Mackeson Triple XXX Stout - Whitbread PLC

Lonestargazer52

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I personally like stout, and of all the stouts I've ever tasted, because they did not skimp on the malt I like this the most. Huge malt taste dominates significant hops, but not by much. This is a drink that cries out for a very hearty pairing -- smoked meats or fish, robust multi-grained bread with dominating aged cheese such as Roaring Forties Bleu. Like an Islay Single Malt, it is not a beer that anyone will not have an opinion about. I haven't been able to find it in about 2 years, and I am dismayed if it is no longer brewed. If anyone knows something similar, let me know.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 17:37:08 | More by Lonestargazer52

Huffs

New York

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Wrote this review back in 1984, was brewed by Whitbread at the time. Poured to a black in color with a rich head. Aroma was sweet and malty with bitter / sweet malty taste. At the time I gave it a six mug rating out of a possible six, so it must have been good.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 03:15:07 | More by Huffs

lcooper72

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Mainly wanted to review this beer because it still exists! Got a sixer last week in KY at the Liquor Barn. Beautiful onyx black appearance with a tan head, sweet smell, great mild chocolate and creamy taste, and the lactose gives a great creamy mouthfeel. Hadn't seen it for years. It is my wifes favorite beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 14:20:56 | More by lcooper72

usafboy

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

All I wanted to say though this was my favorite beer in college and BA is wrong about who brews this beer. Mackeson is indeed brewed by whitbread, however the XXX version was brewed in Cincinnati by Hudephol-Shoenling under contract by Royal Imports. I know this because I went to Hudepohl's website and emailed them asking them where it had gone. He replied with a fore mentioned information and confirmed they stopped brewing it "some years back."

Sorry for the unofficial review but I'm so passionate about this beer I can't let this amazing community be given incorrect information. I would give almost anything to have this beer one more time.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 06:01:39 | More by usafboy

cosmicevan

New York

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

bottle given to me by capra12 a while ago...been hanging onto it, but word on the street is the time is right to pop this one, so off we go.

a - opened the bottle and filled my ccb snifter. poured a deep ominous oil black. a thin bubbly brown head was there, but left quick leaving hardly a trace. swirling the glass rebuilds, but the presence is just as short lived.

s - kind of boozy (which is odd all things considering). port-like. some milk chocolate or should i say chocolate milk? some roastiness.

t - hey, that's not bad. i'm not a huge milk stout fan, but this one is more my speed with a bit more chocolate than milkiness.

m - the mouth jumped out at me first. rather thin and milky. silky and watery at the same time. almost like a porter without the fizziness.

o - overall, pretty decent brew. something i would certainly pick up if i saw it again, but i don't know if i would go out of my way seeking out more bottles.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 04:26:45 | More by cosmicevan

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I remember buying this beer because I liked the look of the label. The red black and white was very attractive to me. I picked up a bottle back in April of 2008 and enjoyed it quite a bit. The beer poured out as a really nice black color with a thin tan head on it. The smell of the beer has some creamy wooden barrel aromas coming off of it along with some sweet roasted coffee and chocolate. The taste was creamy and had a very nice flavor all the things I mentioned from the smell. The mouthfeel was slick and creamy. Overall I'll miss this beer, had no clue it was retired till now. Maybe I'll stumble upon some again one day down the road and get to try it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 18:53:41 | More by Knapp85

