Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout - Odell Brewing Company

vfgccp

New York

2.54/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 2.25

A - Cola body. Low, light-khaki head. Poor lace.

S - Balsamic vinegar, stale coffee. Touch of prune. No real chocolate to speak off.

T - Sour bitterness. Light vinegar. Malted milk balls.

M - Nice thick creamy mouthfeel.

O - Looks like this bottle went bad. Vinegar off-notes really ruined the beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:06:21 | More by vfgccp

frankiepop

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5

Well, I am going to part company with many reviewers on this stout. 1st this brew somewhat lives up to its title. However, I didn't like the taste at the finish line. It delivers a metallic sour flavor that reminds me more of a bitter chocolate than a chocolate milk. Also we should compare this to other chocolate stouts. I suggest that the Wells' Young Double Chocolate, Samuel Smith' Organic Chocolate Stout, and Rogue's Chocolate Stout just cream this one.

The look and aroma are OK. But the smoothness is not silky smooth as a chocolate milk stout should be. For example, Youngs Dble Chocolate stout is world class and smooth. Silky smooth. In comparison then this stout must drop below average. My rec is not to buy a 6 when checking this toilet stew out. Get a cheaper single. Otherwise your drain is gonna get drunk on some shitty brew. Come on Odell you're better than this.

Pair this with the cd Isaac Hayes Chocolate Chip. Then move on.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 19:04:59 | More by frankiepop

arizcards

Arizona

2.85/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Picked up a four pack from Total Wine back in early February for $10. Best by 5-8-13.

I generally don't ramble but in this case i need to qualify this review. I do really love non sour brews from Odell. All that i have had has been good to excellent. Now with Lugene i was looking forward to a nice chocolate stout. I understand that our palates are all different but when cracking this beer what i did not expect was the amount of sourness in this brew. In a quick check of latest reviews i see one other BA detected the same sourness.

Beer poured black with a nice tan head.

Nose is sour milk, and hints of chocolate.

Taste is sour milk, some roasted malts, sweet chocolate.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and pretty smooth.

Overall drinkability for me is below average as i did not sign up for a sour milk beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 01:31:10 | More by arizcards

Beaver13

Colorado

2.9/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz bottle. Pours black with a smallish fizzy brown head that quickly goes to a thin film.

The aroma is sweet lactic chocolate, some coffee and some bitterness from the roast.

The flavor is sweet lactic chocolate with some roast. It's a little acidic with some vegetal notes. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, an OK milk stout with a few off notes. Not as sweet as I thought it would be. A bit pricey at $10 per 4 pack.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 00:12:43 | More by Beaver13

blakelive784

Colorado

3.04/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

12 fl oz brown glass bottle served in a snifter, reviewed live:

A - Pours a dark, opaque shade of brown, with a frothy tan head of one finger. Retention is poor, and the head leaves no lacing as it recedes.

S - Subdued roasted malts and sweet chocolates. Entirely too mild in strength. Incredibly restrained. Seemingly well balanced, though. I hope it's more assertive than it smells.

T - Roast character is much more prevalent in the taste, though it's underwhelming underneath the chocolate. Much more of a raw cocoa taste than I was expecting, which I like. Very sweet throughout. The alcohol is far too present on the finish (especially for 8.5%.) A bit simple.

M - Medium bodied, thick and smooth. It's missing the silky/creamy mouthfeel I've come to expect in good stouts.

D - I love the chocolate character, but it's too restrained and largely unremarkable. Pretty average.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 04:04:55 | More by blakelive784

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.05/5  rDev -25.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked up at Home Brew Stuff yesterday for about $3... Poured into my slim tulip.. Short lasting brown head atop an expected black brew... very minor lacing.

Nose is Tootsie rolls.. smells a bit artificial IMO... milk chocolate and underlying stout qualities..

Flavor is maybe a tad better.. still the artificial chocolate qualities are my big bitch.. tastes like extract with some background cocoa.. honestly not getting anything on the palate that resembles a stout..

