Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat - Tallgrass Brewing Company

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours an opaque jet black in color with some hints of very dark brown when held up to the light (though there is very light penetration by the light). The beer has a two finger tall dark mocha head that slowly reduces and condenses to a quarter finger tall layer covering the entire surface of the beer evenly. Moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of dark roasted and charred malts. There is a light amount of milk chocolate sweetness and just a touch of coffee.

T: The flavor of this beer starts out with a moderate amount of dark roasted and charred malts with very little bitterness. After that, there is a flavor of chocolate milk with some light notes of freshly brewed coffee.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Creamy but somehow a little thin/watery.

O: This beer seems like it would be amazing in nitro-cans or on nitro-tap (just the right body/mouthfeel that the nitro would be a pleasant edition). Very easy to drink and very enjoyable - I might even consider this one a sessionable stout which I do not find a lot of beers which qualify.

Serving type: can

08-14-2012 21:57:17 | More by dbrauneis

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Almost opaque black with very dark brown hue around the edges. Light brown head, big bubbles of carbonation.

Aroma: Sweet cream then roasty malt. A touch of molasses.

Taste: Cream throughout and then roasty in the aftertaste. Tastes how plain coffee creamer smells, though definitely not overly sweet. Roasted caramel and a hint of coffee at the end.

Mouthfeel: Really creamy and a little on the lighter bodied side. Would love to get this on nitro-tap. Above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: This is a good stout. Definitely one to try! A good representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 04:04:27 | More by JamesMN

FightingEntropy

Minnesota

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Watching the most recent episode of Brewing TV featuring Tallgrass Brewing, my wife thought Buffalo Sweat looked like a promising stout. She can sense the taste characteristics from the color of the head (and is surprisingly accurate). So, I took the opportunity to try it again and see if Gloria could have a stout to drink at home.

Tallgrass Buffalo Sweat
Incredibly thick brown head the color of malted milk balls. So creamy that it trails dark where the final line of beer fights through to join the luscious blackness on the bottom. Heavy earthiness, roasted malt and light floral notes in the nose. If a buffalo sweats roasted chocolate, it would smell like this--oddly. Mouthfeel is unexpectedly light and the coffee comes across as acrid over the smooth sweetness in the mouth. I could see where an all day coffee drinker would like this beer--a cold coffee taste lingers about.

Yellowstone 2006 when we got through the line of cars

I'm perfectly fine buying this four pack of Buffalo Sweat, but probably won't get another one any time soon for either of us. I'm curious to see if a draft would mellow some of the flavors, so will give that a shot when the opportunity arises. It's a perfectly good stout, but the flavor profile doesn't match with either one of us.

And the Buffalo Sweat name doesn't exactly get my taste buds watering. However, taking a closer look at our travel pic, the two tone color of the beer has a striking resemblance to an actual buffalo's coloration. I have no idea how Tallgrass came up with the name, so it's just an observation. Creative names are becoming harder and harder to find in the booming craft beer industry, but this one doesn't leave me dreaming about the next one.

Serving type: can

07-19-2012 20:37:20 | More by FightingEntropy

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Woah the smell. Severly roasted, almost burned malt--which means bitter dark chocolate and heavily roasted coffee. Then comes the creamy, caramelly lactose. Not really balanced at all, just lots of charred malt and a touch of lactose. Kind of like a double Guiness-ish.

The taste is, well, the can is right. Theres nothing like it. heavy on the burned, charred malt for sure. Lots of coffee bitterness, with just a hint of overly bitter dark chocolate. All those flavors make it feel like black coffee bitter upfront. The lactose only really adds a bit, but too late to matter.

Serving type: can

07-12-2012 20:42:05 | More by VncentLIFE

iabeerbaron

Iowa

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very dark pour with a medium sized tan head. Smell is coffee, chocolate, and maybe a little bit of vanilla and some brown sugar? molasses. Smooth and easy drinking stout with just the right amount of sweetness, not overbearing. Heavy lacing on my glass throughout the beer. Glad to have this stout around Iowa.

Serving type: can

07-12-2012 00:48:19 | More by iabeerbaron

dogger6253

Minnesota

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance of this beer is that of a jet-black cola - pitch black body with a highly carbonated and quickly fading mocha head. There remains just a thin ring of bubbles after only a couple seconds.

The nose is heavy with toasted malt and milk chocolate. There is a bit of tobacco and toffee and just the faintest hint of coffee. The flavor is a pretty well-balanced blend of toasted malt and milk chocolate with the emphasis about 60/40 on toasted malt. There is not even a hint of bitterness. This beer is sweet all the way. The high carbonation makes this a decent session beer. It is not heavy in the least. Each sip is juicy and thirst-quenching and highly flavorful.

