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

tectactoe

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

One of the first "big" stouts that I tried on my expedition into the craft world. Now that I've had many more, I can review this one respectively. Pours a very dark brown color, black in spots, with super-deep ruby shades at the very edges of the glass and top of the beer. The pour isn't as thick as you'd expect for a typical 10% ABV stout. Tan head is pretty small and recessed, but hangs around for a while before vanishing into a simple ring around the glass. The nose is pretty heavy on this one; booze, dark cocoa, oak and woodiness, sugary vanilla, sharp, dark figs and dates. Sweetness is far more apparent on the nose than any kind of bitterness, typically expected for heavy stouts.

The taste of Dragon's Milk is far more decadent, powerful, and commanding than the aroma would ever lead you to believe. Hefty handfuls of roasted malts begin to the lay the groundwork for this complex monster. Musky, wet oak and wood chips, burnt brown sugar, molasses, dark, bitter cocoa beans, sharp vanilla sweetness, and most of all, heavy booze. Many 10%+ ABV beers do all they can to mask and hide their alcohol content, but not Dragon's Milk - the booze is right on the front lines. It's certainly not a bad thing, however - it adds a huge level of robustness and power, causing you to respect it with slow sips and a drinking session likely to go beyond a half an hour. As expected, this beer just continues to open up with warmth. The booze gets stronger, the vanilla is sweeter, the cocoa is darker and more bitter. It really works well. I don't sense much of a hop presence in this beer. It might be there, but I sure as hell don't taste it. The mouth is silky and slick, albeit still a bit more thin than wanted/expected. Carbonation is pretty subdued overall, but it's not really a nuisance.

My tastes have changed greatly over time, but Dragon's Milk still impresses me and is definitely one of the best barrel-aged stouts that you can get year round (and without having to put your name on a multitude of waiting lists). Sure to satisfy that boozy-beer craving inside of any big stout lover. This one packs a punch.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 16:17:31 | More by tectactoe

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

cheefdaddy1

Mississippi

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-11-2013 18:45:08 | More by cheefdaddy1

Fusion7777

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-11-2013 03:54:37 | More by Fusion7777

ToddHolder

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-11-2013 01:52:42 | More by ToddHolder

jdobe13

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-11-2013 00:57:00 | More by jdobe13

Artjsantos

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

05-10-2013 17:35:45 | More by Artjsantos