Left Hand Milk Stout - Left Hand Brewing Company

DMarlinJ

Michigan

3.19/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25

This was the nitro but they say it's an alias. I poured into a standard pint glass and it looked pretty good. Nice head that settled to a thin layer that lasted throughout. Not much smell to speak of, slight caramel. Taste is weak and watery, not much there. Very disappointing, maybe this is a dead bottle? It doesn't taste bad just not much going on. The mouth feel is thin and watery and not much carbonation, that is what make me think it is not fresh.

I won't try this one again unless someone gives me one and says I should give it a second chance. Still it was better then a can of Labatts or Bud.

It certainly doesn't line up with what others are saying in there reviews. I can't see how so many are rating it above a 3.5

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 00:53:58 | More by DMarlinJ

blackie

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

single from Wilbur's, Fort Collins

a: poured roughly into a short chalice, the agitation produces a dense looking toasted sugar colored head, about a finger’s width, over a black colored stout, the head falling back and retaining well

s: roasted malts bring notes of coffee bean and dark cocoa, toasted nuts, chocolate caramels, oats, earthy char, woody pine hop aromas, very aromatic for a nitro stout

m: carbonation expectedly low, full bodied, smooth and creamy thanks in part to the oat bill

t: smooth roasted barley carries flavors of dark coffee with wood char and cocoa pulling in midway to linger long, perfect level of sweetness upfront with a nice transition to the drier side, hop flavors mild with a somewhat bitter finish combining roast astringency and hop acid, some sugars remain after each sip

o: it’s not quite the super-creamy nitro that you’d have on a draft system, and there’s no widget, but it works really well, lots of delicious roast character with a great sugar balance and silky mouthfeel, rich for a stout of this abv

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 03:09:57 | More by blackie

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Purchased at gasbarros in attleboro.

A- After an aggressive pour, pours a dark brown body with a slowly rising 1" off-white head that reduces slowly and leaves thick frothy lacing.

S- Fresh coffee beans, milk chocolate, toffee, cocoa powder.

T- Fresh coffee milk with chocolate and toffee. Like a chocolate mocha beer milkshake.

M- Creamy, smooth, easy drinking. Very nice drinkibility and velvet body.

This is an excellent interpretation of a stout and one of the best, if not the best milk stout I've ever tasted. Not overly rich for a stout but very nice in flavor and body.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:26:07 | More by gcamparone

Beerlover

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This is one of the more glorious looking stouts from a bottle i've ever seen! for the record the review i'm writing is for the "nitro" version of this beer, so i poured as hard as i could dumping all of the contents as fast as i could into my "fizzy yellow beer is for wussies" stone pint glass. the head on this beat is beautiful! this khaki creamy heard, i could eat this head with a spoon all day!
the smell is like a good stout slightly sweet, roasted malts, a little bit of bittersweet chocolate, and ever so slight smokey.
the mouthfeel on this is also excellantly silky smooth and next to no carbonation, the way a milk stout should feel on the palate...." sheeets of egyptian cotton!"
this is an extreamly sessionable easy to drink stout, love it, would strongly recommend to any dark beer/stout lover.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 03:58:55 | More by Beerlover

PaleZombie

Arizona

3.99/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz nitro bottle into a pint glass.

A - Deep ruby color with about 2 fingers of tan head.

S - Deep roasted malts, coffee, milky.

T - Pretty pleasant malt flavor with some coffee and a sweet lactose note.

M - Very smooth and creamy, extremely drinkable. Good carbonation.

O - Nice version of a milk stout. Extremely drinkable and great stout characteristics. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 02:02:29 | More by PaleZombie

Roman5150

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

bottle into tulip glass

appearance: black with very small one finger tan head

smell: milk, cream, marshmellow, roasted malt, coffee, chocolate

taste: very upfront milk taste, licorice, dark chocolate, prominent roasted malt backbone

mouthfeel: has the mouthfeel more so of milk than beer, kind of weird but refreshing and unique

overall: very smooth and rich in flavor: will buy again. I had the NItro version..

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:26:38 | More by Roman5150

LXIXME

New Mexico

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Medium to slightly larger sized light brown head settles into a pretty healthy lacing above this clear dark brown to almost black colored stout.

Black licorice, rich roasted grain malts, and light sweet chocolate hints in the aroma of this beer.

