While in London, I picked up two bottles from the Left Hand brewing company in Colorado, a new aquaintance for me. According to their brilliant web site, they have nine regular beers available, and I selected two stouts from opposite ends of the spectrum – their Milk Stout and their Imperial Stout. The Milk stout is a little over 5%, the Imperial Stout is 10% ABV.
The Milk Stout is smooth, with charcoal and a little chocolate. It is very dark red, the head is like milk chocolate. Long lingering, rather sweet and, yes, milky, aftertaste. I enjoyed this. It stands out among other session stouts, and I imagine this would be fine with food.
The bigger sibling, almost twice as strong, shares some of the same flavours, but there is a vinous edge and a warming from the alcohol which show that this is a totally different brew.
It is interesting to see how two beers both can be labelled stout and be at opposite ends of the spectrum. If you want a sixpack of something on a sunny afternoon, avoid anything labeled imperial. But if you want a warming glass for when the leaves are falling, the Left Hand Imperial Stout is the thing. Lovely liquorice in the finish, too!
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