Dragon's Milk Crimson Keep
New Holland Brewing Company in Holland, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸
Amber / Red Ale - Imperial Regular|
Score
7.29
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Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
12 oz. bottle
11.0% ABV
Bottled: 03/25/25
$15.99 4-pk @ Publix - Got as a BOGO
AROMA: Mildly sweet with mild scents of malt, plum, toffee, and "booze". Honestly, I'm kinda surprised at how mild the aroma is. I was really expecting something a little more bold, in the olfactory department.
Okay, as the beer warms, I am getting more olfactory stimulation. Unfortunately, the majority of that boost is just for the "booze" scent. Although, I do get a bit more plum than when it was colder. But not enough to outshine the "booze".
APPEARANCE: Pours a cloudy medium-brown with a 2-finger, tight-froth, off-white, head that dissipates moderately-quick with good lacing. It looks fine in my clear glass but the head needs to stick around longer.
TASTE: Moderately sweet with the predominant flavors being "booze", bourbon, toffee, and fresh plum. During the finish I get whispers of vanilla and oak.
As the beer warms, I am getting a bit of milk chocolate flavor in the middle of the sip. But it's fleeting, and quickly transitions to toffee and "booze".
MOUTHFEEL: Medium-bodied with a fairly smooth texture with just a hint of stickiness during the finish. Carbonation seems average, and appropriate.
While the description claims to have a "pleasantly dry finish", I am finding that it is the barest of dry. For me, that's usually not a bad thing as I tend to shy away from dry beers. But (and I can't believe I'm saying this), in this case, I think just a bit more dryness would help to alleviate a bit of that stickiness.
OVERALL: I have tried several of the Dragon's Milk varieties and I can honestly say, this is my least favorite. Mostly because (for me) the "booze" characteristic is too predominant in the aroma and flavor categories. I don't mind it being there ... I just don't like that it's a major starring role.
On a positive note, what I found a bit unique about this beer is that the plum flavor is that of ripe plum, rather than dried. Why does that make a difference? Well, it provides sweetness along with that slight bit of sour/tang that ripe plums have. Which helps to balance out all of the other sweet components. Personally, I find that to be a nice touch, and a welcome respite from the usual sweet, "dark fruit" flavors that dark beers tend to lean towards.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
I liked it. Ruby pour. Nose is vanilla and dark fruits. Tatses of bourbon vanilla wood, cherry raisins and dates. Smooth rich palate. Little sweetness
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7
Aromas are dark malt, dark rape fruit such as dates, figs, prunes and a hint of roast. Flavors are similar to nose with the dark rape fruits coming out more. Leans sweet but plenty of bitter and carbonation to balance. Definitely a sipper.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 7.5
Very bourbon-forward, lots of dries fruit, molasses, caramel, cinnamon candy, and oak. Incredibly drinkable for an 11% beer. Nice pint.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle from Drankenhandel Leiden. Bourbon, caramel malt, toffee, vanilla, some dried fruits, raisins. Boozy finish, sweet flavour, bit sticky texture. Medium to full body, sweet and boozy with nice rich Bourbon. Good stuff.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Hazy red with floaties, which is unusual for such a new beer (2/20/24) and a tiny fizz. Aroma is caramel and lightly roasted grains. Taste is also caramel and lightly roasted grains.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Pours slightly hazed ruby tinged mahogany into a snifter. Mocha head with medium retention recedes to hug rim. Dried pit fruit, vanilla and bourbon aromas. Thick with sweet hot caramel, dried cherry and sweet vanilla front to back. Lasting hot bourbon and oak finish.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle at home. Pours deep ruby, nose is caramel, vanilla, toffee, taste is sweet toffee, creamy vanilla, herbs, light bitterness.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle from HoTM. It pours crystal clear deep ruby with a decent white head. The aroma is bright, sweet - sour, juicy, loads of tangy red fruits, cranberry, raspberry, crunchy cherry, gummy bears, jam, victoria sponge cake, light vanilla and bourbon soaked oak. The taste is fairly crisp and crunchy, juicy, sweet - sour, bright red fruits, cherry drops, cherry tunes, pomegranate, cranberry, vanilla, earthy, leathery, dry oak, boozey warmth, jammy, victoria sponge cake, nutty bourbon and vanilla fudge. Finish is rather dry, woody and boozey final. Medium+ body and average carbonation.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Light bourbon, caramel and fig. Hazy reddish pour without much head. Some prune, tin. Boozy sweet and bitter finish. A little lime. Bottle.
gave a cheers!