Stout - Butternuts Beer & Ale

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Black with noticeable lighter mouthfeel, lots of white dots lacing.Smells malty. Carbonation is on the aggressive side, less than medium mouthfeel. Some coffee grounds light chocolate and cola-like. Drinkable as on the sweet side. Lactose aftertaste.

Serving type: can

04-02-2008 00:41:39 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.38/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

"The cow is of the bovine ilk;
One end is moo, the other, milk."

--Ogden Nash

Burnt umber that becomes darkest cranberry when backlit. I don't mind the lucency of the beer so much, but it looks thin and sounded thin on the pour. The mocha colored crown is small (after a high-altitude pour) and hangs around for a short while. Unfortunately, the appearance is no better than average for the style.

The aroma's only weakness is its weakness. A pleasant roasted maltiness leads the way and cocoa powder makes more of an impression with the passage of time. A chocolate milk-like quality is probably nothing more than the power of suggestion (thanks to the dancing cow on the can).

The brewers state that they wanted to brew a stout that was 'not too strong' and 'not too viscous'. Mission accomplished. Moo Thunder Stout is one of the thinner, lighter versions to have entered my glass in quite some time. If that's your bag, fine, but I prefer something a bit meatier, even when the ABV is only 5.0%.

The biggest problem is that there isn't enough malt to provide much flavor depth. In addition, ain't no way this is a sweet stout since it isn't... uh... sweet. It's charred chocolate malty and tastes a little like iced black coffee. Irish dry stout all the way.

The mouthfeel is the biggest disappointment. The fact that the brewers consider 'viscous' to be a dirty word is at odds with the fact that I like big, creamy, expansive mouthfeels on almost all styles. A few more bubbles wouldn't hurt either.

Several things are commendable about Butternuts Beer And Ale: their attitude and their brewing philosophy, their website, and the fact that they use cans. I just wish Moo Thunder Stout was better beer. Thanks marcpal.

Serving type: can

08-14-2008 12:03:47 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Saw this one in the fridge last night and just had to go for it! Served chilled and poured into a pint glass, it was enjoyed on 09/29/2009.

Brilliant pour, just what I would have wanted for the style. Rich dark brown in color and nearly completely dark with a big tan head on the top of it that hung around for what seemed to be forever. Rich lacing up and down the sides of the glass just added to its luster. Aroma was a touch light though. Brown sugar, chocolate, hints of light coffee notes and a definite milk shale like smell, but it seemed kind of light and a touch off, no matter though. Nice full feel, dry as well, took me off guard for a moment. Cocoa, hints of sugar, light smoke note as it warms as well and a really dry finish. Very light and not nearly as filling as I thought it would be led to this one going down quite easily.

Overall a very solid offering here, nothing crazy but very good for a stout in a can for sure.

Serving type: can

10-01-2009 00:41:03 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

After my last beer experience with Butternuts, I did not have high hopes at all for this one. However, I was pleasantly surprised here. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a dark brown with a thin mocha head that has a bit of staying power. The nose brings forward some roasted malt as well as a good deal of both dark and milk chocolate. The taste is roasted malt and some chocolate as well. Mouthfeel is of a medium body with lower levels of carbonation. Drinks pretty well all around. Nothing too bad here, which I was quite fearful of.

Serving type: can

10-20-2010 10:56:06 | More by Thorpe429

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

2.73/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours out a clear, dark brown body. Despite a vigorous pour, there's no appreciable head formation beyond a thin, white ring on top.

Smell: Sweetish, grainy nose with a distinct though light hint of added milk sugar. Notes of toast, roast, and basic chocolate.

Taste: Reasonably roasty malts with, as was the case with the nose, light touches of roast, toast, and chocolate. Slackened sweetness. As with their Heinneweisse, there's this unpleasant grainy astringency. Touch of lactose. Faint (thankfully) vegetal undertones in the distant background. Very low earthy, roasty bitterness. Finishes dry, roasty, and almost spiritedly grainy.

Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium-low carbonation.

Drinkability: One to skip. Alright, so Butternuts, thinking outside the brew box, aimed for a not-so-stout milk stout, so look for a beer that's washed out and watered down in terms of taste and peppered with a few off-flavors.

Serving type: can

07-26-2009 13:29:11 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a dark chocolate color with plenty of ruby highlights showing through when backlit; the head, modest to start with, dissipates quickly and fails to leave much lace

Smell: Roasty aroma with undertones of chocolate

Taste: Starts out rather roasty, with a developing lactose and chocolate flavor that has a bitter edge, as well; after the swallow, the milky flavor is more pronounced but secondary to the roasty elements

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Certainly a lighter stout, almost what I would call a summer stout; decent enough

Serving type: can

12-25-2009 19:09:11 | More by brentk56

oberon

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I havent been overll impressed as of yet with the Butternuts line of beer I would say the hefeweizen has been the best thus far.This poured into a standard pint glass deep and dark but not ink black it has a bit of ruby colored hue to it a thin tannish colored head is gone quickly leaving no lace,mild chocolate aromas along with some molasses and dark roast coffee.Pretty thin borderline watery but not quite mouthfeel,mild roastiness and bitter chocolate flavors I think its saving grace is a raw earthy finish keeping it somewhat balanced.Pretty low in alcohol no doubt wich is true to style but it lacks alot.

Serving type: can

12-31-2007 23:01:03 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Dark, delicious, and decidedly drinkable, Moo Thunder is sure to please. A thin cap of tan rises oover its dark body as you pour it. The head retention and lacing could be better, but it does leaves some spotty lace in its wake. The aroma offers sweet dark chocolate with a hint of juicy red fruit in the background. In the mouth it's velvety-smooth with a medium-light body and restrained carbonation. The flavor offers mainly sweet dark chocolate up front before revealing its underlying yeasty fruitiness. Some nougat character comes through across the middle, and it finishes with some mild black coffee that fades gently away, leaving behind some residual notes of light caramel, nuttiness, some mild bitterness, and a touch of spent grassy hops. It's a light, easy-drinking stout, and the dark malt acidity and bitterness are well heeled. Quite drinkable!

Serving type: can

12-28-2007 18:34:30 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.

Pours a straight jet black with a light halo of khaki head. The smell is mostly roasted matls, chocolate, and coffee. The taste follows almost exactly, though the coffee takes first precedence, followed by the malts, and the chocolate comes in as a side flavor in the back. Nice lightly medium body makes for a nice, straight-forward, highly drinkable stout.

Serving type: can

02-12-2010 17:28:51 | More by TMoney2591

WesWes

New York

3.3/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer pours a black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is decent. It has a light roasted malt scent along with a weak crystal malt aroma. The aroma is weak with little character. The taste is average. It has a smooth black and roasted malt flavor. It seems weak and watery with quite a dry finish. The mouthfeel is decent. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a weak session stout. It's got roasted malt character, but nothing else. It needs some more substance. Overall, a pretty average stout.

Serving type: can

10-19-2007 00:34:14 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.18/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Served from a can into a standard pint glass. Beer is dark (as expected), head falls away quickly to non-existent levels, carbonation is low, can't see it but I can feel that it is low.

Smells really sweet and has a lot of roast in the aroma. Its pretty pleasing and stylistically correct. Maybe a hint of alcohol in the aroma.

This beer is roasty. Very roasty. High roast character in flavor blocks out other flavors. I am not enjoying this beer. Coffee, dark malt, burnt wood. Too much. Help. I have a hard time drinking beer that have a strong roast / smoke character.

Drinkability low, mouthfeel fair. Not a repeat for me.

Serving type: can

10-15-2009 16:21:18 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks to zdk9 for sharing this can.

