Left Hand Milk Stout - Left Hand Brewing Company

proc

Michigan

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a fine beer. Pours out to a vast blackness. An agressive pour yielded a very, small head. The aroma gives forth roasted malt. Mouthfeel is very silky, almost creamy, but not heavy at all. This was very much Guinness-like, but with a real, depth of flavor. Very drinkable.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

03-04-2013 16:36:18 | More by proc

robhbest

Michigan

3.79/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Nitro Bottle poured into tulip glass. Label said to pour hard.

A: Pour hard I did. 180 degrees full force pour. Anything else would have foamed onto your counter tops. This poured a pitch black, which you started to see the cascading head start to form. Almost like the head starts at the bottom of the glass and waterfalls to the surface. Absolutely beautiful.

S: A little roastyness from the malts, chocolate, nutty.

T: Definitely more roasted malts, chocolate and coffee. They are very light in flavors, Neither really overwhelm each other.

M: Nice and creamy, the nitro adds something special to this beer, and I like it.

O: This is a fine example of a sweet stout. Its not overwhelming, or is it underwhelming. The nitro bottle is a cool idea, however for me I like my stouts with a little more kick to them. Nothing wrong with this beer.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

03-04-2013 03:25:55 | More by robhbest

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

centurian62

Michigan

4.91/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I am glad that Rockewell's in Grand Rapids, MI has had this on nitro tap for a long while. I stop in as often as I can to grab a pint because this has to be one of the best beers on the face of the planet!

When delivered, you can see the nitro bubbles exuding from the middle of the glass creating a beautiful caramel colored head. Upon first sip, you realize that the nitro has taken the original Milk Stout to a whole new level of creaminess and taste! My wife is not the biggest fan of stouts but she always humors me and tries them. This one was "the one" that has changed her mind and she even ordered her own pint!!! That is a testament to how good this beer is, because she is very picky when it comes to beer and she loves it!

Serving type: nitro-tap

02-28-2013 19:39:44 | More by centurian62

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

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

3.91/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pretty much black. Some dark brown when held to direct light. Head is khaki, creamy, and thick. Drops to a small cap and creamy collar. Some spots of lacing. Pours nice and smooth.

Smell: Moderate roasted malt character. Underlying lactose sugar sweetness. Some old coffee. Touches of cocoa and sweet milk chocolate. Some leafy hops notes. Nicely layered. Pretty mellow. Warming tamps down a little on the roasted aspect and pushes up some sweetness.

Taste: Roasted chocolate milk. Laden with chocolate goodness. Dark, milk, cocoa, it's all there. A touch of burnt sugars on the back. Solid lactose sugar sweetness as a balance to the roasted malts. Vague hints of leafy, slightly citrusy, hops. Some backing coffee bean. Hot chocolate with marshmallow.

Mouthfeel: So creamy and smooth it's ridiculous. Medium body with a moderate carbonation. Reiterate: creamy.

Overall: I'd nominate this for VP.

A new benchmark. A solid balance between sweet and roasty. I can see why this gets the accolades it does. I'm sad it took me this long to try it.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 20:00:56 | More by Goblinmunkey7

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.66/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

An aggressive pour nets me... a half finger of head. This is sandy colored and frothy. Body is a deep deep brown.

Roasty and sweet. You almost smell the lactose sugar. Hints of milk chocolate and light coffee.

Lightly roasted malts and sweetness make up the opening. This rolls into milk chocolate with a dark chocolate/coffee flavor.

