Milk Stout - Lancaster Brewing Company

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Buffalo Wild Wings in Owings Mills, MD.

The beer appears near black with a half inch of beige head. The aroma offers a strong lactic presence, with additional notes of chocolate, vanilla, roast. Milk chocolate is the dominant flavor. The beer finishes with a hint of bitterness and toasty bread. Creamy at first, with some zesty carbonation mid to late palate. A solid example of a milk stout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 23:23:10 | More by Huhzubendah

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: ?

Another quality LBC selection. Don't remember where I first had this, but I've had it on tap and bottled. Pours and opaque black with little to no head. Dark malts in the aroma and semi-sweet chocolate. Similar taste, with roasty malts and semi-sweet chocolate up front with some bitter coffee notes coming through. Smooth, heavy-medium mouthfeel, and nicely drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2011 15:59:19 | More by Rifugium

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap from NoVa beer festival. Poured with a small brownish head. Dark, the color of Coke. Coffee smell was the first thing I noticed followed by some chocolate milk and chocolate covered cherry notes. Medium level of carbonation. Some initial sweetness on the palate with a hop bitterness that doesn't seem to quite match up. Finishes dry. Mouthfeel is very light overall. Some fruit notes, sour milk, chocolate.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2011 19:22:38 | More by CuriousMonk

cosmicevan

New York

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes taken visiting the brewpub this past summer. Hung out in Hershey Park, ate some chocolate, dealt with having to buy cases only when looking for beer and hit up this brewpub (not the one pictured, the other location).

Watery looking oil. Nice roasted malty smell. Great flavor. Not too watery mouthfeel, and not too heavy either. I like a b it more silky for this style, but this one is a great milk stout.

Serving type: on-tap

11-22-2010 04:08:51 | More by cosmicevan

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Hilltop in Ephrata.
Served to me with a finger of tannish creamy head. Color is jet-black with very little light bleeding through. Retention and lacing were good. Some chocolate, coffee and roasted malts in the nose. Palate is nearly flawless for a sweet stout. Subtle sweet chocolate malt flavor is balanced with a roasted coffee flavor in the finish. None of the flavors are overpowering and everything works together seamlessly. Mouthfeel is velvety smooth with a slightly dry finish. Drinkability is sky high, especially for a stout fan like myself. This is the best milk stout I've had and by far my favorite brew from Lancaster.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2010 02:45:31 | More by JunkYardJake

beergod1

Ohio

3.85/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at upick6 in Erie PA. Black with brown hues, 2 inch tan colored frothy head (first to tap keg), with spotty lacing. Semi sweet cocoa, and roasted malts on the nose. Somewhat chalky, flavors of prune, bakers chocolate, and a slightly tart finish, Medium body, slightly thin mouth feel. Finishes slightly dry, with roasted malts and unsweetened chocolate. Better on tap than in a bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2010 20:28:04 | More by beergod1

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Review from notes taken on 2/15/10.

Pours black in color with a finger of tanned head. Nice amount of lacing on the glassware. Nose is roasted grain, little bit of chocolate and coffee character. Slight citrus hops in both the aroma and taste. Flavors mostly of burnt grain bitterness blended with the hop presence. Light feel and lightly carbonated. Lingering taste of bitters via burnt grain and hops are left clinging inside the mouth. Overall not bad and for the sweet stout classification it is very low key on the lactose and sweetness which makes it that much more drinkable as-is compared to other overly sweet milk stouts.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2010 19:56:21 | More by stakem

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Served on tap at LBC's Harrisburg location. Beer pours black with a creamy brown head. Aroma is very weak, nearly nonexistent. Tastes like coffee...though not strong coffee. Very thin, not heavy at all. Drinks real smooth. I can and have downed several of these in a visit to the brewpub. Its a good beer, but its not outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2010 04:02:40 | More by bigfnjoe

TLove

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap/bottle as often as I can get it.

This beer is excellent for it's style. Truly the best milk stout I've had. Supremely drinkable and remarkably well-balanced.

Pours a smoky, resiny dark brown, with a light brown head and a moderate lacing. Great smell of espresso, dark chocolate, and floral aromas. Milky body, but had a great smokiness that permeates through the body and renders it the consistency of an oatmeal stout with the flavor complexity of a baltic porter.

Not heavily carbonated, with some roasted malts coming through on the back end with some bakers chocolate and raisin. Not particularly noticeable bitterness. Smoothness is key and really wins the day here. Clean, but not dry. Refreshing from front to back.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2009 03:02:23 | More by TLove

bl400315

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ordered at lancaster brewing company (in lancaster). Poured black, deep, and quite viscous with a one and a half finger head that left poor lacing. Picked up malts as well as cocao and subtle coffee scents. Pleasant aroma. Didn't expect the slightly sour taste with initial sip. Good body for a stout, left the pallet clean and smooth- hops werent overbearing. Balanced and very drinkable. By far one of the best milk stouts PA has to offer and certainly my favorite from the lancaster brewing co.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2009 21:52:37 | More by bl400315

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown almost black coor with ruby edges and a thin coffee-coloed head. Roasted malt aroma with creamy oatmeal, coffee and toast presence. Well balanced and smooth with some oatmeal flavor up-front followed by a creamy finish with roasted malty flavor and a bitter coffee, toffee and dark chocolate finish.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2008 08:53:32 | More by corby112

Kolsch

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First time on tap on home system:
Kegged date: N/A

Appearance: Dark brown bordering on black with minimal to no head retention.

Smell: slight hint of caramel and molasses

Taste: Very smooth, slightly creamy. Hints of chocolate, cocoa & coffee. No alcohol noticable.

Easy drinkablity. I think this resembles a porter more than a stout. A very tasty porter though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2008 02:34:33 | More by Kolsch

odietrying

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in 5 oz. sampler glass.

A: Very dark chocolate, opaque. Thin brown lacing.

S: A hint of chocolate, strong espresso notes.

T: A bit of chocolate, roasted espresso. Alcohol taste is somewhat hidden.

M: Pretty smooth, a little heavy.

D: I could be convinced to have a few more. It is a little heavy for too many though.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2008 01:45:08 | More by odietrying

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Lancaster Brewing Company on Eisenhower Blvd. in Harrrisburg, served cold in a shaker pint.

A - A midnight black appearance that is almost completely opaque w/ a 1/2 inch of basic tan. The head collapses quickly leaving a film of lace. A really beautiful stout to behold before taking a sip.

S - A very roasty coffee-like aroma w/ a smooth cream note. The roasted barley aroma is strong and a nice creamy/nutty odor accents the strong dark malt presence.

M - Light body w/ intense roasted notes. Almost chalky, but not bitter w/ a mild sweet compliment. The feel is refreshing w/ an high carbonation level and slightly roasted touch w/ nutty malts in the finish.

T - Very full flavor of french roast coffee w/ sweet cream and an almost peanut skin-like dry edge. The flavor has a nice balance of dry malt and creamy sweetness that is not overdone. The coffee flavor starts nutty and gets more charcoal-like at the end of the swallow w/ pleasing light essence from the moderately high carbonation. The taste is not cloying as you might expect from a milk stout with more complimentary sweetness than anything and you might be surprised that it was a milk stout if it wasn't labeled that way. I enjoy the mild nature as the glass goes empty.

D - A tasty well brewed and full flavored ale w/ a modicum of restraint just as tit nears intense range it is mellowed by the light body ans subtle sweet element. This ale is refreshing satisfies the dark malt craving. I could drink this for breakfast w/ the very high drinkability factor.

Serving type: on-tap

07-28-2008 15:18:49 | More by Slatetank

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub in Harrisburg.

SDerved as a very deep brown colored beer with massive tannish head.

Smell has strong notes of roasted malt and coffee.

Taste also has a profound roasted malt texture with a nice balancing sweetness. A slight dryness emerges at the ending.

Leaves a firm toasted malt taste in the mouth.

A flavorful stout that could be a meal in itself.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2008 01:02:39 | More by tgbljb

fillerup

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Well, this is my first review. Was in the Philly area on business and gave this beer a try. I must say, I was very impressed with this beer. Poured nicely, producing a tan head with about the same thickness as a Guinness Stout, but lasted longer. I found the beer to have nice chocolatey, caramel, and coffee hints in the aroma and taste. A nice smooth feel, very drinkable.

I'd like to drink more, but not available down here in Texas. Will have to find other means to get more.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2008 03:41:42 | More by fillerup

IgnatiusReilly

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a tap into a pint glass at the Lancaster Brewpub.

Color is pitch-black with nice thin tan head which dissipates rather quickly. Still very inviting. Smell is deep and roasty, hint of sweetness. Coffee, espresso scent present as well. Deep roasted flavor dominates, along with a black coffee bite. Balanced with sweet malt as well and a aftertaste of dry hops. The dairy is definitely felt in the full mouth feel, but it’s still very smooth and clean. Excellent stout, very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2007 03:20:49 | More by IgnatiusReilly

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Maybe my favorite of the Lancaster beers, right next to the Amish Four Grain. It wasn't nearly as creamy as other sweet stouts, like a Mackeson Triple Stout. Comes off more like a full American or English Stout (Middle Ages' Black Heart). The grains don't taste like coffee so much as just black patent malt. There also seems to be a missing complexity to this beer, or rather, the flavor might just be too plain. Still it's a stout to enjoy with a meal or after.

Serving type: on-tap

07-08-2007 17:43:02 | More by tempest

BuckSpin

Maine

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 16oz draft pint in a classic conical pint glass

BAside: this is always on tap at the Independence Brew Pub in the Philly Airport.

I am a big fan of this beer in the bottle, and always look forward to a draft pint when traveling. Nose is classic and wonderful - black coffee & milk chocolate form a lush mocha aroma, traces of black licorice, burnt caramelized malts, faint echo of some smoke. A fat finger's worth of mixed, mocha stained foam laced in ribbons before fading to a edge ring and thin sheets of cover over a "black in a good mood" hue of the deepest burnt umber.

Its smooth & velvety, creamy, mocha strong with fresh expresso bitterness over a semi-sweet milk chocolate backdrop. The coffee is silty, thick, bitter and plays a foil in mouthfeel as well as taste balance to the velvet creaminess of the milk chocolate. Burnt caramelized malts hide in the background. It grows even more bitter with coffee bite on the palate, getting thicker & siltier, sharper, hops emerge on the backbeat but keep it low. Its sharper & more bittersweet, less smooth than the bottle version, but thats OK. The finish is again bittersweet with black coffee & now dark chocolate, even a little of that licorice and char from the nose, leaving a coated mouthfeel and a more bitter than sweet aftertaste thats a bit filmy and just a little chewy.

A very pleasing beer. Not as good as the bottle version in that its not as sweet or smooth, but still a very good stout. Haven't done so yet, but would love to pair this with a chocolate cake. It did go surprising well with my roast beef sandwich with horseradish. When I am in Eastern PA I actively seek this out and you should as well. Definitely a high recommendation.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2007 02:52:51 | More by BuckSpin

zymurgy4all

New York

3.2/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This is a good standard stout. It has a nice long lasting head, and a roasted malty aroma and flavor. Hints of chocolate are present in the immediate aftertaste. Medium Light body, and slight chalky aftertaste. Not immediately sweet, but a slight sweetness is present. Good stout overall.

Serving type: on-tap

03-29-2007 03:04:30 | More by zymurgy4all

ski271

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pitch black with a small, creamy, light brown head that sticks around for quite a long time, sticking to the glass in splotches as I slowly put this one down. Wonderful aroma! The roasted malts are some warm, full and inviting. Coffee and chocolate are most noticeable. The taste is fairly sweet, but not over the top like milk stouts can often be. More chocolate, coffee, light molasses, and a touch of vanilla. A nice mildly-nutty finish, very slight sourness and a silky-smooth mouthfeel keep me coming back for more. Wow this beer was good. I’ve had this beer many times out of the bottle, but this was my first trial of it on tap. Not sure if it’s just because of how my tastes have changed since the last time I had this or if it truly is considerably better on-tap. I remember the bottled version being pretty good, but this wowed me!

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2006 16:09:53 | More by ski271

clickpush

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pour: draught to pint glass @ Independence Brew Pub's Philadelphia airport location. Served at the bar with a large two finger dark brown head over a black body. The head is fluffy and pock-marked as fades. Lots of bubbles visible along the inside of the glass. Excellent lacings remain after the slow, several minute long descent.

Nose: Peanuts, chocolate, malty and, unfortunately, a bit too faint. Pick up on the roasts of the malts and a pinch of hop balance, but not powerful enough to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Mouth: On the first sip gentle roast flavors coat the whole mouth and they last long after the swallow. Notes of chocolate and fruits add a touch of sweetness the counter the dark roastiness. Mouthfeel is great - consistently prickly all the way through.

Delicious and fun to drink!

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2006 20:42:44 | More by clickpush

doubleipa

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at the brewery. I love stouts, but this was the first "milk stout" I've had. Another nice stout to add to the collection. Brown, almost black color, with bery little head. Typical coffee, chocolate aroma, but not as intense. Also had something a bit different to the aroma - a little bit of hops. Taste matched the aroma. The added sweetness from teh lactose added anice component. This is definitely a stout I could drink earlier in the day than I usually drink them.

Serving type: on-tap

07-12-2006 18:00:52 | More by doubleipa

Foxman

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

It came to me a deep brown, not quite opaque, but very stingy with light. Light brown head, perhaps a finger, dwindled soon to patchy islets of froth. Curlicues of lacing decorated the inside of the glass.

The aroma offered cut of dark roasted malt along with a milk-sweet lactose air. A mild hops presence dueled with molasses and dark coffee in the background.

Upon sipping, the edge of burnt malt was blunted by the lactose sweetness, as well as by the notes of toffee and chocolate. A smoked roasted malt sensation came through in the middle, along with a more grassy hops indication. The finish was nicely bitter, with the merest flash of residual milk and malt before bitter lingered. It's a beet deeper and darker than I expected, but it was overall a nice mix of elements.

A ways short of medium bodied, but more than light, it was thinner than the flavor would presage, and it was around just long enough to deliver the flavor, and no longer.

As mentioned, I expected something brighter in the taste of the beer, but the darker malt pieces fit well enough with the lcatose sweetness and tang. It's got a little bit of an ABV, but it never exposed itself to me as I drank it, so I imagine it could be sneaky. While not a style toward which I generally gravitate, I'm not sorry I had this, as it went down smoothly and it showed some care and consideration on the part of the brewer to bring the ingredients together as well as they were.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2006 17:50:52 | More by Foxman

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The flagship of Lancaster is poured nicely into a pint glass served chilly from the brewery. It pours a black body with some slight ruby hues if you hold it into the light. A nice tan, dense surface layer sits atop of the body clinging to the glass.

Sticking my nose into the glass, I get some sweet cream hitting my sinuses as does some slight caramel and lots of grain. The grain is pretty standard for Lancaster brews and is really the only drawback to this one.

Bursting chocolate and coffee up front on my tongue with some bittering bakers' chocolate toward the finish. The malt is a bit grainy in flavor and some hops help balance the sweetness of the malt toward the finish and as an aftertaste. Yummy!

Mouthfeel is nice. Some tingly, bubbly carbonation hits the tip of my tongue with a light, but creamy body. No alcohol is presented, but it is well-balanced and great.

The flavor and the feel make this one very easy to drink lots of! If you've never tried this one, get your hands on it any way you can!

Serving type: on-tap

04-16-2006 23:54:06 | More by Fish113d