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

We pour a brew of impenetrable dark brown. It bubbles up a dome of foam that is mocha in color, and stands two fingers high. The head recedes at a medium pace, leaving finely patterned and symmetrical lacing as it goes. Carbonation looks to be medium, but an army of tiny bubbles sticks all around the glass. Slight sediment is noted. The aroma sings with raw coffee bean, a flash of copper, sweet chocolate malt balls, a salty edge, not dissimilar to soy sauce, and with malts that are somewhat roasty. As we sip, the flavor begins with heavy, yet smooth malts, and bitter burnt coffee. High up towards the front of the palate, just at the transition to the middle, there is a white sugar sweetness. The middle continues with malts, which have somewhere inherited a smokiness, as well as a leathery twang. Again, at the transition, the sweetness returns and carries through to the final drop. The finish is otherwise marked by dark toasted malts and a chocolaty bite that only enhances the sweetness. The aftertaste breathes with malts, sugar, a bit of metal, and a fine chalkiness. This is not as unpleasant as it may sound. The body is medium, and the carbonation is light to medium. Although the beer is not that heavy, it avoids being watery, and coats the mouth evenly. There is a pleasant slurpability to it, and it is frothy to the lips. The abv is on the lower end of the spectrum, with the beer remaining easily drinkable.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the smooth mouthfeel. As the beer poured it looked inviting, creamy, and bubbly. To this it did not disappoint, with the mouth left coated and satiated. Actually, what is almost even more impressive about this beer is that it is made in the Caribbean. You certainly would not expect a stout to come from this region, and certainly not a decent one, so that was a nice surprise in itself.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 03:18:31 | More by TheBrewo

jgasparine

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on 11-5-2010

A- Poured from the bottle with a medium tan, frothy thick head, which quickly receded to a haze layer, leaving some touches of lacing behind. Body was a completely opaque, dark brown- almost jet black body.

S- The aroma is akin to sweetened coffee with cream- almost like coffee ice cream. A little bit of stewed and roasted malts and treacle. Nothing that jumps out as a hop aroma. Simple but inviting.

T- I wouldn't call this dynamic, but I would call it delicious. The flavor profile stays the same from beginning to end- sweet stewed malt, roasted malts and treacle. Nothing that jumps out as hops. Again, akin to coffee ice cream. The finish is just a brief echo.

M- Medium body with a slight creaminess imparted by some soft carbonation. Very low astringency and no EtOH heat.

D- One of the most quaffable milk stouts I have had, although this version from Carib just seems to lack a little bit of the polish I remember from the Whitbread Mackeson's XXX.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2011 23:53:34 | More by jgasparine

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip pint (split a bottle with my wife): Thin dusting of cappuccino head with loose, bubbly collar over black body. No highlights that I can tell, nor real lacing.

Moderate dark chocolate smell that kind of blends smoothly into a tart fruit smell, like chocolate-covered raspberries or even cranberries. Unusual, but I like it - gets even better as it warms, with a milk chocolate sweetness.

Lighter cocoa powder in the taste, on the thin side, but again with a slight tartness. Buttermilk? Strong roast in the finish & aftertaste. Taste follows smell, but a lot thinner.

Medium-light-bodied, a little thinner than I'd like or the smell suggests.

I remember being in love with beer 5 years ago, so smooth & rich, like drinking a s'more. This doesn't hold up to those memories, but still pretty tasty & drinkable. I wish this was still more readily available. Many thanks to hayesez for hooking me up with a few more bottles!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2010 09:13:32 | More by OneDropSoup

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I wanted to try as many different beers as I could in St. Martin/St. Maarten, and the main choices were pale lagers and stout. Guinness was the stout that most bars on the island featured. But I found this beer for sale at L'Epicierie de la Plage on Boulevard Grand Case for $1.50 each. This was stout #4 that I sampled. Poured into a tall glass. Had a dark appearance with a tan colored head. Smell was like roasted cocoa and coffee. Really liked the taste, but it was a tad on the tame side. Nothing stood out. The other milk stout from Carib that I tried, the Royal Extra Stout, was super sweet but 6.5% abv. Mackeson, which is also a milk/sweet stout from the same brewery, tasted more like an Irish stout, and did not have that sweetness I expected. Plus, the abv is much lower in this beer. So, if you want a sweet stout, my vote is for Royal Extra. If you want a low abv & dry stout, then Mackeson is a good choice down in the Caribbean.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 23:59:18 | More by morebeergood

ne0m00re

Ohio

2.42/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

10/25/10- Had a 12 oz bottle of this.
A: Pitch black with a very thin collar. Kind of watery.
S: Grape, cigar, roasted coffee, sweet caramel and rum. It sounds good writing it, but it isn't.
T: Very sweet and nutty, milky, smoky cigar, cocoa. Watered-down.
M: Spritzy, slightly creamy, weird.
D: OK

I'm not sure how old this is. It was not good at all in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 19:45:54 | More by ne0m00re

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

2.98/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Thanks to Suitcase Jon for this brewyah. Poured into a big ass beer mug.

