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

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Opaque black with a hint of brown around the edges. Very thin light brown head that is now almost nonexistent.

Aroma: Get vanilla right away. Underneath that there are roasty tones, oak, alcohol, and just a dab of dark fruit.

Taste: This one definitely has a pleasant oaky quality to it. Starts like a regular Imperial Stout with dark roasted malts and a rounded flavor. About halfway through you start to get the vanilla and oak which only builds from there. The end adds a moderate alcohol note that stays through the finish. Leaves a bitter chocolate and slightly hoppy flavor on the palate as well as some dark fruit and an alcohol bite. Real nice warmth in the back of the throat long after drinking. The 10% ABV is by no means hidden but it seems to work well that way. The only drawback is that it's not quite as robust as one would expect it to be.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body which is a little light for the style. A little more carbonation than I had anticipated but fairly easy to drink.

Final Thoughts: A little let down because of the slightly thin body. However, it hits all the right notes in terms of flavor and doesn't disappoint when it comes to the oak aged quality. Would I drink it again? It would not be my go-to Imperial Stout but I would give it a try on-tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 06:05:15 | More by JamesMN

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

Beerdudenumberone

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-11-2013 22:31:10 | More by Beerdudenumberone