Xocoveza – Stone Brewing – Escondido, CA

Imperial Milk Stout, 4.9% ABV
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A slightly viscous pour of this seasonal spiced Milk Stout yields a medium, slightly rocky brown head on an enthusiastically effervescent black body with sullen orange highlights; head retention is brief but lacing is excellent, consisting of thick sheets and bands. The nose is medium in intensity, leading with bitter coffee notes backed by a nicely complex blend of rich cocoa and more subtle molasses, milk chocolate and exotic cinnamon-like spice; modest alcohol overtones top things off. The palate leads with a rich cinnamon/vanilla spice that sets the tone for the flavor, backed by cocoa, medium-roast coffee and a lesser dark, bitter chocolate character, all over a modest boozy undertow. The net result is just about exactly balanced between bitter and sweet. The finish is a modest hit of cinnamon and chocolate, with just the faintest capsaicin burn; the linger is a strong echo of the finish that lasts awhile. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the full body, and is slightly warming/spicy; the texture is medium-creamy/sticky and slightly peppery from the well-expressed carbonation. The use of spices in this beer is just about perfect- they exert a beer-defining influence without being overbearing, and they harmonize well flavorwise with the base beer.

(c) 2019 Old Man Metal