Wednesday, March 5, 2008

New Holland Dragon's Milk



'Dragon's Milk is a 17th century term used to describe the strong beer usually reserved for royalty. This strong ale was aged in oak for over 120 days. The aging process extracts flavors from the wood, which contribute to its complex character. Hints of bourbon flavor perfectly compliment its roasted malts to produce a beer fit for a King.'

This post has been a long time coming, because I keep drinking this stuff instead of writing down any notes! I am a little biased with Dragon's Milk because it was one of the first stouts I tried a few years back when I was first getting into more heartier beers. So yeah, I love this stuff.

Dragon's Milk is not nearly as complex as many stouts are, but I find that makes for easier drinking. The strong aroma you get from this brew is a little misleading- it goes down a lot smoother than smelling it would have you believe. There is a strong vanilla flavor present here, which actually works really well with the slightest kiss of bourbon you get in the aftertaste. This stout has a hint of powdered milk in it, which is a good thing as I often find 'milk stouts' hard to stomach. Some people will complain that this is plain for a stout, which is true to an extent. Sometimes simple is better, when you just want to have a good solid stout this is a safe bet.

You can often find Dragon's Milk for a fair price and it has good distribution in the US and Canada. I highly recommend this beer, especially to people who haven't broken into stouts yet and are looking for something that isn't some insane niche beer like many micro brews are. Dragon's Milk is a very tasty, unpretentious and affordable beer that is easy to find. What else can you ask for?

2 comments:

Matt said...

I forget to mention the kick ass dragon on the bottle.

I apologize.

Dave said...

That bottle label reminds me of the Stone Brewing's Arrogant Bastard design with a Gargoyle on it. Love the sound of this beer. Wonder if they distribute this to Colorado? I love dark beers. Thanks for the tip.