Rich creamy milk chocolate, dark heavily roasted malts, with just a touch of sweetness in the taste.

Dryish creamy aftertaste with a lot of the dark milk chocolate and heavy malts lingering on with this full bodied Left hand offering.

Pretty tasty and I forgot to buy ice cream, I this would taste pretty good with a half scoop of French Vanilla floating in it.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 22:15:57 | More by LXIXME

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of roasted malts, some coffee. Taste is big on roasted malts, coffee and chocolate are present, pretty good. Feels creamy in the mouth and overall this is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 12:21:10 | More by tone77

DavidS88

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a bottle of this fantastic brew at Mad Café in Madrid, an American themed restaurant that actually carried several different types of craft beers (Samuel Adams, Anchor, Flying Dog, and Brooklyn in case anyone else is abroad and really misses good beer.) Anyway to the beer itself:

Left Hand Milk Stout pours a beautiful opaque black. There was about half a finger of a foamy tan-off white head that dissipated rather quickly but left a thin ring of lacing around the glass. Overall it wasn't all that carbonated and had a wonderful feel, nice and smooth and creamy. The only relatively bad thing for me about this beer was the aroma. It didn't really smell like anything other than sugar. Granted this is the first milk/sweet stout I've ever tried so maybe that is common in that type of stout. Having tried a few different types of American and Irish stouts, I was expecting more chocolate or coffee on the nose but couldn't smell anything other than generic sweet smells. The taste more than made up for the lack of a strong scent however with a nice creamy coffee taste and slight bitterness from the dark roasted coffee. Even my non craft drinking friends at dinner found this stout to be really tasty and creamy. I'm definitely keeping my eyes open for Left Hand's Milk Stout in the future. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:07:12 | More by DavidS88

wattoclone

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks to the favorable reviews at BA, I was compelled to pick up a case of this sweet stout from my local distributor. To say that I was not disappointed is an understatement. It poured near black with a brown head that lasted for most of the session. Not easy to find, this is only my fourth version of this style with the most readily available being Young's Double Chocolate. So far I have been pleased to find that both of the U.S. craft versions I've tried, Widmer and Left Hand are superior in quality and drinkability. Extremely well balanced, this brew had a pleasant aroma of chocolate milk and roasted malt and a taste that can only be described as perfection. Sweet chocolate and malt predominate with a lingering cocoa aftertaste. The hops are hidden in the background which is what I look for in any stout since balance is the sign of expert brewing. A good stout should not insult with bitterness, but deliver an smooth intense flavorful experience.

Give me dark or give me death.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:30:16 | More by wattoclone

nimrod979

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle into a GI pint glass.

Appearance: Not entirely black. Cola colored highlights can be seen in the light. Thin head light tan in color but makes up for it with undying retention and moderate lacing.

Aroma: Sweet milk chocholate. mlated barley, flaked oats.

Taste: Milk chocolatey sweetness. roasted malts, A little bit of astringent bitterness, perhaps from the hops..

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body. Smooth and creamy but the carbonation is almost dead at this point. I'd like a decent soft mouthfeel but it seems a bit flat.

Thanks to my brother for brigning this. Keep reading it's much better on draft.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 17:42:48 | More by nimrod979

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deeply black and opaque the head was thin and fleeting.

The scent is creamy milky and slightly chocolatey. There's a bit of dry coffee in the background but the overall scent is not pronounced enough.

The taste and feel meld nicely together as there is a smooth, creamy sweetness. Touches of burnt malts, coffee and milk chocolate can all be found in a dry overall atmosphere.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 22:15:41 | More by KYGunner

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottled on 9/20/2012.

Appearance: Pours a thin black color that is honey brown when held up to the light. Fluffy one finger tan head that dissipates into a thin cap.

Aroma: Nice lightly roasted malt surrounded by sweet cream.

Taste: Starts with a nice balance between bitter and sweet, perhaps a touch of grassy hops in there but hard to notice. Hits a sweet note near the finish with a nice cream flavor. Finish transitions into moderately bitter charred dark malt and an interesting burnt matchstick flavor that is actually pleasing. Tastes lighter than 6% ABV. No off-flavors and a very clean palate overall.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with lots of carbonation. This is the one area where the beer falls short. Having tried Left Hand Milk Stout on nitro-tap before it is hard to enjoy this version as much. Decent drinkability.

