Coaster Critique: The Winnah 2013

Name: The Winnah 2013

Brewed By: Penobscot Bay Brewery

Style: Chocolate Milk Stout

ABV: 5.4%

Purchased: Nocturnem Draft Haus

 

This Year’s Maine Homebrewers Competition winning beer was brewed by Dave Rocker, this stout was brewed with cacao nibs and lactose, a non-fermentable sugar that adds sweetness to the final product.

Pours deep black, barely a shimmer of light breaks through this beer, pour was topped off but what head was there was tan in color.

Smells very malty, a touch of chocolate and maybe a hint of earthy hops.

The initial flavor is dry and slightly bitter, reminds me of an Irish stout, then the cacao nibs come in at the tail of the sip and leave you with a light chocolate and cream flavor. This beer is full bodied with a creamy mouthfeel; a chocolate aftertaste lingers after the sip.

Overall a nice drinking milk stout, I prefer my stouts on the dryer side but this one is nice, it’s sweet but not overwhelming. The chocolate was a key flavor component but it wasn’t like drinking chocolate syrup, instead it lent more of a dark chocolate bitter that seemed to balance out the sweetness of the lactose.  I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys stouts, especially if you like chocolate or milk stouts. Congrats to Dave Rocker on his winning recipe.

Cheers

Chaddah

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.