Dragon's Milk - New Holland Brewing Company, Holland

Stouts can be hit or miss for me. Like most people, my first Stout was a Guinness. I thought it was too dry, too bitter, too... dark. I've grown to appreciate not just Guinness but more complex Stouts. There are still some that I find too dry or bitter, but when I find a Stout that has the perfect balance of flavors, it's like there's nothing better. When I first had New Holland's Dragon's Milk, it was a bit like that. I remember this beer having some really strong Stout flavors, but getting them balanced so well that nothing was overpowering or too harsh on your palate.

Dragon's Milk is an oak aged Stout that, like all oak aged Stouts, has a rich flavor and spicy cinnamon-like warmth. The oak is noticeable in the aroma of this beer but even more than the the oak, the vanilla sweetness comes through very well. The usual dark malt aromas are present as well, but they are kept in check by the sweet and oaky components.

The flavor of this beer is absolutely fantastic. There are a lot of strong flavors in Dragon's Milk but the combination and balance is what makes this a stellar beer. The first thing you notice is the 10% ABV, there's bound to be a little alcohol burn on a beer this strong and you can definitely feel it on your tongue. Also front and center is the chocolately dark malt and sweet sugary caramel, vanilla and oak. The malt doesn't strike me as particularly roasty, but it does have a richness that goes beyond just being chocolate or caramel malt. Still, there isn't any coffee in this beer, which is something I can appreciate.

New Holland's Dragon's Milk is a complex and rich layered Stout. It is very good at what it tries to do and conveys a lot of strong flavor in a pleasant way. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dark beer and even those who may have had a hard time finding a big Stout they can enjoy.