I recently spent a week in North Western Massachussets, and got to drink a boat load of delicious beer. I have had reviews of them all drafted out since we got home three weeks ago, but life got in the way! Here’s the first one, New Holland’s Dragon’s Milk – American Strong Ale:

Pours a very dark brown/black into the glass; too dark to really tell much about the carbonation. Although, the head is nice and creamy looking, fluffy with a light tan colour. Good head retention that leaves nice lacing.

Aroma is pretty oaky, not surprising given that it’s aged in oak barrels! I got a little toffee & vanilla sweetness that is offset well by the somewhat bitter coffee on the nose. Smells pretty high in alcohol too.

Tastes pretty much exactly like the nose; oaky, coffee, a little smoky with very obvious alcohol. Belly warming I think they call it! It finishes up with a subtle hop bitterness on the back.

Mouth feel is nice for a strong ale; medium-light body with a nice light carbonation.

I liked this quite a bit; it was light enough to drink a full glass which I find a rarity in darker beers (for me), although as the glass warmed up that 9% was beating me over the head just a little.

As far as oak-aged goes, personally I would take a Great Divide Yeti over this one, but this is definitely worth a taste in it’s own right too!

ABV: 9%

IBU: ?

Serving style: 22oz bottle