A: Black with a tan 4-finger foamy head. This beer held up!

S: Stout. Malty, milky, candi sugars, vanilla, and bready.

T: Really sweet. Like aspartame sweet. At the very back there's some characteristics of malts.

M: Pretty standard for a sweet stout.

D: I can see why Suitcase Jon told me to drink this as a beer float.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 02:36:03 | More by hoppymcgee

DIM

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -33.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

a: Black body and a short lived fizzy tan head.

s: Milky sweetness and a little roast, both very faint.

t: Slightly off-tasting and bland at the same time, bad combination. Lightly bitter roasty malt and a trace of artificial sweetner.

m: Wet and fizzy.

d: This was everywhere in Dominica. Too bad it wasn't very good.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2010 01:07:55 | More by DIM

armock

New York

3.5/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured a black color with a tan head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of roasted malt with chocolate and coffee scents

T - Follows the nose roasted malt that gives off chocolate and coffee flavors

M - This beer has a thin body with medium carbonation to it

D - While it's not a bad beer it just seemed pretty average to me it not a bad sessionable stout but Id rather have an Americian stout over this one

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2010 19:15:07 | More by armock

SpeedwayJim

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to capra12 for this one, all the way from Hong Kong. A 10oz CAN poured into a NY Beer Week pint glass.

A: Poured a gentle 3 finger head deep caramel fine and fluffy head with great retention. Brew itself is opaque black but not too particularly thick. Lacing is frothy and layered.

S: lactose, chocolate, alcohol, roasted coffee, and a sour metallic nose.

T: Coffee, sweet malty backbone, dark and milk chocolate, overripe grapes, and a distinct sour metal finish.

M: Light to medium bodied and profoundly smooth. Finish is oily, wet, and very clean.

D: Highly drinkable, this is one of the sweeter sweet stouts but the malt backbone is very balanced. Think of it like a smoother Sam Smith Oatmeal stout.

Serving type: can

11-02-2009 21:48:50 | More by SpeedwayJim

coldmeat23

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

GLASS: Sam Adams Perfect Pint Glass
TEMP: Cellared @ approx 50 degrees

This pours black, just like it always has. A head of creamy, brown, foam, alomst two-fingers worth, sits on top. Retention is very good and lacing is almost curtain-like and nicely sticky.

A rich roastiness, filled with notes of coffee and chocolates, dominates. There is also a very nice lacto sweetness. Light hints of toasted caramel and dark berries.

The roastiness is out in front, but in a mild, totally enjoyable, way. Not overpronounced, as it can be in some stouts. Good notes of heavy cream. Lactose sweetness. Light hints of coffee and milk and dark chocolates. Hints of dark berry sweetness.

This is full-bodied with a mild-to-medium level of carbonation. The bubbles a just a touch too sharp, giving it a trace of a cola-like feeling. Overall though, it's very smooth and nice. A mild touch of creaminess is here, also.

This is a very tasty and very drinkable beer. I have had quite a few of them over the years. Sadly, this may be my last one, since they are not making it anymore, from what I hear. I certainly hope that someone starts making it again, someday.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 04:47:26 | More by coldmeat23

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep black color with a fairly thin creamy, tan head that remains throughout the beer.

Coffee, caramel malts, sweet milk and alcohol dominate the nose.

The taste is of coffee and roasted malts up immediately, also strong caramel, sugary milk and alcohol.

Full bodied, thick and chewy mouthfeel.

Not necessarily easy to drink, as it is quite filling. But this is an excellent stout, very flavorful and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2009 20:21:35 | More by BeerCon5

mralphabet

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 Oz bottle poured into Pint Glass

A: Black as night... creamy tan head about 1 fingers worth of head, that turns into a nice ring through the session. Wonderful lacing....

S: Sweet licorice, coffee with a lot !!! of creamy heavy milk, and a hint of chocolate with raspberries.... Strange but I think I like it....