Mouthfeel is a full and creamy medium-heavy body. Simple with almost no carbonation really noticed, it goes down without leaving a coating.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

02-23-2013 03:41:47 | More by CFHMagnet

russwbeck

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: First ever nitro-bottle! I must have poured it wrong, as I get no head. I kept waiting for it to show up late, as most nitro beers do, but it never came. This date is off to a poor (pour?) start. 2

S: Sweet, but enjoyable roasted. The roast is much more prevalent than the sweetness from the lactose, which is a welcomed change for the style for me. Slight hints of coffee. 4

T: The taste continues this trend of roast over sweetness. I really came into this expecting the sweetness to be amplified by the nitro...I could not have been more wrong. The balance is very nice on this. 4

MF: Hardly any carbonation, but the body is thick and syrupy (nitro, I know, right?). This was really drinkable. The finish is dry and mouth watering and the sweetness provides a great balance. It is very drinkable. 3.5

O: Very nice baseline milk stout, and I liked the nitro play on things, despite the fact that I messed up the pour. Would try this again! 4

Serving type: nitro-bottle

02-22-2013 01:43:51 | More by russwbeck

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz bottle. Pours dark brown with long lasting, creamy, beige head. Aroma is of bready, toasted malt with hints of chocolate and dark fruit. Body is medium and smooth. Burned toast, bready malt, brown sugar, milk chocolate and dark fruit fill the moth. Finish is medium, bitter-sweet. Very nice stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 22:58:43 | More by mikeg67

Moose90

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best By: 07/01/13

A – Pretty much jet black in the glass, pours with some translucence though. Head is creamy and medium height. Lacing is somewhat thin, yet presentable.

S – Bitter dark chocolates. Dark roasted malts. Some light coffee notes. No sweetness here.

T – Creamy, dry and roasted. Nice chocolate and coffee notes as well, overall pretty bitter.

M – The nitro aspect is nice, it cuts through the bitter notes and makes for a nice creaminess. Overall it's a little bit light.

O – Good not great stout, I applaud Left Hand for the nitro bottle, definitely nice, but still lacks greatly to a nitro tap.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

02-17-2013 21:07:50 | More by Moose90

fps_dean

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Looks like a stout -- a dark brown color, and with very little head. A little more head, and this would score perfect with me.

It smells like coffee and spices.

The overall taste is very sweet and tastes of strong cream, coffee, chocolate, oats and barely. I do not taste any hops in this stout. It's not a particularly thick stout, but it is sweet and the taste is very good. It goes down very smoothly, and would compliment desert very nicely. I get the impression that cherries or anything with cherries (cherry pie, cheesecake or cordials) would compliment this stout very nicely.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 02:17:51 | More by fps_dean

LuDookie

4.83/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I really enjoyed this beer. I think for a stout, it is perfectly balanced and sweet, but not too sweet. It smells like creamed coffee and goes down easy, with just the right amount of carbonation and bitterness. Love it.

Would have given this one a 5 all the way around but it had no head, and I can remember better beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 22:46:50 | More by LuDookie

JClarson

4.06/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Black and rich. Little to no head even on an aggressive pour.

S- Roasted coffee all the way. Slight sweetness.

T- Coffee and toasted oats when it hits the palate. Finishes sweet and creamy.

M- Lingering sweetness that coats the mouth.

O- Very good milk stout. Great beer to drink while smoking a pipe full of a sweet tobacco blend. I would love to try this beer in a nitro bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 22:28:36 | More by JClarson

Jacurdy60

Alabama

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

A--Dull, black color. It doesn't have that obsidian like shine to it like most stouts. One finger head that dissipates quickly. Lacing that coats the whole glass and glides slowly to form a minimal latticework

S-Sweet half and half cream, light notes of coffee and chocolate. Sweet caramel really comes out when you sniff for a while

T-Milk chocolate with a touch of coffee and some strong notes of sugar. Very drinkable stout.

MF-Probably the smoothest beer I've ever had, in my opinion.

O-The smell and mouthfeel are the best parts, as they are very subtle and smooth. Taste is good, nothing stand out or is too potent. Overall a great beer, very drinkable, very smooth, smells fantastic, and has a subtle, non-complex taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 23:12:16 | More by Jacurdy60

Cdax

Pennsylvania

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

Actually drank the Milk Stout Nitro. Depending on how aggressively you pour it generally has a thin but quite creamy head and respectable lacing down the glass. Which along with the flavor and taste improves with a warmer serving temperature.

Initial aroma upon pouring brings roasted coffee to mind to me. Has a silky mouth feel for me and lacks punch of hops ( which is fine with me).

