New Holland Dragon's Milk Oak Barrel Ale - New Holland Brewing Company

CHickman

New York

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very dark opaque brown, almost black looking, with a creamy 1 finger tan head that faded slowly and left good spotty lacing and a creamy layer on top.

Smells of bourbon right up front; smack, pour the beer and the bourbon is there. After it calms down you also get vanilla, molasses, raisin, dark fruit, sweet malt, caramel, charcoal, toasted grains and then light booze; the bourbon basically dominates the nose and smells like a nice boozy stout.

Tastes follows the nose, with bourbon up front, vanilla, molasses, raisin, dark fruit, sweet malt, brown sugar, cocoa powder, dark chocolate, toasted grains, caramel, charcoal, herbs or light floral hops, and then booze; it is very sweet, quite complex and the chocolate, rich dark fruit and bourbon all blend well together. It borders on too sweet, so I’m glad this was only a 12 oz bottle. Considering how in your face the alcohol is, it’s surprisingly easy to drink and devoid of any real heat.

Mouthfeel is very creamy and smooth, with very mild to almost zero carbonation that’s oddly thin and watery, a very heavy chewy body that was thick, and a sweet boozy finish that's a cross between molasses and a shot of bourbon.

A very good beer overall, I liked the dynamic here; there was no hiding the intent, it was a boozy stout and it came out swinging. The BA notes state this is a stout aged on Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels, and while I am not familiar with Heaven Hill Bourbon, I now feel like I know that product and may enjoy it. Definitely worth trying this brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 04:10:23 | More by CHickman

CreightonSM

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-22-2013 02:42:47 | More by CreightonSM

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-22-2013 01:04:07 | More by mikeincharleston

Lasering

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-22-2013 00:26:42 | More by Lasering

Zuidman

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-21-2013 22:07:47 | More by Zuidman

ThreeFishes

Florida

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-21-2013 18:46:42 | More by ThreeFishes

kirkfrailey

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-20-2013 15:11:55 | More by kirkfrailey

thaghost

Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-20-2013 01:26:19 | More by thaghost

Lawl3ss

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-20-2013 00:43:45 | More by Lawl3ss

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-19-2013 16:45:31 | More by Photekut

drgonzo2k2

California

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 14:56:55 | More by drgonzo2k2

jakeox

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-19-2013 02:01:47 | More by jakeox

NJB145

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-19-2013 01:29:13 | More by NJB145

JMBSH

Colorado

3/5  rDev -23.3%

05-19-2013 00:07:20 | More by JMBSH

nataku00

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-18-2013 17:03:05 | More by nataku00

johnnyboy76

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-18-2013 04:13:10 | More by johnnyboy76

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-16-2013 02:08:55 | More by SmellsofMahagony

nyrblue2

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-16-2013 02:08:33 | More by nyrblue2

GinsuDave

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-15-2013 10:31:15 | More by GinsuDave

Jordy777

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

05-14-2013 18:25:57 | More by Jordy777

ThatCracker

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 13:41:09 | More by ThatCracker

AndyP612

Illinois

4.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured violently into a tulip. 2013 vintage.

A- Black and thick ale with a lighter off white semi fluffy head. The contrast between the blackness of the liquid and the light head is very interesting being this is a bourbon barrel conditioned stout.

S- The nose is quite sweet with hints of sweet coffee and chocolate, slight vanilla and whiskey tease.

T- There's the bourbon! Bourbon is actually quite delicately integrated into the largely coffee and chocolate overtones thrown at me in the nose. Big in roasted, blackened malt with a punch of whiskey!

M- Very light in carbonation. Mouthfeel of about a 0.5% milk, medium bodied. Appearance wise, I would expect something a little bigger feel in the mouth but since this is a relatively young stout in a bottle I am anxious to see how it ages.

O- Great stout for May 12th when it's in the 40's! It's been a while since I have had this stout and I remember it being sweeter, almost too sweet, but this vintage is very nice and well balanced with the bourbon presence balancing out the sweet malt. As stated earlier, I can't wait for next winter to drink this and see how it matures in the bottle. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:29:14 | More by AndyP612

theleechster

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-13-2013 01:55:36 | More by theleechster

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-12-2013 02:27:54 | More by TastyIsBeer

mctizzz

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-12-2013 02:01:35 | More by mctizzz