The beer pours a dark brown color with red highlights and a white head. The aroma is chocolate and roasted malt. A very nice aroma. The flavor is not as good as the aroma. I get some roasted malt and toffee, but I also get something that resembles earth/dirt. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: can

10-15-2010 04:01:25 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is essentially jet black in color (traces of amber are visible at the edge of the glass when held to the light). It poured with a finger high tan head that died down but consistently left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface..
S: There are aromas of lactose in the nose along with notes of milk chocolate.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and the lactose and chocolate flavors have a bit of sweetness; there are hints of bitterness roasted malts in the finish.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some hints of dryness in the finish.
O: The beer is very easy to drink and its low alcohol content and relatively light-bodied nature make it a very sessionable stout.

Serving type: can

08-31-2011 23:52:03 | More by metter98

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.78/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz can into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark brown color, with a thin beige head that fades slowly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of milk chocolate, roasted malts and faint touches of dark fruit and hops.

T: The taste starts out creamy and malty up front with flavors of dark chocolate, lactose, black coffee and a little bit of dark fruit. The malt character is hearty but not overly heavy. The hops presence is very mild as it should be for this type of beer but is still quite complementary. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and very smooth, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, good representation of style, this is a decent stout with enough flavor and substance to make it worth drinking for a long time if you're in the mood for a sessionable stout.

Serving type: can

06-03-2010 03:43:43 | More by TheManiacalOne

Gavage

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: black in color with a 1/4" head that breaks apart immediately. Some surface spots develop afterwards. No lacing develops.

Smell: roasted malts with softer chocolate and coffee tones are pleasant.

Taste: roasted malts, chocolate, coffee, hints of licorice, some bits of fruity sweetness, and a very mild bitterness makes up a sweet stout.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Smooth and lightly dry throughout. Aftertaste is very brief.

Drinkability: decent if you have the need to have canned beers where glass isn't acceptable. Worth a try.

Serving type: can

02-21-2008 16:06:34 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours black with dark rubyish brown edges. A light tan head descends to a patch. Spotted lacing sticks.

The smell is of dark maltiness, roast/ash and milk chocolate.

The taste is chocolate-y - almost like chocolate milk. It has some earthy notes in the back with some roast/ash, and chickory. It has a dry-ish, roasty-ish finish.

It's on the lighter side of medium-bodied - more porterish and stoutish, though it has a creamy smoothness to it.

An enjoyable stout - sweetish turning dryish. Some complexities going on for a lighter, easy-drinking stout.

Serving type: can

11-17-2008 02:16:33 | More by jwc215

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tasty, but a little too sweet and bland. The aroma has a very mellow cream and cocoa smell with a bit of roasted malt. The flavor is more of the same but with an overriding sugary sweetness that seems to mask the flavor. Seems like a blander version of the Sam Adams Cream Stout. Not a bad beer, just a little light in flavor for the style I guess.

Serving type: can

11-10-2007 04:20:27 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice to see a milk stout in a can, Moo Thunder with this crazy cartoon cow...okay I'll drink it. Poured into my imperial pint glass nice mocha tan head forms nicely with lacing strung evenly between sips. Body is dark nearly black, light toffee brown highlights when held toward the light just around the edges of the glass. Aromatics offer up dark roasted malt with creamy lactose sweetness. Hints of anise a touch of meaty soy sauce with herbal hops in the background. Flavor has a rounded creamy sweetness, with dark chocolate and mild coffee from the nearly burnt malted barley additions. Herbal hops underlying a nice session milk stout out of the can what complexty and nice flavors from a canned stout, this is excellent. Soft even carbonation creates a silky smooth mouthfeel, again I was scared to try these beers base off of SIDT's nightmare tasting show they had, but I'm glad I gave these guys a fair shake. I'm wondering if they're case was out of date or not. Drinkability again great stuff sessionable and packed with flavor, what every beer drinker out there is looking for.

Serving type: can

09-12-2010 19:44:22 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've been waiting for the day I would see this beer and it has finally come. I have tried the other three by this brewery, so where we go with this one.