Serving type: can

07-09-2012 00:40:20 | More by dogger6253

BeardedBoffin

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The arrived, from the tap, a black color with the darkest brown hues on the fringes. A modest cap of tan foam floated above. The aroma is of reminiscent dark chocolate and coffee. Very little hops in the aroma. These dark flavors continue on the palate. The beer moves across smoothly. The flavor profile dwindles a tad through a slightly thin center. This is a nice stout and very good with dessert.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2012 14:40:51 | More by BeardedBoffin

TheHopHeadGirl

District of Columbia

3.38/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Had it at Velocity Five in Arlington in a 16oz can for $6. It was a pretty good stout for it's volume and price. The usual description of stouts...coffee, vanilla. It's better than a Guinness. I even find it better than the gold medal winner, hoppin frog BORIS the crusher oatmeal-imperial stout.

Serving type: can

06-27-2012 19:40:32 | More by TheHopHeadGirl

Casedogg43

Indiana

4.48/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Love to see this beer in can!

A: pours a terrific dark brown, with a nice dark tan head.
S: warmed up to it real quick. Chocolate, milk and roasty malt smell.
T: terrific. As it smelled, it flowed the same. Love the cream and sweetness to top it off.
M: big fan of the cream and thickness that cones with this one!
Overall: I will keep this one on the fridge!!

Serving type: can

06-21-2012 04:15:26 | More by Casedogg43

beerme626

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Can poured into a drinking glass. Originally bought in Custer State Park, South Dakota.
A: As dark brown as possible without being black, completely opaque, with a very thin head that dissipates quickly.
S: Malty, with oats and nuts, along with some hints of chocolate and cinnamon.
T: Lots of malts, a bit of the oatmeal, but more of chocolate and nut-brown taste
M: The cream certainly thickens it, and it sits a little heavy on the throat, but still very pleasant.
O: A good purchase, though mostly for fun than for actual wanting to try it. Despite the rather yucky name, the brew is pretty decent.

Serving type: can

06-15-2012 00:02:56 | More by beerme626

rundocrun

Iowa

3.83/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Body is as dark brown as you can get without being black. Some chestnut-colored highlights are visible too. 2 fingers of very fine, billowy beige head forms and had good retention. Tons of lacing on the glass. A beautiful looking stout.

S - Strong notes of dark chocolate, earthy coffee, distinct black malt aroma. Also a somewhat "sweet" smell accompanied by vanilla and burnt sugar.

T - Dry, but not astringent burnt barley flavor up front. Very mild, coffee and herbal hop flavor comes in toward the middle. There is definite sweetness through most of each sip but becomes drier and more hop/roasted grain-centered in the finish.

M - Thick body. Very smooth, with mild carbonation. A bit drier than I expected in the finish for a milk stout.

Serving type: can

06-09-2012 01:49:29 | More by rundocrun

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 16 oz. can into a New Belgium Globe glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark oily black with only a little hint of a brownish color. Lots of bubbles. About two fingers of creamy beige head which slowly fade to a thin layer. Moderate amount of lacing.

Smell: Deep roasted malts with big hints of chocolate, milk, caramel, toffee, and sugar. Also some hints of vanilla, cream, nuts, and coffee. Subtle hints of earthy hops in the background. Aroma is very malt and chocolate forward with lots of roasty qualities.

Taste: Very roasty and malty like the aroma. Dark roasted malts with big hints of chocolate, coffee, milk, cream, caramel, toffee, nuts, vanilla, and sugar. The coffee comes out pretty strong in the taste. Light hints of hops towards the finishes. There is a good amount of sweet sugar here, but the roast gives a nice balancing bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation. Very creamy, slick, and smooth. Fairly dry considering the sugar.

Overall: A pretty solid take on a sweet stout. Sweet, but well balanced by the roasted coffee flavors.

Serving type: can

06-05-2012 06:00:13 | More by MattyG85

Pintofbrown

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got sweaty with a shaker pint.

Appearance- The head doesn't do much, but that half-finger width cap has been persistent throughout this review. The foam is smooth and has a brown sugar hue.

The body is an ominous and opaque dark brown.

Smell- The Buffalo Sweat has a sugary sweet and slightly roasted nose. There is a little bit of coffee creamer and powdered chocolate mix.

Taste- More of the sweet all over the palate: still powdered milk chocolate and coffee creamer. The little bitterness that is present comes from the roasted malt.

The finish rides out with more sugary notes, but now it has a more distinct dark fruit flavor, mainly dates.

Mouth feel- The feel on this one is great! The medium body is slightly underwhelming, but the way it glides over the tongue more than makes up for it.