Founder's Breakfast Stout was my top stout, but for half the price I wouldn't hesitate purchasing more Left Hand Stout.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 14:42:33 | More by Cdax

templar316

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This baby has got it all. Pours a deep coffee black with a caramel head that sticks around for awhile and leaves light laceing. A nose of coffee, dates, toffee and biscutts. Hits the tounge smooth and silky, taste the milk chocolate and the roasted malts, a hint of hop bitterness in the finish. Nothing too complex but theres a depth to the flavor. Have another!

Edit: just caught the nitro version. Extra Smooth, but lacks head. Get it fresh! The flavor of this beer holds up over the years for any lover of dark ales!

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 05:38:45 | More by templar316

tekn0ph1sh

Florida

5/5  rDev +25.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I have had this beer on tap and out of the bottle.
I definitely have to say that on tap it is one of my favorite stouts. Out of the bottle it just isn't it good. I am guessing the additional pasteurization and preservatives in the beer detract from the smoothness and add discord to the overall experience.

It is like a smooth sweet Guinness. It is vey balanced and very drinkable. Like a chocolate mocha cappuccino with just a touch of sweetness.

Highly recommended session beer but only on tap.

If you have only tried it in the bottle do your self a favor and give it another go if you ever see it on tap at your local pub.

Ok so I just tried the Nitro bottle and it was just like on tap. Skip the standard LHMS and go for it in Nitro or on tap. I love this beer it is awesome. It's like drinking an unsweetened glass of chocolate milk. And is silky smooth going down. A definite session able stout. Highly recommended.

So I give it a 5/5 on nitro tap or nitro bottle and a 4/5 for a regular bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2013 14:18:11 | More by tekn0ph1sh

Colosdog

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Like a Guinness but minus the bitterness and plus sweetness.

Pours beautifully, with a nice head.

Sweetness is just enough - not too much and leaves a pleasant aftertaste.

This is a dark, heavy stout, but definitely not overpowering. If you like dark beers, especially stouts, this is a must try. I have only tasted one other beer that is similar to this one: Cream and Sugar Please Coffee Lactose Porter. Both are made with lactose sugars.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 21:10:13 | More by Colosdog

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.81/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Milk Stout is brewed in the style of a Milk/Sweet Stout. No label information. Available in 6 packs or as a part of the Mountain Mixer 12 pack. Bottle date is 05/08/12.

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass. Served above 50º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a creamy froth medium-brown head over a dark brown body with brown highlights. Retention is average, lacing is thin and spotty. A bit light for a stout, but a decent overall appearance. 3.5

(Smell) Some chocolate notes, earthy hops presence, a touch of oatmeal, a puff of smoke and some black malt bitterness. Slight hints of lactose and a mild creamy sweetness. Balance is slightly sweet, but there's some bitterness to be had as well. Smell is pleasing, medium potent and decently balanced, all I could ask for with the style. 4

(Taste) Faint cocoa powder and roasted malt front with a sweet lactose note is followed through with an oatmeal and earthy hop finish. Some of the characters in the aroma are less notable in the flavors of this beer. Both chocolate and hop notes are more subdued, although oatmeal lends some pleasing flavor dynamics to the finish. Some mildly roasted caramel and cream are also in the forefront. Balance is nearly spot-on, although there's a slight muted sweetness in the flavor which is personally fine to me for preventing otherwise inevitable palate burnout. Drinkability is thus pretty high; despite a limited chocolate profile, it's a well-rounded and flavorful milk stout. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel with some chewiness. Body is medium for the style and medium-heavy overall. Alcohol presence is light. Mildly dry finish. Texture and carbonation is pretty good for the style but a touch of cream could always improve things. 4

(Overall) Milk Stout is one of Left Hand's better year-round beers. The texture is spot-on, the flavors are all well-developed, and the beer is flavorful and drinkable. A touch of sweetness is lacking to definitely balance out the beer and the chocolate notes hinted at in the nose would have been an enjoyable contribution if preserved as well in the flavor of the beer. Some slight issues with quality consistency weren't enough to turn me off from the otherwise enjoyable drinking experience. It's certainly not the best Oatmeal Stout that I've had, but it's one of the better examples of the style. 3.75

Left Hand Brewing Company's
Left Hand Milk Stout
3.81/5.00

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 04:28:03 | More by Jadjunk

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.56/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz nitro bottle poured into tulip

Ink black pour, crop of frothed head, solid thin layer of retention persists throughout the pour. Patches of lacing droop down the glass, leaving streaks while drinking.

