This beer comes to us from Bell's Brewery in Michigan. It is in the style of a cream stout, and being a style I'm very familiar with as it's one of my favorite styles, I had to pick one up.
So what exactly is a cream stout? Some of you might be unfamiliar with the term, however its name is quite a literal interpretation of how it's made. Also called a sweet stout or milk stout, cream stouts are a result of adding lactose to the beer during the brewing process. Since lactose is not fermentable, it stays in its sugar form, adding not only a creamy, milky sweetness to the beer, but also body, and quite frankly, calories. An average cream stout will have about 200 to 250 calories per 12-ounce serving (about 100 to 150 net calories), and is very filling, however it's one of the most nutritious beers out there.
So how does this Bell's version of the cream stout rate? Quite frankly, I thought it was simply amazing.
Pour: Deep black in color with 3 fingers of frothy, tan head that retains well and leaves blotted lacing on the glass. This beer is eye-candy.
Smell: Up front you're greeted with a very sweet scent - like homemade vanilla ice cream. Roasted/chocolate malts with coffee notes and a floral hop undertone.
Taste: Lactose is very noticeable up front: a very vanilla ice cream sweetness starts things off - almost like a cream soda taste. The middle of the palate gives way to a fair amount of chocolate malts, and a nice bitter coffee flavor. The back end finishes up with a mild earthy hop bite. Slight alcohol burn on the way down, and a rather dry finish. Delicious.
Mouthfeel: Thick, creamy and slightly heavy. Absolutely velvety smooth, and a rather surprisingly high amount of carbonation.
Drinkability: Drinks easily, but very filling, as is typical of the style. Couldn't drink more than a couple.
Final Notes: If you're looking for an excellent example of a cream stout, look no further. This beer is beautifully balanced, full-flavored, and a pleasure to drink. The ABV isn't too bad at 6.1%. Makes a great dessert beer either paired with a nice dessert or drank all by itself. Would also be a good beer for those wanting to venture into the world of darker beers. A solid "A" beer.
Recommend
Comments (4)
Sounds nice :) I may just have to pick some of this up.
Never tried this style before. Definitely have to pick it up and see soon.
This beer is amazing. Buy some NOW!
I had this on tap last weekend, and I LOVE IT.