Review Date 1/2/2018
Try? Re-buy?
Special release beer alert! Terrapin announced earlier in 2017 that Moo-Tella Chocolate Hazelnut Imperial Milk Stout would be released, and in fact it was on November 11th. It didn’t take long to show up at my local Taco Mac (end of December), and when it did, I ordered a glass. I’m a big fan of Terrapin Moo Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout and any variations thereon.
Terrapin says:
Our 2017 Reserve Series “Moo-Tella” is a decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Imperial Milk Stout, so delicious you’ll wish you could eat it with a spoon. The stunning combination of Olive and Sinclair Chocolate and the rich flavor of hazelnuts creates an experience to share with friends, or keep all to yourself.
Ingredients from the website:
HOPS: Nugget
MALTS: 2-Row, Oats, Dark Crystal, Chocolate, Carafa, Roasted Barley
Terrapin Moo-Tella Chocolate Hazelnut Imperial Milk Stout has an alcohol content of 8.5% by volume with 30 IBUs. As a special release, once it’s gone, it is gone. I’ll get into the pricing in just a minute.
My glass of Terrapin Moo-Tella Chocolate Hazelnut Imperial Milk Stout arrived a very dark black (but not opaque) color with a thin filmy head and plenty of chocolate and hazelnut in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer is smooth and full bodied and the palate is full of rich milk and dark chocolatey notes. There’s powdery cocoa and slightly phenolic hazelnuts with a roasty toasty finish.
Now, here’s the thing. I am of two minds about this beer. On draft, I deemed it a worthy $5 draft. It was an 11-ounce pour, but for a beer of this quality I am OK with that. In the bottle, Terrapin Moo-Tella commands an outrageous $11.99 for a half liter bottle. That is crazy. $11.99 is high for a bomber; it annoys me greatly that they have downsized bottles on specialty beers to 16.9 ounces.
As the draft price is fair, I won’t deduct from my 4-start assessment of this beer. As its far more likely I would come across it again bottles rather than on draft, I am going to peg it as not a rebuy. Ain’t no way I would pay $12 for a half liter bottle of Terrapin Moo-Tella Chocolate Hazelnut Imperial Milk Stout.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft