Dark Horse Too Cream Stout - Dark Horse Brewing Company

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Too Cream Stout opens to a sweet, milky, but still coffee- and ash-laden aroma. The sugars in here are pronounced and varied, featuring heavy whipping cream, caramel, toffee, molasses, milk chocolate, and brown sugar; these are balanced by an undercurrent of ash, tobacco, chocolate malt, and burnt toast crust. There’s also a good bit of nuance added by smidgens of vanilla, roasted pecan, and thick brown breads. Hops add a barely detectable edge of pine resin and grapefruit rind to add a bitter, resinous complexity. As a whole, the nose is very nice, featuring almost everything one could want in a Milk Stout, losing points mainly for strength of aromas, since the initial odors do fade after a few seconds.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a black, ashy, tobacco-and-coffee-laden edge that is reminiscent of campfire smoke and wood ash, and is surprisingly powerful. This is quickly joined by a good bit of sugar, which bring the milky lactose, as well as molasses, brown sugar, caramel, toffee, and touches of milk chocolate. Toasted bread crust and rising wheat dough add earthiness, joined by roasted pecans and vanilla. Hops add a bitter pine resin and grapefruit rind edge that sears the tongue and adds a biting, citrusy kick. In subsequent sips the initial black ashy notes do subside somewhat, as if the tastebuds had burned out in their initial onslaught, but are still present in great quantity, and fight the sugars for dominance. The aftertaste is a heavily ash-laden continuation of the main mouthful, with even greater tobacco, coffee, and citrusy pine resin presence as the sugars die off, and the ashy notes linger on the tongue for a very long time. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high, adding to the burning sensation on the tongue and soft palate.

Overall, this is a very good Milk Stout, featuring a very powerful arrangement of finely assorted flavors that will be sure to please fans of the style. The ashy/coffee notes are perhaps a bit too strong here, the sugars not quite able to keep up, and the beer could have used a bit more ABV to add a greater vanilla-bourbon overtone, as well as a little less carbonation. But even without those changes, this is quite drinkable, and very delicious.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 20:01:48 | More by jondeelee

wvsabbath

West Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Serving Type - Bottle

Appearance - Dark black with a tan tint, a nice 1 inch creamy tan head and lots of lacing.

Smell - Roasty malts, creamy sweet milk, chocolate, sugars, caramel, toffee, minor hops near the finish.

Taste - Roasty malts mixed with milky sweetness. Coffee comes in and adds a little bitterness. Lots of caramel and toffee with some chocolate. Minor hop note at the finish. Really didnt get any alcohol.

Mouthfeel - Malts, lactose milk sweetness and coffee coat the tounge. More sugars and lactose with chocolate cover palate. The finish is sweet and malty.

Overall - Decent, mild and very easy to drink. Balance is good, usually milk stouts are so sweet, this one is more mild and malty. Worth a drink but nothing spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:06:09 | More by wvsabbath

joeseppy

Illinois

3.63/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark brown with a very big bubble head which recedes quickly.

Aromas of smoky oak, milk chocolate, spent coffee grounds, scalded milk and alcohol.

Smoky char comes on strong, wet coffee grounds, and bakers chocolate follow. Bitterness overwhelms any malt sweetness. Alcohol through the nose.

Medium carbonation and a dryness that is puckering. Unsweetened whipped cream oiliness. Yuk. Bleh.

Not digging this as I have a sweet tooth and the label does say 'too cream"-not feeling it. Gave it a shot though and I feel I'm a bit generous with the points here.. I guess if you are looking for a less sweet cream stout-this ones for you. It's ok, not great....meh....

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 02:42:38 | More by joeseppy

SometimesIfart

Michigan

3.83/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours an impenetrable black with a two finger mocha head. Left no lacing.

S - Roasted malt, Alcohol, Dark coffee.

T - Roasted malt up front, Followed by some medium-dark coffee and a cloying sweetness. Finishes with toasty caramel malt.

M - Medium bodied with medium carbonation.

O - Overall, Straight forward and to the point. Not a whole lot to say about this one. It's a solid stout, But nothing fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 00:29:15 | More by SometimesIfart

horshack7

Massachusetts

3.51/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Black as a black hole in space. On top is a rather dark tan head about two fingers in height.

Aroma: Bittersweet chocolate, milk sugar, coffee notes, light toffee, dark roasted hops.

Taste: Fairly smooth mouthfeel with a light sticky texture. Dark and milk chocolate, espresso, dark roasted hops and malts. Minor notes of bourbon and wood.

Notes: Overall this is quite tasty and drinkable with a nice smooth finish. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 02:27:41 | More by horshack7

DragonzBreath

Michigan

2.53/5  rDev -35%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

We found this too bitter to have again. We enjoy the look...black and silky. The pour and Look in the glass is of the utmost important to us.
Rich, dark coffee hits your tongue as slide down bitter, while taking all your saliva with it. Upon swallowing, the strange odor attacks. Rich, heavy stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 00:03:28 | More by DragonzBreath

schoolboy

Ohio

4.01/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This stout is aptly named. It is very nice and creamy, but not too sweet.

It comes out dark brown, not black and it has a nice little creamy head that keeps on going until its gone. The aroma is a little hoppy and very roasty. The taste is very roasty and not too sweet. It is a great balance.

This ale's greatest asset is the aftertaste. It lingers nicely with that cream/hops/sweetness. It works nicely. It is not surprising that a great brewery like Dark Horse gets their milk stout right!

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 19:31:02 | More by schoolboy

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours pure black with a dense chocolate brown head. Head retains amazingly well and has decent lacing. Everything about this beer is dense and thick. Looks like the thickest beer I’ve ever poured.

S- Lots of chocolate and sweet flavors. Pretty much one dimensional in the chocolate and sweet malt category. Hints of burnt malts are in there providing a small amount of balancing bitterness to the sweet.

T- Pretty much the same as the scent. Massive chocolate notes leaning towards the dark side. Sweet, but not quite as much as the smell. The dark chocolate combines with other dark malts to provide a somewhat bitter profile among the sweet. Ends with a lingering bitterness but a cloying sweetness on the tongue.

M- Thick and creamy as any stout I’ve ever had. Thick with a moderate level of carbonation. No noticeable alcohol for the 7.5% ABV. Easily drinkable, but the weight would get heavy after a few of these.

Overall, this is a very solid stout. I like sweet stouts a lot, and this one is good. Not quite as sweet as I expected, but pretty well balanced. The head is simply the best I’ve ever seen on a beer. It is still a solid layer of foam on top, so much so that it looks like it’s been nitro poured.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 20:23:16 | More by boilermakerbrew

Tone

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 5/4 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight alcohol, oatmeal, and slight hop. Fits the style of a Milk/Sweet Stout. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight oatmeal, hint of hops, and a hint of coffee. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, and blend.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 15:29:12 | More by Tone

wedge

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an impressively dark black color with a solid brown head that rapidly dwindles to a slim ring around the edge. The nose is all warm, toasty, roasty malts...bittersweet chocolate, caramelized sugar, coffee, and molasses. Roasted malt flavor with a bit more sweetness, some vanilla bean, and lingering charred wood. A little bread and even a trace of hops far in the back as well. Medium bodied, perhaps a little too much texture and not enough creamy smoothness. Man, I've been enjoying this "holiday stout series" so far. I'm hoping the Tres in my fridge continues the trend.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 21:50:56 | More by wedge

Gatch

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle says 7.5% ABV

A: Pitch black with a medium-to-dark brown, fluffy head that fades quickly leaving behind very little lace or retention.

S: Roasted and slightly smoky malt but a strange earthy/metallic aroma. Nothing special.

T: Great roasted malt flavors paired with a milky creaminess that is very nice. Some dark chocolate, sweet caramelized sugar, super dark roast coffee. Perfect body.

M: Very smooth, almost velvety, but cloying in the finish like almost every Cream/Milk/Sweet Stout. Carbonation is spot on.

O: Solid Stout with some good flavors. Accurate for the style and an enjoyable bottle to drink. Would I seek it out again? Depends what else is available.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 05:40:31 | More by Gatch

metter98

New York

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is jet black in color. No traces of amber are visible near the edges of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a thin mocha-colored head that died down and left just a collar of small bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are aromas of lactose in the nose along with notes of dark chocolate and hints of roasted malts.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of dark chocolate, lactose and roasted coffee beans. A very slight amount of bitterness is present.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a bit less than a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has a great balance between the flavors of sweet lactose and roasted malts. It's also rather easy to drink because the alcohol is well hidden from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 16:03:44 | More by metter98

tastybeer

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pretty much black. Small dark brown head that although not very large ever, sticks around for a long time as a sticky foamy ring.

S: Smell is mellow and fragrant. Marshmellows? Milky lactose for sure, coffee, and many piles of chocolate.

T: Roasty, sweet, fruity, and very chocolately. This is pretty awesome. Nothing mind blowing but very enjoyable.

M: Thick syrupy. Melted chocolate. Smooth, full body.

O: Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 03:22:39 | More by tastybeer

mscudder

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint.

A - Deep black hue with a massive chocolate brown head. Great retention but little lacing. Gorgeous colors should be noted.

S - Sweet chocolate and milky goodness. Tons of sweetness coming through, with a touch of dark malts.

T - Much less robust as the nose suggests, yet this does not lack flavor. Starts smooth with milk sugars and an accent of chocolate sweetness. Roasted malts are in the background with a light hop profile to finish it off. Really fits the bill for what I expect in a milk stout.

M - Smooth feel but just to thin for a beer of this character. The brew almost slides off my taste buds when I want it to pitch a tent and develop a bit. Carbonation is low and well done.

O - If this beer had a bigger body I would be in love, however I will stick with Bell's cream stout as my go-to for this area. I prefer a creamier, fuller body with such flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 04:07:05 | More by mscudder

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Siciliano's, 12oz into a tulip.

Dark brown/black with a mocha head, dense retention and some sheets of lace. Nose has roast, some mocha character, cocoa and some creamy coffee underneath. Taste has a whole load of roast, some balancing creamy sweetness, vanilla and brown sugar in some regards and dark chocolate. Full body, alcohol wasn't perceptible. A nice cream/milk stout, but didn't stand out as exceptional. Very nice nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 18:02:52 | More by liamt07

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Traditional attitudes that circulate about cream stouts were smoothen out the rougher edges of roast with milk sugars, giving the beer a softer and more approachable palate. Not the case says Dark Horse, the additions of cream gives permission to sock even more roast to the beer- not favoring the masses but to reward those who prefer serious roast character.

Black. Onyx-like in color and sheen, the beer reluctantly surrenders its carbonation and slowly builds a meringue of mocha proportions. High retention and blanketed lace coats the glass with aggressiveness. Beers just don't look stouter!

Strong roasty aromas dominate the nose in ways that only espresso and burnt toast can only want. Burnt woods, embers, and cinders blend with cocoa, and light smoke. Somewhat meaty and savory, the underlying cream notes are supportive but in no way balance the scent.

The same dominance is alive in taste with the sharp and acrid flavors of burnt toast, heavy roasted espresso bean, and light ash. Bittersweet chocolate and cocoa lurk closely behind and give roundness to the sheer roast. Burnt molasses add a tinge of softness that concludes a milkshake-like late palate. A long and lingering aftertaste of burnt grain outlasts the milky taste and give assertive ash and roughness in aftertaste.

Creamy, full, and absolutely chewy, the beer engulfs the mouth and retains its malty carbonated creaminess in a marshmallowy and milkshake proportion. A very late closure releases the malt and aids the dry ash and burnt husk bitterness and astringency to finish.

This is an incredibly full beer that's sharp, rough, and exhibits overall burnt character- far greater than the lactose additions can balance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 20:31:36 | More by BEERchitect

tectactoe

Michigan

4.16/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap the Oak Cafe. Pours black. BLACK. Huge, pillowing, deep-tan head - one of the deepest tan heads I've ever seen. Good lace throughout the top half of the brew. Aroma is packed with lots of dark coffee; bitter, black, pure, and dense. Roasted malts and hints of sweetness in the distance. Taste hits with some of that bitter coffee up front, followed by underlines of bitter chocolate and raw cocoa beans. A generic sweetness arises from most coffee and especially chocolate flavors, but the raw bitterness from those two items in this beer balance things very well. Roasty and toasty from the mid-point onward, some smoked flavors join the party; toasted vanilla, oak, burnt wood chips, burnt nuts. Nice combo of coffee, cocoa, and smoked woodiness on the lingering aftertaste. Medium-heavy body, slightly creamy with a medium amount of carbonation.

Wasn't expecting much from this but it's pretty damn good. The smoked flavors in the middle are subtle, but add a whole other element to the brew, other than just being a generic milk stout. Very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 12:46:02 | More by tectactoe

jaasen64

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Salty Pig in Boston. 10oz serving in a Boulevard glass.

A- Pours a jet black with a fairly thick creamy dark mocha brown head that has nice retention but slowly recedes to a thin layer leaving behind some mocha brown layered lacing. Decent carbonation.

S- Lightly bitter chocolate, cocoa, some smoked malts (kind of surprising), a hint of bacon from the smoke. The smoke subsides a little bit as the glass warms letting the chocolate take over.

T- Dark bitter chocolate, cocoa, a hint of very lightly smoked malts, finishes with a mix of cocoa powder and dark choclate. Decently well balanced, would have liked a little bit more cream flavor though and a tad bit less bitter chocolate.

M- Medium bodied, drinkable, fairly smooth, nice carbonation.

O- This was a nice stout, however I definitely wouldn't say it's my favorite milk stout. There definitely wasn't as much of a milk or creamy flavor as I was expecting. I was also a little bit surprised at the faint smokiness that I encountered (this definitely wasn't the smoked stout though). Overall I really enjoyed drinking this however it isn't as sweet as your typical milk stout and definitely doesn't compare to other top-notch milk stouts such as the Three Hour Tour that I had last week. I recommend trying this out especially if you like bitter chocolate and stouts that aren't overly sweet.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2012 01:14:46 | More by jaasen64

brock146

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: black as expected. brown tinted foamy head

S: Mocha scent. Roasted malt with a lingering scent of sugary cream.

T: black coffee with sugar and cream. a very slight bit of chocolate in there as well. slightly bitter

M: Creamy, sticky, and carbonation is right on the money.

O: Great beer. One of my favorite winter stouts (Along with the other dark horse specialties). However I find that some of my bottles of this beer taste a lot better and more "cream stout" than others.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 04:02:54 | More by brock146

Thickfreakness

New York

3.95/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Beautiful pitch black pour with a deep tan/brown head that gives way rather quickly and leaves a nice little oil slick ring atop the brew. No lacing at all, but I wouldn't really expect that from this style.

S- Smells like an excellent cup of coffee with just a touch of raw sugar and a hint of heavy cream. Nice deep, rich and bitter Belgian 80% cocoa with subtle hints of dried cherries, dates, raisins and toasted macadamia nuts.

T- Spot on with the nose... bitter black coffee with an underneath sweetness of cream, dark chocolate, dried fruit and roasted nuts. Really nice depth as it warms up a bit. This probably one that shoulda just went from my cellar to the glass and bypassed the fridge altogether.

M- No carbonation at all. I was expecting this to be a little thicker, so that's a bit of a let down, but the way the bitter chocolate, coffee and dark fruit sit on your tongue... it's really pleasant. Decent oily finish with a nice roasted nut/cocoa that doesnt really want to go away.

O- Very easy drinking. No hint at all of the alcohol. Really nice blend of bitter and sweet. Really wish I could get this in NY.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 20:43:50 | More by Thickfreakness

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks for this series, Yeahnatenelson!!

Appearance. Pours black with a thin, dark brown head.

Smell. Dark roasty malts, coffee liquer and a little molasses.

Taste. Huge dark coffee, some dry roasty malts, some slight creamy sweetness.

Mouthfeel. Below medium body, medium carbonation. A bit too thin for this big tasting beer maybe.

Overall. A very nice stout! Not sweet and creamy feeling like many milk stouts, but a nice stout all the same.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 16:37:20 | More by Rutager

srv33

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a near-black, with a quickly dissapating very dark brown foam head. Scents of roasted malt, milk chocolate, vanilla, and coffee, really a great smell. Taste very much follows the nose, but with just a hint of oak and tobacco that later unfold after the initial notes of chocolate, roasted malt and coffee hit your palate. I rather like it - and it surprisingly was not as sweet as I would have expected. The mouthfeel is fantastic, very thick and creamy. A unique yet gentle stout, another great brew from Dark Horse.

EDIT: As an afterthought, I reckon this would really benefit from aging - going to cellar a couple of these.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 23:43:56 | More by srv33

n2185

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours black with a finger of tan head that fades into a thin ring with little lacing.

S: roasted malts with creamy dark chocolate and sweet cream.

T: roasted malts here as well with dark chocolate, slight char, and some coffee flavors.

M: thick body with lowish carbonation, this beer is rich and creamy.

O: a solid beer overall, though I'd like it to be a bit sweeter with a bit more depth.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 23:23:06 | More by n2185

baybum

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer gets much better with age. My buddy gave me a four pack over a year ago and when I tried it it was just ok. I left one of the beers in the fridge and forgot about it. I just found it tonight and tried it .... Fantastic! It is deceptively bitter when I was expecting a milk stout. Strong hints of tobacco and toasted chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 02:33:31 | More by baybum

jsisko01

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a pitch black color. I've honestly never seen a beer this dark. The head is even a very dark brown, although there wasn't much. The lacing is very nice though.

Smell - Strong scent of coffee. Chocolate, cream, oak, alcohol, and a subtle sweetness.

Taste - Sweet with roasted malts, coffee, chocolate, oak, and a slight alcohol bite in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Has a thick, creamy body with light carbonation.

Overall - This is the first milk stout I've ever tried. I'm giving it a good rating because I know that it's good for it's style. I just personally hate coffee lol. But everything else is great.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 01:26:04 | More by jsisko01