Topic Archives: Milk Stouts

Posted in Creature Comforts, Seasonal Return

Cool weather favorite Creature Comforts Koko Buni returns

Creature Comforts Koko Buni can

Creature Comforts Koko Buni, the brewery’s coveted milk porter, returns to cans again in November 2021. 

One of the first seasonals by the Athens, Georgia based brewery, Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a milk porter, aged on toasted coconut and cocoa nibs  Condor Chocolates and coffee from nearby 1000 Faces. This late fall season has been overwhelmingly popular since its debut a few years ago. We’ve seen fistfights over Koko cans at retailers.

In 2018, production expanded after the brewery brought their new production facility online, so finally there was a little more “Buni” to go around.

“We decided not to be traditional with the beer and add some ingredients that play well with the already roasty and chocolatey flavors of darker beers.” -Co-Founder and Head Brewer David Stein.

Coffee lovers will find a home here. Koko Buni starts heavy on the 1000 Faces coffee, and turns chocolatey mid-sip, finishing with a wisp of coconut. The beer is wonderfully creamy and decadent, stopping short of being sweet or heavy. 

Creature Comforts Koko Buni is a seasonal draft and 12-ounce can offering, available at the brewery and across the brewery’s distribution footprint again in November 2021. 

Style: Milk Porter (w/ Cocoa Nibs, Coffee, Toasted Coconut, Lactose.)
Availability: Draft, 12oz Cans
Distribution: Athens & Atlanta, Georgia (Very Limited)
Latest Return: November 2021

6.8% ABV

Koko means coconut in Papiamento, a common language in parts of the Carribean, while Buni means coffee in Swahili, a common language in southeastern Africa.

Image: Beer Street Journal 

Posted in Orpheus Brewing

Orpheus releases Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout year-round

Orpheus Brewing Do or Die

Orpheus Brewing Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout debuts at the Atlanta-based brewery this week. 

Coming down from the brewery’s “Year 7” anniversary that featured nearly a dozen imperial stouts, is an Orpheus beer a little smoother and far less boozy. The brewing team was inspired by a simple English milk stout, heavy on oats, chocolate, and wheat malts. “We love making stouts and wanted to brew one you can have pints of, instead of tasters,” per the brewery. 

The oatmeal cream stout (thanks to a dosing of lactose milk sugar) has chocolate and coffee aromas and finishes with hints of caramel and toffee. 

UPCOMING EVENT: BURNING MOUTH 2021 at ORPHEUS BREWING

Orpheus Brewing Do or Die Oatmeal Cream Stout is available starting this week in 12-ounce cans and draft year-round, everywhere the brewery distributes. 

Style: Oatmeal Stout (w/ Lactose)
Hops: Columbus
Malts: 2-Row Malt, Simpsons Golden Naked Oats, Crisp Pale Chocolate Malt, Simpsons Crystal Extra Dark, Crisp Crystal Extra Dark 120, Simpsons Black Malt, Crisp Torrified Wheat, Flaked Oats

Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Year-Round
Debut: 10/6/21

6.1% ABV

Image: Orpheus Brewing

Posted in Left Hand Brewing, New Beers
Posted in Left Hand Brewing, Don't Miss This

Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout is perfect.

Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout Cans

Let’s drop right into this. Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout has finally hit shelves, and it’s perfect.

Yeah, I’ve bolded that because it bears emphasis. We live in a time in beer history that might be best summarized in one word – adjuncts. Here at this publication, we’ve mentioned a wide range of beers that have everything from candy, cakes, and fruit, to scorpions, crickets, and grasshoppers. Some beer additions should be sprayed for by an exterminator, and not wind up in your mash tun. But hey, you do you.

It’s the wild west of adjuncts out there. Some of these creations are so sweet you actually have a sugar crash later, while others end up being little shelve grenades in aluminum. Trying the next hyped brewery science experiment can wear out your taste buds, your wallet, and even your faith in beer brewing at large.

Still, there are some great pastry/milkshake/candy/cookie/skittles/chicken wing/hamburger/dragonfruit/marshmallow/baklava/cheesecake/jelly/pizza/tomato/herb beers out there, so I do what anybody else would do. Find them all and drink them all.