Body is a bit bigger than medium, carbonation is on the lighter side of medium and makes for a smooth mouthfeel..

Not really digging this one at all.. okay, but not good... more of a novelty for somebody that doesn't really like beer, "Hey, try this one. It is a 'Chocolate Milk Stout and will get you drunk!'" I am probably being a little harsh, but even for $3 I will never buy it again.

3/3/3/3.5/3

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 07:29:27 | More by JohnGalt1

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.31/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, i think the four pack was $11. Dark black color, tan head, standard stout appearance. Aroma is mostly dark chocolate with a tinge of stout Flavor is more chocolate, cocoa powder, alcohol. Slightly sweet. I've read lots of comparisons to chocolate milk and while this is indeed chocolate heavy I really don't agree, its just chocolate beer. Honestly, a glass of Horizon chocolate milk tastes better than this does.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 03:21:31 | More by ArrogantB

yamar68

Minnesota

3.4/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours as dark as you could hope for. A half finger of latte brown head sinks down to a stubborn cap of carbonation that provides a good amount of lace.

Cocoa powder, almond, some brown ale type aromas, mild coffee... this is quite a bit tamer than I was anticipating.

The palate immediately reminds me of Southern Tier's chocolate stouts... rather artificial, creamy and sweet, some kind of metallic cocoa powder on the finish. Maybe a bit of coffee is buried in here somewhere as well. I'm glad I only grabbed a single of this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:29:15 | More by yamar68

mactrail

California

3.44/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

Dark velvety brown, near black in the Duvel tulip. Attractive low head but plenty of fizz on the tongue. Smells faintly like chocolate.

This does taste exactly like chocolate milk, if that's what you're looking for. Sweet and rich. There is a tart flavor that comes along, which is quite welcome, almost a capuchin yoghurt flavor. The dark roasted malt is what you'd find in a stout, though buried somewhat under the milky sugar. Towards the end of the glass it starts tasting more biter, like burnt malt. A little thickly bodied but it still pours and drinks like a beer.

Tangy and surprisingly drinkable, though you really have to like chocolate a lot. From the 12 oz bottle bought at Jubilation Fine Wines in Albuquerque.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:52:48 | More by mactrail

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.51/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It pours black with s small tan head of foam.

Notes of milk chocolate and roasted malts on the smell. Not overly sweet as I kind of expected.

Nice milk chocolate flavour up front, gets a bit sweet mid palate, finishes with some semi sweet chocolate and a "blast" of alcohol.

This is pretty good but not something I'd drink much of. Too high on the abv scale for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:15:26 | More by Bitterbill

ocelot2500

Arizona

3.51/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an ebony color with a small, very fine head that leaves little bits of lacing.

Smells of chocolate with a bit of sweetness.

Tastes of the sweet chocolate notes mostly. Chocolate dominates the profile with slightly sweet milk chocolate notes. A bit of cream notes come through as well. Coffee notes are understated and definitely not the focus. Some dark fruit comes through a bit more as it warms.

Mouthfeel is medium-full with a creamy amount of carbonation.

Overall, this is solid, but nothing spectacular. Worth a try if you like the chocolate notes to come through.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:24:06 | More by ocelot2500

zhanson88

Montana

3.51/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours out a dark brown that appears pretty much opaque black in the glass. About 1/2" of dark tan head forms, that has okay retention and does retain some lacing. Pretty good looking milk stout.

Smell: Smells pretty roasty, with chocolate and lactose coming through as well. Very aromatic compared to many milk stouts out there.

