Here’s another beer from the Westbrook Brewing Company of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina that very much impressed me. It’s Westbrook Udderly Stout, an oatmeal milk stout brewed with lactose. I’ve seen this beer on occasion pop up at my local Taco Mac, though it has always been gone before I got the chance to try it. Luckily, I came across a bottle at Total Wine.
Milk stouts (aka sweet stouts) are an interesting substyle to stouts. They were developed in England in the 19th century, and the addition of milk sugars was a way to advertise them as having real nutritional value. Some notable examples are Mackeson Stout from England and Lancaster Milk Stout from Pennsylvania. Watney's Cream Stout was a favorite of mine for many years in the 80s and 90s, but is no longer made.
From the label:
Take a sip of this utterly luscious and creamy stout brewed with flaked oats and lactose. Don’t forget to wipe off the ‘stache-or keep it!
Westbrook Udderly Stout has an alcohol content of 5.5% by volume with 25 IBUs. I paid $7.99 for my 22-ounce bottle.
Westbrook Udderly Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and a soft creamy chocolate nose. Taking a sip, the beer is smooth and silky in the palate, perhaps a tad thin for the style, but only a tad. Chocolate, licorice, pasty silky oats and gentle roast all dance into the slightly roastier finish and leave you wanting another sip.
What a wonderful beer! Dare I say it’s the cream of the crop? I think I just did….
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