T: Wow, all the sweet things you can think of and listed about in the smell... lots of sweet black licorice aftertaste... Sorry to say I'm not a big licorice fan...

M: Thick, chewy, milky, sweet and filling.... Full bodied !! Little more carbonation than expected but not to bad.

D: NOT a Session beer.... 1 of these will do you....

Picked this one up in St Thomas.... The locals told me the love it....

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2009 03:15:18 | More by mralphabet

Kooz

New York

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This is my favorite milk stout--it's got a terrific aroma and exceptional flavor. Unlike many milk stouts, Mackeson XXX does not start off bitter and fade into sweet, it starts off somewhat bold, but without biting. It finishes smooth and leaves an aftertaste of sweetened condensed milk! Can't have more than one or two, but those one or two are terrific.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2009 19:13:16 | More by Kooz

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep brown/black with no light escaping. A big bubbled brown slick head appeared and disappeared soon after. Funny enough, there was some light lacing.

Big roasted malt, milk chocolate aromas and some dark fruit.

Wonderful creamy bitter chocolate with a nice balance of sweet milkyness and bitter edge. Coffee, chocolate, cream, fruit, and bitter bite.

Nice mouth coating chewiness. big and rich, but very very drinkable. I found this in a broken six, and bought a single. I know that distribution issues are preventing this from hitting the market, so this was probably a stockroom holdover. I think I'm gonna get the last 3 bottles. It would be a shame if this was the last time I had this. If you are fortunate enough to find this, try it. It is a treat.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 22:38:35 | More by OtherShoe2

washburnkid

New York

3.85/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to KeefD for this generous extra!

A: Almost two fingers of bubbly light brown head over a jet black brew. Good pockets on the surface of retention and plenty of lacing.
S: Sweet, milk and chocolate malts. Slightly roasted, too. A bit of dark fruity esters in there as well. A very rich aroma that is sure to be telling of the flavors.
T: More burnt than toasted. Some buttery notes, but they're faint. Berry notes are thrown in, and there's a slight touch of hops but they seem to just be a formality in this hugely sweet, malty brew. Big caramel notes at the back of each sip. Milky and chocolate to boot.
M: Very thick and chewy mouthfeel. Residuals of sugar and bitterness throughout, left behind by the big body.
D: This is a great brew. Very heavy, so I'd have it for or with dessert.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 00:43:50 | More by washburnkid

Bung

North Carolina

3.45/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. Black pour, small cream colored head. Doesn't last too long. Very malty, creamy, sweet. I don't get as much chocolate as others here however. Nothing to balance this out. Could use a little more roast, coffee and or malts. Full bodied. Definetely a sweet stout. Could take it or leave it, many others in the style I would prefer. Used to like this one much more, until I discovered others.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2009 00:35:54 | More by Bung

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

P- Market Cross Pub in Carlisle

A- a gorgeous honey brown head that bubbles but then runs off. opaque motor oil like pour.

S- sweet vanilla and buttery toffee dominate the nose. medium roast coffee smell as well.

T- coffee, vanilla and creamer like qualities. i detect some chocolate as well in the taste..milk chocolatesque. Malts as well.

M-thin and creamy. Smotth milk choclate feel to it.

D- this is a good milk stout. I have started to become a huge fan of the milk stouts. The sweetness keeps this one on the list to come back to.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2009 00:16:18 | More by Dodo2step

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance is pitch black with a tanned head that dissolves fairly fast. Aroma is pleasantly sweet. Initial taste is full of the sweetness brought on by the lactose. Very smooth and highly drinkable. Has a very soft and lightly bodied mouthfeel considering its very dark appearance.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2009 21:32:47 | More by stakem

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.98/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Reviewed 3/6/2008 (bottle):

Pours a pitch black colored body, with a small tan colored head, that is somewhat lasting. Has a coffee, chocolate, and smokey aroma, with grapes maybe. A very nice taste of sweetness, smoke, and some bittersweetness. Very tasty, satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2009 06:03:02 | More by jujubeast6000