We had imperial stouts last week, but in honor of National Stout Day 11-6-14, I will be breaking out a couple more unique stouts to enjoy for this weeks’ “What’s on Tap.”

I’m always looking for new beers to try and share with all of you so this week I’m including two beers I have never had before and another that I’ve only had on tap. Unfortunately one of the byproducts of reviewing beers I’ve not had before is that some will be misses. This week is no different as only one of the three gets a winning vote from me. Of course if you like sours then maybe #2 might interest you.

Cheers,
Harley

Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout from Left Hand Brewing Company out of Longmont, CO.
Served: Served from the bottle, at about 45 degrees into a goblet.
Appearance: Light, slightly opaque black with an eighth inch foam head ring that remained and zero lacing.
Smell: Reminds me of chocolate milk but with very little roast malt in the aroma, more malted milk ball.
Taste: There is a little Heath-like toffee circling the chocolate milk taste profile.
Mouth feel: Medium-bodied yet still smooth and creamy. Very little aftertaste but the malted milk aroma stays in my nose as if I was eating a box of Whoppers.
Overall: This is the first time I have had Nitro Left Hand Milk Stout out of the bottle. On draft the Nitro provides a little more body and creaminess, but this is still very creamy. I enjoyed it and would definitely buy it again, but I still preferred the draft version.

Peruvian Morning Brand Stout from Central Waters Brewing Company out of Amherst, WI.
Served: Served from the bottle, at a little above refrigerator temperature into a goblet.
Appearance: Dark black with a thin tight ring of tan bubbles and zero lacing.
Smell: Chocolate, green coffee beans, and very little bourbon aroma.
Taste: This one appears to be from a selection of their beers that were recalled due to an infection. There is definitely still coffee present but there is a tangy sourness that comes through a bit like tart cherry.
Mouth feel: This is light-bodied and smooth with zero after taste.
Overall: Infected or not this still tasted pretty good. It just tasted less like a bourbon barrel coffee stout and more like a tart cherry stout. Maybe they confused the barrel they used to age it in with one of the barrels they were using for their Door County Cherry Stout. That is what this ultimately tasted like. That said I dig tart and sour beers too so I’m not returning it, but be forewarned.

Xocoveza Mocha Stout a collaboration from Stone Brewing Company out of Escondido, CA along with home brewer, Chris Banker, and Cervezeria Insurgente from Baja California.
Served: Served from a bomber bottle, at about 50 degrees into a goblet.
Appearance: Dark black with a quarter inch head of beige bubbles and moderate lacing. The head recedes but slowly.
Smell: Chocolate with an explosive dose of cinnamon and nutmeg. Its aroma reminds me a little of a Caribou Mexican Mocha or the powder container of Swiss Miss. I am however not smelling the peppers yet.
Taste: The cinnamon is definitely there in the taste palate although it is not anywhere near as pronounced as the aroma hinted. I am getting more of the pepper flavor here and a hint of vanilla. Generally though it tastes like an iced mocha that is slightly watered down but infused with crushed red pepper.
Mouth feel:  Actually quite light-bodied. This beer has a slight chocolate after taste but nothing strong hanging behind.
Overall: This beer smells better than it tastes, but it doesn’t taste awful. It just isn’t nearly as good as it could be. My best description would be someone got a hold of the New Belgium Cocoa Mole recipe (which is stellar) and watered it down or used its’ second runnings. I probably wouldn’t buy another one of this but it was fun to try.