Southern Tier Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout

Beer-a-Day #284Souther Tier Creme Brulee Imperial Milk Stout

We are not the harbingers of truth as some may suggest but it may indeed be argued that our brewing philosophy is tantamount to a dessert with a bellicose past. How, you may ask, would a brewery determine a likeness to hard-coated custard? Our response is simple; it’s all in the power of history, and of course, the extra finesse needed to top off a contentious treat with definition.

By comprehending the labyrinthine movement of time, one would not think it strange to trace the errant path of an ordinary object such as a cream dessert only to discover that it has been the cause of cultural disputes since the middle ages. The British founders of burnt cream and from Spain, crema catalana, both stand by their creative originality and we respect that, but it was the French Crème Brûlée, amid the strife of contention, that survived to represent our deliciously creamy brew.

Opaque black beer with medium brown head. Vanilla dominates the aroma. It similarly owns the flavor, with a bit of a stout backbone and a little alcohol heat. This is a beer to share with friends as a dessert.

Ron says: Huge vanilla aroma. Huge. A little of the alcohol smell but none of the burn. A couple of four-ounce glasses and a brunette are a perfect end to an evening.

Hop Talk Advisory Panel says: An enjoyable stout with some complex flavors, though the vanilla definitely stands out. While not unpleasant, the higher alcohol content is not unnoticed.

Southern Tier Brewing – The Beers

Mother’s Milk

Beer-a-Day #190Keegan Ales Mother's Ales

…[A]s the name implies, [Mother's Milk] is a dark and creamy milk stout. Hints of oatmeal, chocolate and of course, milk make Mother’s Milk’s remarkably smooth and silky finish a classic example of the style.

This is another I scored in the aftermath of our recent get-together. I don’t see Keegan Ales down this way, so I may not get another for a while.

Of course, the name reminds me of “Mudder’s Milk” (“all the protein, vitamins and carbs of your grandma’s best turkey dinner, plus 15 percent alcohol”) from Firefly.

Deep chocolatey brown with a thick head. Chocolate and coffee in the aroma, maybe a bit of vanilla. Smooth, roasted, and rich. Not something I’d want regularly, but as a change of pace or even a dessert, this hits the spot.

Keegan Ales

Mackeson Triple Stout

Mackeson Triple StoutBeer-a-Day #92

This particular bottle was contract brewed in Cincinnati, not brewed in the Caribbean by Carib Brewing. It’s certain is wasn’t imported from Britain. Either way it’s something I’ve not had before.

Black like tar, with red highlights and a head that looks like a chocolate milkshake. Thick, sweet aroma; reminds me of the frosting on a carrot cake. Sweet, nutty, smooth. It’s different, I’ll give it that. It might be too sweet for me.

Mackeson