Stark Brewing Company

Brewpub in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States 🇺🇸
Associated Venue: Milly's Tavern

Established in 1994

Contact
500 N Commercial St, Manchester, NH, 03101, United States
Description
Stark Brewing Company originally started back in 1994 as the Stark Mill Brewery. Stark Mill was the first brewery in the city and was brought to life through the efforts of Brewmaster Peter Telge. Peter is a Manchester native, born and raised here in the Queen City, and has been in charge of the brewery for over 20 years now. In 1999, the brewery underwent a rebranding to keep up with the times and opened back up as Milly's Tavern, named after Peter's favorite German Shepherd, who is honored in our logo. Stark Brewing Company is proud to continue its devoted legacy as being Manchester's only brewpub, bringing fresh beer, delicious food, and great times to the people of New England.

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7
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 6.5 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Purchased a four pack of this and took home, the final can was poured into a snifter and here are my observations:

Appearance: dark amber/maybe dark brown color with a quarter finger of off-white foamy head which dissipated nicely to leave some light lace
Aroma: caramel/toffee notes up front, light whiffs of some dark fruits, a touch of toasted nuts and a light tone of sherry
Flavor: blends the prior noted aromas to a malty sweet and nutty tone; finishes nutty and caramel-like
Texture: medium bodied, a sure sipper; some smoothness but also a little bit leathery and dry
Overall: not a bad barleywine and I drank the four pack over the course of six months wondering if something might change but nothing ever did. It was the same throughout.

Tried from Can on 20 Feb 2026 at 21:29


7.5
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Reviewed from notes.
On tap at the brewpub.
Appearance: copper color with a bar pour's kind of slim white foamy head which dissipated and didn't leave any lace
Aroma: pumpkin sweetness, ginger, cinnamon, brown sugar and allspice
Flavor: leads sweetly with the pumpkin and the spices follow underneath for an effort to balance; finishes pumpkin-like and some cinnamon & allspice
Texture: light to medium bodied - maybe closer to light bodied, sessionable, some smoothness but also some spicy assertiveness
Overall: nice enough pumpkin ale I could have again.

Tried from Draft on 20 Feb 2026 at 21:21


7.3
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7.5 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7

Reviewed from notes.
On tap at the brewpub.
Appearance: amber color with a sly transparency about it closer to the edges mostly and a bar pour's kind of head, no lace
Aroma: toasted nuts, light caramel, slight earthy to floral hops
Flavor: melds the prior noted aromas together in a malty sweet to earthy way; finishes malty and earthy
Texture: light to medium bodied, sessionable, some smoothness
Overall: good amber lager or Vienna lager depending on who you talk to.

Tried from Draft on 20 Feb 2026 at 21:15


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 6.5

On tap at brewery. Hazy pale gold color. Small creamy beige cap. Wheat malt aroma hints at lemon zest. Flavor is wheat malt, banana and clove. Light bodied and refreshing. Fairly faithful to the style.

Tried from Draft on 10 Aug 2023 at 20:10



7

Tried on 08 Jun 2023 at 23:34


7.1
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5

On tap at the source. Lightly hazy light golden color with a decent sized frothy white head that slowly recedes. Bready crackery light honey maltiness with hints of lemon and earthy spice to counter.

Tried from Draft on 06 Mar 2023 at 19:38


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

On tap at the source shared with Paul Lightly hazy deep golden bordering on amber with a thin off white head that quickly dissipates. Caramel and bready maltiness moderate earthy hops puckering astringency.

Tried from Draft on 06 Mar 2023 at 19:36


7

Pours a dark reddish amber with a fluffy smooth white head. Aroma of slightly oaky, typical of an ale. Taste has smooth malty base, some woody notes. Palate has much of the same, earthy notes.

Tried on 14 Sep 2021 at 22:22


6.8
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7

16 oz. draft. Flavor has roasted malt, coffee, easy maple syrup throughout the sip. Normal body and texture for a porter.

Tried from Draft on 05 Jun 2021 at 05:05