I love milk stouts, in fact the first can I bought from my local bottle shop Hops and Crafts in Exeter was a milk stout! Therefore I thought milk stouts would be the ideal place to start some blind tastings.
I picked two beers with similar ABVs, similar adjucts and from a similar part of the UK, hopefully so the water should be fairly similar!
For me the choice was obvious. 'Deeper Water' a 5.1% ABV Milk Stout with Vanilla, Cacao adjuncts from Bristol's Left Handed Giant and 'Milk Shake' at 5.6% ABV also from Bristol but this time from Wiper and True.
I've had these beers before, enjoyed them both and honestly found it difficult to separate them. This said I've never had them side by side so this could be interesting!
To make sure it was truly blind I used 2 identical glasses and poured a similar amount into each. I immediately noticed one was much more carbonated than the other.
Beer 1, initial thoughts on the aroma, Milk chocolate, latte coffee and some vanilla. After a short time, the vanilla definately came more prominent.
Beer 2, this aroma was more muted. Certainly not as strong as beer one. Milk chocolate and vanilla were still very noticeable. I let it warm up a little but apart for some subtle coffee nothing much else came across.
Taste.... Beer 1, roasted coffee, milk chocolate, vanilla latte. Nicely balanced, lovely depth of flavour. It finished with a lovely lingering milk chocolate flavour. Almost like letting milk chocolate melt on your tongue!
Beer 2, similar to beer 1, a lovely milk chocolate initial flavour, roasted coffee and some vanilla on the aftertaste. Beer 2 also had a smokey edge which worked surprisingly well with the sweet chocolate and vanilla.
Both beers had reasonable bodies. Beer 1 was the more carbonated but did feel a little thin. Beer 2 was thicker and as a result felt more satisfying on the palate.
Overall beer 1 was my favourite, it had a fuller aroma and more depth of flavour. The mouthfeel of beer 2 was far and away the best but unfortunately the more subtle flavours let it down.
Both beers tasted and Beer 1 crowned winner....but which was which??
The big reveal!
Beer 1 - Left Handed Giant 'Deeper Water'
Beer 2 - Wiper and True 'Milk Shake'