Pours a dark brown that lets light through. No head. Nose is roasted malts. Flavor is a completely odd and not appropriate mix of smoked malts and roasted malts. I already know I will not be finishing this. Feel has a decent carbonation and a liquid feel that is too thin. If you see this one, just pass. Borders on a disaster of a stout, IMO.

Serving type: can

01-01-2008 05:09:56 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Near black color, no light shines through.  Modest head that does leave some stringy lace. 

Smoky, lightly burnt coffee aromas. 

Burnt black patent malt flavor.  Relatively thin for the style. Nice stronger hop finish that makes this notably different from most stouts

Serving type: can

06-26-2011 12:00:11 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks goes out to Bounty628 for this brew.

Pours a nice dark brown color, nice carbonation, nice little fizzy off-white head, not much sticky lacing though. The nose is malty, with some toffee, caramel, chocolate. The taste is sweet, malty, with the dark stuff. Medium body. Drinkable, this is a nice brew, recommended.

Serving type: can

12-07-2008 19:41:12 | More by Wasatch

Billolick

New York

4.2/5  rDev +18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce can, pours near black, with light shining through at the edges, nice looking fine head, film and then plenty of splotchy delicate lace. Roasty nose with hints of licorice, and smoldering malts. Nice easy drinking, medium bodied stout. Plenty of well crafted dark malt notes. Sweetish finish, like a mocha cafe au lait with a 1/2 spoonful of sugar. Gotta love a quality stout in a F'n can! I'm suprised by the low scores fo this one, c'mon folks this stuff is well crafted, easy drinking and quite tasty...

Serving type: can

01-01-2008 04:26:42 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from can into snifter.

A: Thick malty brown head about a finger, pitch black color with no light

N: Nose has lots of chocolate and coffee with roasted malts and light tangy fruit and oats

T: Taste starts with chocolate and roasted malts, oats, creamy stout like taste, some dark chalky center and a touch of coffee, a little alcohol shines through, some chocolate milk in the middle

M: Creamy thick mouthfeel

F: Finish starts sweet but dries up and adds more stout and chocolate and touch of fruit and bitterness

Final thoughts: Its a pretty basic thick milk/oatmeall stout not bad nonetheless. I was surprised how nice it ended up after reading some of the other reviews. This can is also about a year old so I wonder if that changed the beer.

Serving type: can

08-08-2009 03:12:08 | More by jlindros

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12ozer can bought as part of a 6-pack from Table & Vine, West Springfield, MA.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 2 1/4" tan head over the clear ruby reddish brown brew. Large-bubbled head fades slowly, with sporadic chunky lacing. Aroma is effevescent dark malts, with something else foatin around that I can't quite put my finger on. Taste is lightly sweet upfront, worty in the middle, with a slightly crisp close. Mouthfeel could be easier, but drinkability remains pretty good. Kind of out of its element in this style, but for canned stouts it is a quite serviceable product.

Serving type: can

08-28-2008 01:13:37 | More by ppoitras

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz can into a pint glass.

Pours a dark brown (almost black) with several fingers of foamy mocha colored head. Decent looking retention leaves back some spotty swathes of lacing. The aroma is a bit subdued at first but then opens up VERY NICELY as it warms. Chocolate, lactose, roast, maple syrup, and very dominant coffee all help give this aroma some pop. It took a bit of time to get there but was ultimately worth it.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about the taste. It's similar to the aroma but it's just not popping out at all. Chocolate and milky sweetness up front, followed by some coffee and roasted bitterness in the back. Decent but a letdown compared to how nicely the aroma opened up. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a lower feeling carbonation but still has an underlying creaminess to it that keeps it smooth in the mouth.

Not bad, especially compared to a couple other offerings from Butternuts and I actually finished the can. I just wish that the overall flavor had given up some more.

Serving type: can

02-12-2009 17:53:21 | More by Kegatron