Taste: Lots of chocolate, roast and lactose flavor coming through in waves. Very sweet. Mid palate and on the finish though, it turns pretty cloying and you can really tell it is 8.5% ABV.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Medium bodied and pretty creamy. Again though, it turns a bit hot on the end and drinkability is not high at all. Very much a one-and-done type of beer. Overall, a very flavorful milk stout that is pretty enjoyable and unique. Would probably buy again at some point if given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 23:56:53 | More by zhanson88

Tone

Missouri

3.59/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color. 1/4 inch head of a tan color. Slight retention and poor lacing. Smells of sweet malt, oatmeal, hint of sour, slight roasted malt, pale malt, and a hint of hops. Fits the style of a Milk / Sweet Stout. Mouth feel is sharp and creamy with a low carbonation level. Reminiscent of a Baltic Porter. Tastes of roasted malt, tartness, sweet malt, hint of hop, and slight oatmeal. Overall, very weak appearance, but decent aroma, good body, and good blend.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 16:10:37 | More by Tone

Mebuzzard

Colorado

3.74/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Being a milk stout, sweetness is expected and doesn't disappoint. A dark, smooth pour with some big foam a bit soapy

Milk chocolate and sugary aroma, some caramel and dark plum

This is a smooth stout. Wondered if I would get dark or milk chocolate, and it's the latter. Makes it sweeter. Some dark fruit/berry. Hints of toffee and coffee. Not picking up much to any booze on this one. Pretty nice

Feels sweet and smooth. Carbonation is just right to get the feel of the chocolate. Nice beer

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 19:37:46 | More by Mebuzzard

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.74/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Soft malt with light roast, some sweetness and a touch of lactose. Nothing wrong, but nothing exceptional for style either.
Loud fizzy head that settles out pretty quickly, really. Very dark body.
A very rich drink. Full flavors. Milk and chocolate come through loud and clear here. Alcohol is noticeable with a little heat and spiciness/perfume to the taste- seems out of balance. Also get some warmth in the gut. Some sweetness shows
Moderate to lighter than that body. Reasonably soft feel and carbonation. Drinks lighter/easier than what it is. Could be kinda' dangerous.
This is a perfectly fine drink. No where near the best milk stout I've experienced.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 02:58:12 | More by garymuchow

sethcroisant

Nebraska

3.84/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

A- fairly dark brown head, though there's not much of it. moderate lacing.

S- roasted malts, coffee and booze are the most dominant scents. chocolate is there but a little less detectable. nice blend of smells.

M- carbonation is a little too prickly. has a decent body to it. kind of fluffy. overall, it's a very peculiar mouthfeel.

T- sweet and alcoholic up right away. after a second, some bitterness from the hops and roasted malts come in. chocolate is apparent all the way through, but not too assertive. bready flavors settle in towards the end. it does sort of taste like chocolate milk...

O- a solid and well balanced beer. maybe not as aggressive with the chocolate flavors as some, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 05:45:43 | More by sethcroisant

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The stout poured out from the bottle a dark, cloudy brown colour. Smelled of rich chocolate with roasty malts. Tasted almost the same way that it smelled; chocolate, malt, and a bit alcoholic. Left a lingering syrupy mouth-feel to it.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 20:42:07 | More by NilocRellim

spoony

Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

From a 355 ml bottle (best before May 29, 2013) into a snifter.

A-The brew pours thick and black. I cannot see any carbonation in there. The head is thin, pretty quick to fade to ring, and dark brown in color.

S-Aside from the chocolate and roasted flavors you would expect (though the chocolate is not overpowering), this brew has something else going on. I cannot quite place my finger on the aroma...it is almost like a nutty liquor (Tuaca, maybe?). Nevertheless, the scent is pretty concentrated and you know you're in for a pretty big beer after one whiff.

T-The taste follows the smell pretty closely. There is a nice, intense combination of rich chocolate and lactic sweetness up front, with a mildly bitter roasted character on the mid-palate and finish. The chocolate flavors (milky and semi-sweet) grow on you as the beer warms to room temp.

M-Carbonation is lighter, but not totally absent. The brew has a medium to heavy body. This one is a sipper.

O-I like this beer, but it is suffering from something of an identity crisis. When I think of milk stouts, I think of lower ABV, creamier style beers. This brew, however, drinks more like a chocolate-infused RIS than a sweet/milk stout. The flavors here are intense and the alcohol is vocal, and while these are not bad things, I found myself looking for a bit more subtlety and nuance.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 16:58:33 | More by spoony

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle into snifter - thanks Penguin

Deep black pour with a bubbled crop of tanned head perched on top. Bubbly retention, spotty lacing and a wisp of film.