Milky roasted malts with chocolate and faint sweetness in the nose. Slightly bready with cream and vanilla.

Cocoa powder and baker's chocolate up front with tempered sweetness. Creamy, milky tones with a dash of nutty coffee, leading into the backbone. Roasted malts, dark chocolate, caramel and bread crust provide the much needed support. Finishes milky and sweet.

Medium body, milder carbonation, creamy and smooth on the tongue. This is a nice benchmark for the nitro milk stout, although I could definitely appreciate some bolder flavors.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

01-30-2013 02:15:17 | More by xnicknj

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.11/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12 oz nitro bottle poured into tulip. bottled on 11/13/12.

A: very dark brown body. pretty close to black. head is almost the complete opposite. a bright white. creamy. retention is meh, some chunky lacing left behind.

S: chocolate. sweet brown sugar. vanilla beans.

T: tons of sweet chocolate. bits of unfermented sugar tingles on the palate. a lingering dark chocolate. bitter and very dry.

M: not a bad job on the nitrogenation. medium bodied.

D: wooo, this is one sweet stout. the nitrogen makes for a really nice addition to a American made milk stout. truly one-of-a-kind. get some in the nitro-form.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

01-23-2013 04:26:30 | More by Jimmys

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with an awesome cascade of nitro wonderfulness. Ends with dark body that has amber highlights in the light and a tanned creamy head.

Enticing aromas of sweet milk chocolate and roast and coffee.

The flavor brings out a nice roastiness, coffee, and chocolate. Was expecting more sweetness but works without it letting the roast shine.

Smooth and creamy beyond belief.

Great easy drinking sessionable stout. Kills Guinness as far as a nitro stout is concerned.

Serving type: nitro-bottle

01-22-2013 02:55:21 | More by MattSweatshirt

Lognar

Illinois

3.51/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A - Pours a fairly standard dark brown to black with a lot of really nice carbonation.

S - Milk chocolate sweetness and black coffee, more like espresso, roastiness.

T - Sweet chocolate, cacao bitterness, a subdued maltiness, and a bitter roast coffee finish.

M - Thin, almost disappointingly so. Then again, I tend toward Imperials and BA stouts. However, there was a nice creaminess to it. I remember the non-nitro having a better mouthfeel.

O - It reminded me first of a thin Guinness, but still better than Guinness from a bottle or can (not draft) and with much less bitterness too. It almost felt more like a drink from Starbucks than a craft beer. A solid choice for something lighter in a stout, but "light stout" is quite the oxymoron. This would be a really great gateway brew to bring someone from Guinness over to craft (I made the transition 2 years ago with New Holland Dragon's Milk).

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:37:22 | More by Lognar

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.39/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12 oz bottle poured into a snifter at fridge-cellar temperature.

L – Black color with a 1.5-finger bubbly, frothy, tan head. Pretty good retention as the head slowly fades into a frothy cap that sits on the surface throughout with some decent lacing.

S – Sweet lactose, milk chocolate, molasses, and a little bit of espresso. With the milk, chocolate, and coffee, it smells a bit like a mocha.

T – It tastes like a mocha, too. It starts off sweet with creamy chocolate milk and a bit of molasses. Roasted coffee bitterness creeps in toward the finish.

F – Medium-to-full-bodied with really nice carbonation, a creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and a mildly bitter and dry finish. The bittersweet taste of coffee mixed with chocolate lingers for a bit.

O – I really like this milk stout. It still has all the sweetness that milk stouts usually have but it also has a nice roasted coffee element. This is one of the most balanced milk stouts I’ve ever had in terms of sweetness and bitterness. Really, really nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 02:10:37 | More by BlackBelt5112203