And the Valley Drinks: Abita Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout

Abita certainly has a bunch of things going for craft beer week, but the time constraints and obligations of fatherhood being what they are, I haven't been able to take in everything this week. Still, I was able to try one of their Big Beer series, the Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout.  You can find this one in bombers or on draught in some places.

From their own description:

Abita Macchiato Espresso Milk Stout combines the rich flavor of roasted coffee with a full-bodied stout. Pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts create a dark color and intense flavor. Willamette hops balance the malt flavors, while natural milk sugar and oats add sweetness. During the cold brewing process, espresso dolce beans from PJ's Coffee are added for a natural coffee flavor.

Review

If you're a big coffee drinker the bouquet of this one will bring you in right away. It doesn't just smell like coffee, it smells like a great old coffee place. Like a Café Du Monde or Morning Call out in Metairie. The places kids like me wound up at after dances in high school drinking café au lait and eating beignets. From there, it kind of tastes a lot like Turbodog, with that roasted malt flavor that kind of evokes chocolate or toffee. That roasted sugar taste. But from there it takes a hard turn into the flavor of straight roasted coffee beans. Constant and thorough, with a little bit of lactose sugar in the background that kind of heightens the flavor, almost like coffee ice cream. Honestly, it's probably the best coffee beer I've ever had. It's even fairly smooth for a stout. I don't know that I'd go as far as to call it sessionable, but it definitely doesn't fill you up after a pint like you'd think. Strong 4.5 out of five stars.