When it comes to well-established breweries like Left Hand, I hold them to a higher standard when it comes to a beer like this, and with good reason. They know what the hell they are doing, as evidenced by their Milk Stout. As good as that beer is, brewers want to play and fans demand variety. According to Left Hand, a peanut butter variant was the top request. However, it was never going to be as easy as just tossing peanut butter (in any form) into their milk stout and shipping it.

The best evidence of this? Peanut Butter Milk Stout was slated for November. “Despite getting close to how we envisioned this beer, we hadn’t nailed it yet,” says national sales director Jason Ingram, “Our brewing team worked hard until they got it right and it makes a difference,” he adds. Ingram is right because it was love at first sip for us.

Left Hand held themselves to a very high standard for the seasonal, and you the beer drinker, is the winner for their efforts. Peanut Butter Milk Stout is crafted. Meaningful. And worth the money.

Now you can taste the result of their hard work across the brewery’s distribution footprint this month. This beer is adjunct hope in dark beer form, in and increasingly muddy, sludgy world of pastry beers. 2020 is tasting good already.

Style: Milk Stout (w. Peanut Butter. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release. 
Debut: Late January 2020

6% ABV, 25 IBUs

PIC: Beer Street Journal

Posted in Bell's Brewing, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Bell’s Brewery is releasing ‘Goin’ Dark’ to honor veterans & active military

Bell's Goin' Dark Coffee Milk Stout

Bell’s Brewery is honoring veterans and active service military with a special beer release for Veteran’s Day. Bell’s Goin’ Dark debuts at the brewery’s Eccentric Cafe on November 11th.

Goin’ Dark is a coffee milk stout brewed with bourbon barrel-aged coffee beans. This beer was visualized, conceived, brewed and packaged by a team of 20 Bell’s employees that served in the military or currently enlisted or have families actively serving.

“It’s an honor to recognize the men and women in our military as well as their families and extend that celebration to those who make that sacrifice.” – Larry Bell, Founder & President

Additionally, Bell’s is working with Section Collection, a nonprofit that provides support for veterans in need.

Bell’s Goin’ Dark will be available exclusively at the Eccentric Cafe on November 11th, in 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Coffee.)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. Brewery Release.
Debut: 11/11/19

6.3% ABV

Posted in Firestone Walker Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Firestone Walker releases a toasted coconut edition Merlin Milk Stout

Firestone Walker Coconut Merlin

Firestone Walker Coconut Merlin, a variant of the brewery’s popular milk stout, debuts this week.

“Merlin” is Firestone Walker’s signature milk stout – which is simply sensational if you haven’t tried it yet. For this seasonal release, brewmaster Matt Brynildson decided to change up this release with shredded and toasted coconuts.

The coconut is added after the milk stout’s fermentation, allowing the new beer to circulate through the coconut shreds. “We did a trial run on this beer and it was unbelievable,” says Ali Razi, the brewery’s production director. Leading Firestone Walker to make sure this was the next iteration of Merlin.

“The toasting really brings out the best flavors from the coconut, much like toasted and roasted malts deliver rich, complex flavors.” – Matt Brynildson

Firestone Walker Coconut Merlin is available on draft and 12-ounce cans in full distribution as a limited seasonal release.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Toasted Coconuts. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Seasonal Release.
Debut: Mid September 2019

5.5% ABV

Posted in Wild Leap Brew Co., New Releases

“High in Decadence” Wild Leap Vanilla Ice Cream Stout ships

Wild Leap Vanilla Ice Cream Stout

Wild Leap Vanilla Ice Cream Stout, the brewery’s sixth new release in Summer 2019, debuts.

In keeping with the brewery’s line of ice cream themed beers (you shouldn’t have missed Bomb Pop Double IPA), LaGrange, Georgia based Wild Leap Brewing has released a new imperial milk stout, inspired by a big bowl of vanilla ice cream. According to the brewery, it’s the heaviest bodied beer Wild Leap has created to date.

The base is a boozy milk stout (brewed with lactose), and a heavy dose of vanilla. So much so, that the brewery’s CEO calls this release “high in decadence.” Wild Leap’s head brewer Chris Elliott used to work for Blue Bell Ice Cream, so the fusion of past and present jobs is sure to continue in future beers.

Wild Leap Vanilla Ice Cream Stout is available in 12-ounce cans and draft for a limited time.

Style: Imperial Milk Stout (w/ Vanilla Beans. Lactose.)
Availability: 12oz Cans, Draft. Limited Release.
Debut: Late August 2019

10.5% ABV