Overall- If you like them sweet, you will find little to be disappointed with here. This is just a solid cream stout, and at 5%, it is one you can keep on enjoying.

Serving type: can

06-05-2012 02:57:41 | More by Pintofbrown

WRBeerFan

4.05/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I found that the smell was ok, the lactose sugars remind me of the smell of a local dairy processor. The taste was nice and smooth, no bitter or harsh after taste. I found that drinking this beer a few minutes after sitting gave it a little more flavor.

Serving type: can

05-28-2012 15:57:23 | More by WRBeerFan

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Serving type: 16-ounce can. No freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a nonic pint class. The color is an almost-opaque black; a little light passed through when I held the glass to a lamp. A straight pour (bad choice on my part) yielded a ton of thick, buttery, tan head that dissipated very slowly. I had to stop mid-pour to let it settle.

Smell: Pretty much what I expected, but it does have a little funkiness to it (hopefully not due to the namesake). Lots of roasted malts offer a nice roasted bitterness reminiscent of coffee. There are scents of dark chocolate and lighter cocoa (much like milk chocolate). I really cannot pin down the funkiness. For some reason, though, it makes me think of buffaloes. Don’t ask me why.

Taste: The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy; it becomes lighter as the beer warms. Compared to the aroma, the roasted bitterness has been taken down a couple notches; it is much more balanced. Roasted malts impart a nice coffee flavor. Dark chocolate, a little lacto, molasses, and toasted sugar. Each sip leaves a light bitterness that tempts another sip.

Drinkability: It is pretty decent stuff. It is not overly bold and has everything going for it.

Serving type: can

05-28-2012 03:57:08 | More by TheQuietMan22

homebrew311

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Can poured into Goose Island nonic pint. Appearance is dark brown with chestnut highlights at the edges. Tan head forms an retains itself in a thin layer. Minimal lacing left behind. The nose starts with a rush of roasted barley and creaminess from the milk sugar. Layers of oats, roast, and vanilla come to the surface. Very nice aroma, right on for the style. The taste is similar to the nose, starts of with the lactose sweetness. This is followed by a dry and sturdy punch from the roasted barley. This features loads of flavor and is exactly to style. The moutfeel is somewhat thin with mild carbonation. Overall, this is a delicious milk stout. The roasted malt profile is front and center while the lactose sugar features that touch of creaminess which joins the party of flavor very nicely. Definitely worth seeking out if sweet stout is your thing.

Serving type: can

05-16-2012 05:40:14 | More by homebrew311

4balance

Oklahoma

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

Poured a 16 oz can into a Duvel tulip; opaque black with 1" tan head that immediatey reduced to an 1/8" ring that remained throughout with a small amount of lacing.

Smells like tobacco, coffee, toffee and vanilla.

Tastes like strong coffee with a cube of sugar, vanilla bean, cigarette butts, milk chocolate, roasted malty character with a minimal amount of hops present.

Mouthfeel is thin, slightly bodied milk stout feel with minor to non-existent carbonation.

Overall good brew, would give it a B+ in the creamy/milk stout category…worth trying.

Serving type: can

05-13-2012 04:42:35 | More by 4balance

drpimento

Wisconsin

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is very good beer! Served at a good temperature with a nice tan foamy head that soon settled and some lace. Color is actually a clear obviously very dark ruby red (thanks to my trusty iPhone flashlight), but opaque seeming black brown. Arina us roast, malt, treacle, caramel, toffee, cocoa, coffee. Flavor's like nose, sweet comes out and is perfectly balanced by the bitter malt, hop, and carbonic tang. Body is very good and carbonation a touch soft. Finish is like flavor and tapers nicely with medium length.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2012 22:11:05 | More by drpimento

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pounder can care of ClockworkOrange. Thanks Jason. Poured into a shaped pint glass, this brew appears a dark brown color with a dark tan cap about a finger and a half strong. The cap slowly fades leaving patches of lacing on the glass. When held to the light, there is some ruby clarity seen around the edges.

The aroma of this brew includes some roasty quality somewhat reminiscent of chocolate and coffee. However, the biggest aspect of the nose is this nutty grain quality that is almost like popcorn. Once the nutty aspect hits the nose, there is no shaking it and it completely dominates the rest of the aromatics.

The taste of this brew carries with it that nutty aspect that was found in the aroma. Playing off of the nutty aspect is a bit of roast and semi-sweet chocolate. The sweetness of this brew is on the medium to higher end for the style. It certainly lets you know that this is a milk stout and I dont know how I feel about that. At times it almost seems like it is too much and leaves a filmy coating inside the mouth with an aftertaste that is somewhat mineral-like and reminding me of an artificial sweetener like Splenda or something to that effect.

