Nitro Coffee Milk Stout

Black Hog Nitro Coffee Milk Stout
One pint, $6, 5.5% ABV
Westbrook Lobster House, Wallingford

Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAAAAAYYY!

BLACK HOG NITRO! NITRO! NITROOOOO!!!!

COFFEE-COFFEE-COFFEE MILK ST-ST-ST-STOUUUUTTTT!!

That’s right, get on down to Westbrook Lobster House in Wallingford! No, not Westbrook, but WALLINGFORRRRRD! On Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY! Black Hog on NITROOOOOOO!!!!

Ok, enough of that.

Even though it’s fun. Speaking of fun, you know what would make my bored looking son here happier? How about the Bigfoot Monster Truck Crunch Arena?! That thing looks like a lot of fun, and really teaches the good values inherent in American excess. Who says we have a throwaway society when the crushed cars clearly can spring back to life only to be CRUSHED again? I’ll be searching eBay for that bad boy tonight. Or maybe tomorrow, on Wednesday, Wednesday, WEDNESDAAAAAY.

By the way, why do you keep finding me in Wallingford reviewing Connecticut beers? Two reasons: My friend Jay lives there and he is rad. Also, my friend Mike at the Westbrook Lobster House has created one of the best Connecticut-centic taps lists in the entire state. Seriously, it’s often right up there with J. Timothy’s and Eli’s. You people need to check it out whenever you’re near – say, on your way back from a NEBCO run or something. I have no idea what’ll be on tap when you click this link to their beermenus page, but I’m willing to bet it will be good and full of local brew.

As for today, all 11 taps are Connecticut beers and by my estimation, 7 of those 11 are excellent. The 11 are: Back East’s Imperial Stout (loved it), Duvig Scotch 60 (scared of it), Firefly Red Lantern (not my fave), Lawson’s Sip of Sunshine (come on now – and yeah, yeah, it’s a Vermont company, but brewed at Two Roads and I don’t care), NEBCO’s 668 (great) and Sea Hag (greater), Olde Burnside’s Father Christmas (great), Overshores’ Blanc de Blanche (great), Thimble Islands’ American Ale (serviceable) and…

BLACK HOG NITRO COFFEE MILK STOUT!

Black Hog says:

Based on a sweet stout recipe and enriched with cold Toddy-extracted Organic Columbian Supremo and Espresso Roasted coffee. Exclusively poured on Nitrogen gas lines for a silky texture with a pillowy white head. The result is a rich, creamy stout with hearty roasted coffee flavor and a quick finish. When three fourths of a glass of our coffee milk stout sits, cascading, waiting for the last two inches of black velvet sexy loveliness to top it off, creating the bright white fluffy head; all you can do is take a deep breath and concentrate on patience, knowing that from the first clean robust sip to the last drop, Black Hog Brewing Co. coffee milk stout always hits the mark

Wow. That really reads well. “Black velvet sexy loveliness?” Brings new meaning to the phrase, “I had a black hog last night,” now doesn’t it? (This was pointed out to me by my friend Ed, who says he laughs every time he hears someone say that – which, as a credit to Black Hog, is happening more and more.

This was probably my 4th or 5th Black Hog beer and it was far and away the best I’d had up to that point. (Actually, it still may be my favorite from them, period.) On the one hand, I don’t think I’ve ever really had a “bad” coffee stout or coffee milk stout or milk stout or double coffee stout. Have I ever had a double coffee IMPERIAL milk stout? I don’t think I have, actually. It’s only a matter of time though. I’m not saying they are an “easy” style to produce, but I do think the bold flavor and (in this case) nitro infusion would cover some small mistakes than some other styles don’t allow.

By why am I even fronting? This is an excellent beer from one of our state’s new breweries. I’ve written before that I was somewhat disappointed by Black Hog’s initial rollout efforts, but in late 2014 (and hopefully beyond), they seem to be hitting their stride and starting to live up to the reputation that preceded their entrée onto the scene. This beer was exactly as described above – smooth, silky, rich… almost decadent. The sweetness of the lactose didn’t overwhelm the bitterness of the roastiness and coffee – and vice-versa.

Well done.

So maybe now you can get a nice black hog in you this Sunday, Sunday, SUNDAY!

Overall Rating: A
Rating vs. Similar style: A

Black Hog Brewing Company
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