19. Left Hand Milk Stout

Left Hand Brewing is yet another magnificent brewery from Colorado—this one is found in Longmont, CO; we had this beer on tap at the Trolleystop.

Left Hand Milk Stout has a roasted malt nose—the roasted barley comes across in the slightly burnt smell that dances around the malty notes in the nose. The mouthfeel is thick and hearty, but also smooth, and there is a minimal tan head. The beer starts smooth and a bit creamy with a minimal sweet taste and some lactose sweetness, and builds into a nice malty, roasted middle with burnt barley flavors before closing with a light, soft sweetness that leads into a chewy roasty and burnt finish. A warm smooth toastiness emerges in the body as the beer warms; we expected a bit more lactose sweetness across the beer’s profile, but it never really materialized.

From the Left Hand website: “2006 and 2008 World Beer Cup Gold Medal Winner in the Sweet Stout Category. The September/October 2006 issue of Draft Magazine calls Milk Stout ‘...quite possibly the best stout in America.’ Time Magazine described Milk Stout as ‘malty, roasty goodness.’ Strong roasted malt and coffee flavors built the foundation of this classic cream stout. The addition of milk sugar mellows the intense roastiness and gives this beer the most incredible creamy mouthfeel.”

Malts: Pale 2-row, Crystal, Munich, Roast barley, Flaked Oats, Flaked barley, Chocolate
Hops: Magnum and U.S. Goldings

ABV: 5.9%
IBU: 25
OG: 16.5º P

(7/19/2009)