Mild chocolaty scents with cocoa, milk sugar and caramel. Roasted dark malts and soft warmth.

Intensely flavorful milk chocolate, cocoa powder and caramel swirl together into a beery transformation of hot cocoa. Sweet and balanced, roasted dark malts, bread crust and milk sugar. Finishes a bit chalky and chocolaty.

Fuller medium body, decent carbonation, chewy and smooth on the tongue. A delicious, chocolate-forward stout, although I wish the nose was as impressive as the profile was.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2013 00:51:19 | More by xnicknj

GPHarris

Alabama

3.89/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

a - poured a 1/2 finger thick tan head into a snifter that left a thin ring of lace throughout. the body was dark black.
s - lactose, roasted chocolate, malty syrup sweetness.
t - chocolate milk with some burnt chocolate flavors.
m - medium body.
o - solid milk stout and one i would go to again. i was expecting more but still a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 15:21:07 | More by GPHarris

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.94/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany with a finger of mocha colored head. Head retention & lacing are lacking

S: Some cocoa & faint boozeyness, kind of understated

T: Milk & dark chocolate & cocoa powder up front. More rich chocolate as this warms, with a touch of roasty bitterness as well, some dryness. Finishes sweet, dry, roasty with a touch of lactose

MF: Fairly rich, smooth carbonation

Really enjoyed this, the ABV is well hidden. If you like chocolate, this a stellar offering. I'll take this over the uber-hyped Boulevard Chocolate ale & true to style, but wish this would've delivered a bit more on the asthetics

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 05:09:16 | More by russpowell

Jason

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12oz brown bottle with a freshness date.

LOOK: Black, thin but sticky tan lacing

SMELL: Roasty grain, fine chocolate, rose water, mild coffee, prunes, alcohol, light molasses

TASTE: Creamy, silky smooth, thick bodied, milky, subtle roastiness, chocolate throughout, modest hopping, big juicy kiss of alcohol, date sugar, mild spice, dark berries, faint orange peel, sweet creamy finish

This is a big brew, 12oz bottle took a while to conquer though I did not complain once. Seek this one out for something completely different.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 02:19:21 | More by Jason

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.96/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown color, nice and professional looking. Mild light brown head on it, only about 1/4" in depth. Doesn't leave lace. Its a pretty color and juxtaposition of light and dark brown though.

Aroma was mild chocolate, thought it would be more impressive, but its still a nice breath of aroma from a stout that isn't all about massive roast in the nose.

Taste, a good, cocao and smooth chocolate sensation. Alcohol is amazingly covered up in the mouthfeel, at least at first, it does come out a little more downstream. Not really all that sweet. They got the lactose addition just right. I can't tell if that's vanilla or just a different kind of interplay between the parts giving it a slight bitterness at times (lactose and powdered chocolate milk?). Its a good beer, but its not going to rise to the elite level of chocolate beers.

Thanks to koufax21 for bringing this to the March Madness 2013 bottle share. Of course, a big no thanks to David Hurley, bar guy at El Dorado, for going back on the El Dorado's word of supporting our bottle share. These guys don't support craft beer, they don't support loyal customers. Grade A jerk.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 17:13:03 | More by Beerandraiderfan

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

This beer is massive chocolate and cocoa flavors with a fair amount of roast. A decent creamy/milk flavor to it. Kind of dry. Awesome flavor profile.

Full bodied with a good amount of carbonation., Ends dry and roasted.

Very drinkable and enjoyable. I'd have more of this.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:10:47 | More by mothman

zeff80

Missouri

3.99/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Opaque, jet black color with a one-finger, light brown head of foam. It left sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of milk chocolate with some toffee and caramel.

T - Good milk chocolate flavor with some roasted malt and a touch of piney bitterness.

M - It was crisp,sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a really good. Odell has blown me away with all their new awesome beers.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 03:15:52 | More by zeff80