Mikkie = Cattivella (-2019)

"Imperial milk stout" I assume, collaboration between Ducato and Emelisse apparently, developed for Arendsnest where I tasted it from tap. There are several of these new ’hybrids’ between imperial stout and milk stout around nowadays and I must recognize they are usually the closest any beer comes to a dessert. This one bore a thin, light greyish white, loose head and very deep chestnut brown colour, as good as black, with thick oily legs remaining on the glass wall. Aroma strongly reminds me of Malibu or some other coconut beverage at first, coconut milk, cream milk, ’Haagse hopjes’, cappuccino, cocoa, vanilla, candied dates, hazelnut paste, ginger, black pepper - complexity appears more and more as it warms up, of course. Liqueurishly sweet onset, candied orange, candy syrup, raisins with a very slight sourish touch, very soft and creamy ’milk stout mouthfeel’, sweet milk chocolate, coffeeish roasted bitterness in the end but briefly and subtly so, some warm rhum-like alcohol in the finish, with refinedly lingering candied sweetness and a certain ’coffee with cream’ flavour. Very original, though not the only ’crème brûlée stout’ around, delicious of you like big, sweet dessert beers with creamy bodies. I was a bit put off by the coconut cocktail aroma at first, but as other things started to appear and its complexity was gradually revealed, I got to like this more with every sip. Fun beer!

Draught @ De Arendsnest, Amsterdam. Aroma has sweet sugary tones, vanilla and quite nothing else. Flavour as sweet vanilla, licorice, toasted sugar. Malty palate. Alcohol is present but it only balances (or tries to) the sweetness. Oversweet, but then again I asked for it. I like the licorice tones here.

(Draught at Beer Temple, Amsterdam, 26 Feb 2014) Black colour with frothy, beige head. Malty, roasted nose with notes of coffee, vanilla and crème brulée. Malty, roasted taste with coffee, chocolate, vanilla, crème brulée and a generous coffee bitterness in the finish. Almost full body, with rounded mouthfeel and a certain sweetness. Very tasty, with lots of coffee and vanilla. Very nice.

Keg at the Beer Temple, 6th February 14. Nice vanilla, sweet aroma, smooth sweet taste, loads of vanilla. Not bad but I preferred the Mexican cake, I had earlier !

Tap at the Beer Temple, Amsterdam. Poured a clear dark brown with a frothy light tan head. The aroma is light yeast and malt with some creamy caramel. The flavour is moderate bitter moderate sweet with a liqourice malt sweet marshmallow like palate. Medium to full bodied with average carbonation. Really liked this but preferred it before the oxygen got a hold.