This is a medium bodied brew that is moderately carbonated. It has a slick feel about it that lingers inside the mouth with almost a filmy coating that I dont particularly care for. As far as the style goes, this one is not the sweetest I have had but it is on the higher end of the range. Not a bad brew but not something I would return to again if given choices.

Serving type: can

05-03-2012 02:02:09 | More by stakem

zeledonia

Minnesota

2.93/5  rDev -23.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Has "12 131" printed on the can. If I assume that's a julian best-by date, then it's best by May 10, 2012.

Pour is, simply, as good as it gets. Very dark brown - with light behind it, I can see some reddish brown colors. Two fingers of dense spongy light tan head. Great retention, and sticky gobs of lacing. A beer that reminds me why we rate on appearance.

Smell is faint, and mostly roasty. Nutty dark chocolate, a hint of milky sweetness.

Taste is only okay. It's pretty bland, without much body. The darkest part of the barley roast comes through with bitter chocolate and faint smoke. I keep taking sips, looking for the flavor, but I'm not finding it. It gains some as it warms up, but it still tastes more watery than stouty.

Mouthfeel is thin. And okay, it's a low-ABV stout, but it's lacking the slickness that adds so much to most milk stouts. Carbonation is fine.

A very good-looking, mediocre stout. It just doesn't have much flavor. And having just drank a flavorful mild ale at the same ABV, I know it's possible to bring flavor without a huge grain bill.

Serving type: can

04-30-2012 03:36:03 | More by zeledonia

scratch69

Missouri

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I poured a can into a pint glass.

Appearance- Black with two fingers worth of tan head. Nice amount of sticky lace.

Smell- Dark roasted malt and a note of char.

Taste- Mellow flavor of dark roasted malt. Slightly sweet with almost no hop presence.

Mouthfeel- Very smooth and creamy. Light amount of fizzy carbonation.

Overall- Very drinkable. I normally don't drink beer from a can but I will make an exception for this. My brother gave me a can to try and now I want some more.

Serving type: can

04-28-2012 21:52:23 | More by scratch69

mvanaskie13

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a tulip pint glass, color is solid black with tan head that is about an inch thick.

Smell is light pale malt quickly overcome by clean roasted malt with hints of chocolate and light roasted coffee.

Taste is clean, not overly sweet, but solidly flavored with mild malt and chocolate sweetness, a nice bitterness cleans this is up nicely but nothing to pin point. There is some light lingering sweetness but not cloying.

Mouthfeel is just right with some light sweetness and good bitterness; it lingers really well and very nice drinkable mouthfeel.

Overall an easy drinking stout with everything going right for it.

Serving type: can

04-23-2012 23:14:05 | More by mvanaskie13

Steasy66

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Can into Duvel tulip
A Almost black with two finger off white head.
S Roasty, a bit of malty sweetness
T Roasty, a bit sweet, just a hint sour at the back
M Thin, could use a bit more carbonation
O Overall a fine beer, for a 5% stout you can't ask for much more. I probably wouldn't buy it again, but its by no means bad.

Serving type: can

04-11-2012 03:28:00 | More by Steasy66

JohnnyHopps

Indiana

3.73/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The stout was poured into a pint glass from the can. Even if the design of the can has little to do with the review, I found the artwork and name of the stout amusing. Upon pouring, the stout produced a handsome cappuccino color head. The most immediate impression of the aroma was coffee. Yet on the first sip, I found the coffee aroma not to be reflected in the beer. My first impression was the smoothness and creaminess of the beer is phenomenal. This is what the mouthfeel of a milk stout should be like. Unfortunately, I found the taste to be rather bland. The taste of the malt becomes more potent in the aftertaste, even being accompanied by a hint of nuttiness. As the final notes of the aftertaste linger, the hint of coffee in the flavor finally appears.

On a lot of levels, this is a very likable milk stout. It does lack the punch in the initial taste to make this a really good example of the style.

Serving type: can

04-04-2012 01:28:22 | More by JohnnyHopps

drabmuh

Maryland

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Beer poured from a can into a tulip. Beer is black with a haze, nice tan head, low retention, low lacing, moderate to low carbonation.

Aroma is sweet, nice, malty, smooth.

Beer is really smooth, great mouthfeel, nice bitterness on the finish from the roast, a nice milk stout for sure. I"d have this again, both my wife and I loved it. The lead off is this mild sweetness and the finish is this wet bitterness and roast like coffee, the midpalate is the creamy smooth beer. well done.

Serving type: can

03-26-2012 02:51:04 | More by drabmuh