Rock Bottom Denver Mad Cow Milk Stout

This pours a deep sable brown, almost black and almost opaque. Smoke dominates the strong aroma, which has hints of coffee and malt. Flavor is much like roast coffee, smoky and strong, with some malt and hop components. Texture is fairly thick, the way I like a stout.

On tap @ Rock Bottom Denver poured a translucent dark brown with a lasting creamy tan head. Aromas of milk chocolate, light smoke, light vanilla and a hint of roastiness. Palate was light bodied and smooth. Flavors of cxhocolate milk, light vanilla and a hint of roastiness with a smooth lightly sweet finish.

Sampled at the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild 2008 Strong Beer Fest, on February 17, at the Mesa Amphitheatre.

Draught at Downtown Denver location. Pours black with an average, frothy, creamy, light brown head, lasting with good lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (chocolate, coffee, toasted grain), light hops (grass), average yeast (leather) with notes of brown sugar. Full bodied, creamy texture, soft carbonation, and a chalky finish. Average duration, moderate sweetness, light acidity and bitterness.

I found this to be a very light and not very satisfying milk stout. However, it was very drinkable and fairly pleasing to have with a meal. This beer was dark in color, but not viscous like many other milk stouts I’ve had. Aroma was virtually non-existent. Flavor was just a bit roasty and slightly sweet. It had the right flavors for a milk stout, but it needed the volume on those flavors turned way up. No off-notes or weirdness that I noticed. Mouthfeel was pretty thin for this style. I had this at the Denver Rock Bottom where it was called "Brewmaster’s Choice Milk Stout," and where it was served MUCH TOO COLD. All the taps were covered in condensation that was frozen solid...a sure sign that temps are far too low for artisanal beer.