Final Thoughts: The stout style is a classic and the modern milk stout is a sweet twist on that style. While the nitro version is quite good, the carbonated Milk Stout is just average. Still I like seeing breweries making this style of beer. I was starting to think brewers forgot how to make a stout without the word 'Imperial' in the name. Would I drink it again? Yes, but only on nitro.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 22:04:23 | More by JamesMN

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.26/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From the 12 fl. oz. bottle. Sampled on April 18, 2013.

It pours deep brown to black with a lingering, tan head that foams up and settles to a ring.

The aroma is alive with roasted dark malts, sugar, vanilla bean, and coffee grinds. Hop bitterness is not noted.

The body is medium to full and creamy.

The sweetness comes on strong with the first sip and remains sweet throughout. Also there are mellower mild hops in the background. Ends slightly dry. Very nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 21:53:39 | More by puboflyons

cet128

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A friend bought this for me to try. I have seen it before but I guess the cow on the label put me off for some reason. Maybe the name Milk Stout just didn't sound right. I am glad I had the opportunity to sample this beer. I would have been missing out on a beer that will become one of my favorites.

The smell was very good. It poured a decent tan head and looks like a stout. It had a pleasant chocolate smell which I liked. The taste was a light chocolate flavor that was just right with no hops that I could taste. (I don't like hoppy beer.)

I would drink this again, anytime, cow on the label or not.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 14:59:56 | More by cet128

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very solid, sweet deliciousness. Fairly light, extremely smooth, slight sugary taste. If you're told to drink your milk, this is where you should start. Better than chocolate milk. Wouldn't mind just a hint more of bitterness or burning taste, but nevertheless this goes down so easy, so smooth, so tasty. Perhaps my favorite beer from Left Hand.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 00:30:28 | More by Beer-A-Lot

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.09/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz brown bottle with some pretty cool artwork on the label. Poured this into a Tulip Pint glass, 'stout pint flass'

A - Typical dark stout like appearance. Slightly opaque appearing soft black in color with touches of ruby to dark brown hues. Pretty good head sits on top leaving good stick to the inside of this stout glass.

S - Very chocolate milk like aroma with some dark malt mixed within. Mocha style coffee graces the nose quite nice really sinking in the fact that this is a milk stout.

T - Semi coffee flavor that's quickly turned into sweet milk chocolate goodness. Nothing is really overdone in this flavor which is good when hitting those lactose sugarish notes. A good sweet flavor with a rich malt backbone.

M - smooth and creamy. Does its job of coating the mouth with its milky sweet texture. Very easy going, but it does have the "rich" factor even if at a minimum.

O - I've been told and read this is 'America's stout'. I'm not sure I'd go that far, but this is one of the best examples of its style you'll find and one that's easy to find at that. This is a real dandy of a stout and while Left Hand keeps to the basics of this style that's what makes it so good. Sometimes the good things don't have to be pounded with a high abv, but just crafted in a manner that sticks to a styles roots. That's what the Left Hand Milk Stout is all about. Something any of us can buy and left satisfied by the experience. If you are into milk stouts this is a top shelf creation. But unlike some sweeter stouts this one could be enjoyed by anyone.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 19:42:13 | More by BradtheGreat7

dar482

New York

4.16/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pour it hard and it is amazing with its cascading beauty. It's pitch black beer with a bubbly big 3 finger head.

The aroma is of milk, roasted sweet malt, chocolate, almost like chocolate milk.

There's a slight roasted bitterness at first. Then there's a light coffee flavor and then there's just a milky sweet creamy mouth feel. Lots of milk chocolate with a strange grinded peanut flavor. It's not horrible that it's there, but it's maybe the roasted malt flavor that gives it that too.

I do like the nitro and it gives the beer a great mouthfeel. Very easy to drink, though I think the lack of non-nitro carbonation makes it almost watery, but that's just it being a milk stout.

A wonderful drinkable beer. I would highly recommend it as a gateway.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 04:31:17 | More by dar482

screamking

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle poured into pint glass

Pours black, with a thin dark khaki head with some nice lacing around the edges. The aroma is quite pleasant with lots of coffee and dark chocolate. Some hints of far fruit but mostly just roasted notes.

