It’s always fun to unwind and sample new beers. The most common way to sample them, in my experience, is through bottle shares with friends and family or at beer festivals across the state and country.
Recently, on a cold Saturday evening, I went on a solo sample mission after curating a flight of 6 Dragon’s Milk variants from New Holland Brewing Co. The flight included:
- Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Oatmeal Cookie (2019)
- Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Maple Oak (2019)
- Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Rum Barrel-Aged Stout with Chocolate, Hazelnut, and Toasted Coconut (2020)
- Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Scotch Barrel-Aged Stout with Marshmallow and Dark Chocolate (2020)
- Dragon’s Milk Solera
- Dragon’s Milk White
I was anticipating tons of notes of barrels and the different adjuncts from each of the selections. What I wasn’t anticipating was that a newcomer to the Dragon’s Milk brand would shine through and be the star of the show.
Was it the 10% Solera, a Foeder-Aged ale that is mistaken as a Stout because of the Dragon’s Milk branding? It was not, but it was a surprise. It maintained the boozy edge Dragon’s Milk is known for and had rich notes of toffee and caramel.
The star of the show was the award winning Dragon’s Milk White, a Bourbon Barrel-Aged White Stout. As a HUGE fan of White Stouts, I had high hopes for New Holland’s take and was not disappointed. Coffee was found on the front end with a little barrel on the back. The ABV was manageable for a dinner beer or a few after shoveling the snow instead of enjoying one of the others which clocked in between 10-12.5%.
The flight proved to be a great time even though it was a solo mission. I’m looking forward to putting together my next “Flight of the Dragon” of Dragon’s Milk variants. Even though I know a majority of the beers will be one-time variants, I know that I can secure Dragon’s Milk White because it is available all year in 12 oz cans. I’ve seen it at small bottle shops and at large grocery stores across the state of Michigan. It is worth seeking out if you’re a fan of White Stouts or completely new to the style.
Cheers!
Disclaimer: Better on Draft received samples of Dragon’s Milk White from New Holland Brewing Co. to review.
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