2X Presso Double Milk Stout

+Southern Tier Brewing 

It is getting cooler out and we are headed towards winter, so there is nothing better as it gets cooler than a nice dark beer. Tonight I am enjoying a nice Milk Stout, cannot get any darker than that. I really enjoy a nice Milk Stout because of their sweet note that may balance out any bitter notes in the Stout. I am trying a beer from Southern Tier Brewing Company. Southern Tier Brewing Company is part of Artisanal Brewing Ventures as well as Victory Brewing. The two are part of a new way of combating  the reach of Macro Breweries. Collaboration and sharing of resources to compete with the big guys. 

Southern Tier Brewing Company is located in Lakewood, New York. They were established in 2002, and by 2005 were distributing throughout New York and Pennsylvania. Southern Tier Brewing Company is focused on providing delicious, accessible, and unique products. They aim to change the way people drink beer. Southern Tier is trying to provide their customers with consistently fresh, clean, American craft ales and lagers that stand out on their own. In the logo, you should notice the brewers star, there are six crucial parts to the star. They are as followed: water, hops, grain, malt, yeast, and brewer. These are the six parts to the brewers star, Southern Tier believes on the maintaining the highest quality for all six parts will produce world class beers. 

2X Presso Double Milk Stout by Southern Tier Brewing Company

The beer I am trying tonight is Southern Tier 2X Presso. 2x Presso is a Double Milk Stout that is brewed with coffee beans and lemon peels. 2X Presso is a relative of the 2x Stout by Southern Tier and this beer has been brewed since 2014. 2X Presso has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 7.5%, pretty reasonable for a Double Milk Stout. The IBU or bitterness of 2x Presso is 55. 2x Presso should be served in a Nonic glass with enhances the style of this Double Milk Stout. 

Appearance of 2X Presso 

This double milk stout has a deep black appearance to it. The foam or head of this beer as it is poured is tan brown. The foam or head is quick to dissipate and leaves a thin ring of foam around the outside of the glass. Aroma of 2x Presso is right along the name. I notice right away with the coffee or espresso aroma. Then there is a sweetness aroma that is coming from the typical body of the milk stout, the combination of lactose and sucrose in the beer. There is a bitter aroma coming from the espresso or coffee aroma as well, which is like it was freshly brewed. I notice the roasted malt aroma in this double milk stout. The last aroma note I am able to notice is the subtle citrus aroma. 

I am eager to see the outcome of the taste of this beer based off of the aroma. I notice the coffee taste right away, that is followed by a chocolate sweetness. As part of the coffee taste I notice a nice roasted note as well from the espresso that is then followed by bitter black coffee taste. The chocolate follows the bitter taste very well and is paired up with a hint of cream. The hint of cream and chocolate notes pair well together, like it was being added to an actual espresso. The last taste note that I pick up on that follows the aroma is the subtle citrus note, the lemon peels added to the beer are an interesting turn. The beer follows the path of someone trying to make the perfect espresso for themselves and adding all these notes to complete the espresso. Another thing I noticed about this beer right away was the thickness from the beginning, but the more and more I sipped on it. The more I notice the medium body behind the stout.  

2X Presso Early Winter Seasonal by Southern Tier

Overall, I thought this was a good beer that showed of the espresso and the Milk Stout. There is a noticeable effort to show how one might go about making their own perfect espresso, by adding a lemon peel and chocolate. Then the smoothness and sweetness of this 2X Presso is enjoyable. The more I drank of 2X Presso the more I enjoyed a warmness from the beer. That is what I look forward to when enjoying a stout during the winter. 

Check out Southern Tier Brewing Company on their Website and their Social Media: 

http://www.stbcbeer.com/

Tweet @STBCbeer

https://www.facebook.com/SouthernTierBrewingCompany

https://www.instagram.com/stbcbeer/?hl=en

 Google Plus +Southern Tier Brewing 

 

Milk Stout

Mikkeller Milk Stout

Tonight's post is on another stout, since today marks the official last day of summer. Headed into the fall and winter seasons, which means here come the stouts. I am super ready for this season. It brings with us the start of Octoberfest and Pumpkin brews. I am trying a brew from a brewery I have not sampled a beer from before. Now if you recall a post on Sour Bikini from Evil Twin Brewing. The beer I am having tonight is from the other twin and his brewery called Mikkeller. Mikkeller started homebrewing and then transition to gypsy brewing. According to a Bloomberg post, "so-called gypsy brewers-- globe trotting artisans who used friends' brewing facilities-- scaled up production to satisfy demand." Mikkeller Brewery started in 2006 and since they started the have over 700 unique beer recipes that have been released under the Mikkeller brand with distribution in more than 40 countries worldwide. 

The beer I am trying tonight is Mikkeller Milk Stout that was brewed at De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium. If you look at the label it says product of Belgium. The Milk Stout has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 6%.

The aroma of the stout is very sweet. I notice right away the sweetness of the lactose from the milk. Then you are swirled with a roasted aroma that could be a combination of things. I notice the roasted malt and grain aroma. Then there is a roasted black coffee aroma that is not overpowering but is noticeable. Lastly, there is a sweet/bitter chocolate note in the aroma. Almost like you added chocolate milk to your coffee in an attempt to sweeten it up. As far as Milk Stout aroma, I am really eager to gulp this beer down after it's aroma. The appearance is black like black coffee. There is a chocolate or tan foam around the top of the glass. The foam or head has a thin layer at the top of the glass and there is lacing around the outside of the glass. 

Appearance of Milk Stout

Let's see where the aroma and taste take us. I took my first sip and I thought about waking up. The aroma follows the taste. The first thing I notice taste wise was the roasted coffee. Followed by a bitterness from the coffee being black and no sweetener added. There is a subtle sweetness to the Milk Stout, but not enough to curb the bitterness. You pick up on the roasted note right away and the roasted malt and grains are on the palate instantly. There is a faint chocolate note as you finish your sip for a subtle sweetness as your sip ends. The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. I would say the body of this stout is medium. The more and more I drink I begin to notice a lactose sweet note as a linger taste, almost like a malted milk. 

Mikkeller Milk Stout

Overall I think this was a good brew. It gave you the roasted notes you look for in a stout with a subtle sweetness that is not too sweet. I think some drinkers think that milk stouts can be too sweet, but the additions of coffee and the roasted malt and grains into the brew, give this beer a change of pace. I think that if you like your coffee black with no sweeteners than this is a stout you can enjoy. The bitterness in the beer paired with the roasted notes, tone down the bitterness to an acceptable range in my opinion. The lingering taste at the end of the beer almost reminds me of a beer that is a liquid version of Milk Duds. 

Check out Mikkeller Brewery on their website and their social media: 

http://mikkeller.dk/

Tweet @MikkellerBeer

https://www.facebook.com/mikkeller

https://www.instagram.com/mikkellerbeer/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbf70J92cDJ8pal2iWjygvw