The taste is very smooth. Roasted Coffee and Chocolate milk are my first thought. A little bit of coffee bitterness in there as well. Light-bodied and incredibly easy to drink. Solid beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 01:49:05 | More by screamking

Zraly

Virginia

4.11/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours midnight black with beautiful, tight bubbles. Nitro version -- Cool nitro effect. Gorgeous in a Samuel Smith's pint glass.

Extremely smooth roasted malt flavor that is sweet but not cloying. Notes of milk and dark chocolate, a hint of smoke, and espresso. A touch of earth. Finish is semi-dry. Medium-bodied. Super drinkable -- fairly certain I could session this even if the AVB is a bit high for such (6%). Again, it is sweet but not too sweet and the balance lends to easily having more than one.

I love stouts and think this is up there with some of the best. Every stout does not need to have an ABV > 10% to be considered flavorful and praise-worthy; this is an example of such a case.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 23:19:18 | More by Zraly

tronester

Oklahoma

4.11/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pitch black, with a thin tan head. Aromas of freshly brewed espresso. Taste begins with a coffee start, followed by some toasted grain, and a sweet, earthy finish. Rich mouthfeel. Overall quite a nice milk stout. Very sweet, almost a dessert beer. I like this A LOT better than the nitro version.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:09:38 | More by tronester

mattkoon

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

this pours opaque black....theres something really cool about that. the smell is hearty you can tell its a stout. no fancy spices just good ol black beer. there is really light carbonation, which contributes to the smoothness and makes this pretty drinkable. there is a creaminess that works well with the light carbonation also. there is also a note worthy thick head that coats the glass as you drink it. if you are looking for a good stout this would be a great one to grab.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 22:15:36 | More by mattkoon

Chirpie

Kansas

3.56/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

I had lots of friends who like sipping on this beer and so I finally decided to pick up a couple.

Poured it into a tulip, because I wasn't worried about carbonation and wanted to see if I could get any smells off of it.

Strangely, I had zero head. None. Nada. The bottle says don't be afraid to pour aggressively, and they mean it.

The flavor is good. An above average stout to be sure. But sheesh, my bottles just had a really flat mouth feel. It felt more like cold coffee than beer sometimes.

Not bad, but I'll probably only pick up one or two in a beer build a pack rather than 6 at a time...

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 04:49:47 | More by Chirpie

barczar

Kentucky

4.06/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Nitro.

Pours an opaque deep brown/black with tony bubbles cascading upwards to form a dense, half inch mocha head that lingers indefinitely.

Dark chocolate, roast malt, coffee grounds, and malted milk balls form the aroma. There's a hint of vanilla and tar.

Roast malt is at the forefront and lingers throughout, into the nutty, fairly dry, charred finish. There's a subtle sweetness that hits mid palate and draws out the chocolate notes and a touch of dark fruit.

Body is moderate to full and creamy, extremely smooth, with light carbonation and a modest alcohol warmth.

Very good rendition of an already good beer. Not overly sweet or roasty, but there's a touch of an acrid character that is offputting.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 00:32:33 | More by barczar

PaterMorse

Indiana

4.48/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Wow! A true (and new) staple! Easy, aroma out of this world, taste as smooth as you can get. Tops Young's Double Chocolate. Definitely worth a try!

A: The weakest part, the head splits pronto -- leaving a sandy lace and light suds along the rim. Dark for sure, but you can see fingers through the glass. Think un-iced Coke.

S: Goodness gracious! Remnscent of brownie mix or a Starbucks coffee bar. I've not found anything that beats it (at least for this type of beer). Suggests milky choco-coffee cheesecake. Mellow, pleasing, inviting.

T: Doesn't disappoint; very pleasing, following nose (milky choco-coffee cheesecake). Goes down as easy as Yoohoo. Damned tasty.

M: Holds together well. Perfect blend/balance. Smooth & creamy in the extreme.

O: Not as gutsy or adventurous as some stouts; but much better than most. Very pleasing experience.

Repeat? Yes. As an addicted "sampler" (who likes to rotate between many different stouts/porters), this is one of the few that I'd stock amply.

Where Best? Apres ski, campfire, or darned near anywhere else it's legal to drink a beer.

Two Word Descripition: Somewhere between "Damned Good" or "Beer Shake"

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 21:12:22 | More by PaterMorse