Should’ve Kept it as Ice Cream
Cookies ‘N Cream Milk Stout - Flying Dog, Frederick, MD
I have always loved Flying Dog, and their level of creativity with beer. They have their staples that I thoroughly enjoy (Snake dog, Bloodline, The Truth, etc.), but the freedom that their brewers have to explore and play is a big reason I often look to them first for new beer. I remember my father getting me a crowler of one of their brewhouse rarities on my 21st birthday. It was an Aronia berry ale that was delicious. Just enough sweet to balance out the sour, and I wish they’d make it again. It was even more fun to share it with a roommate of mine. We shared it while playing Call of Duty Black Ops 3. I had just moved into that apartment, and I was subletting for someone and because of this, I hadn’t met that roommate yet. Getting the chance to sit down, share a unique beer, make a new friend, and virtually kill each other for a number of hours was pretty cool - here’s to you, Justin, you helped make that beer more memorable. That’s my first recollection of trying a brewhouse rarity. When Flying Dog announced this new brewhouse rarity, I was shocked to say the least. I know they’re daring but this seemed out of left field daring. To me, cookies ‘n cream is an ice cream flavor and should remain that way. That didn’t stop me from getting some, but my surprise was unparalleled.
When I finally opened one up, it smelled like cookies and cream but not in the traditional sense. It was subtle but with big deep inhales it became less subtle. ‘Twas pretty confusing. First sip: Sweet. Terribly sweet. A lot of vanilla. Dark chocolate. Bitter end - the initial taste was on the opposite end of the sweetness spectrum, which was honestly off putting. That kind of swing in taste is not something I typically prefer. The subtlety of the first waft did not translate because of how overpowering it was. It didn’t feel like cookies ‘n cream normally does because of how separate the flavors were. To be fair, this isn’t normal cookies ‘n cream...it’s more of an adaptation. The vanilla came in and punched me in the face, and then the chocolate came around to laugh at me, and then punched me in the face too. Like I said, overpowering flavors. As I kept sipping, they started to blend together proportionately (may have just needed to open up or air out for a minute to let everything mellow or something), which made it more enjoyable, but it was still awfully sweet. I was a little weary of this beer. I was excited because of its rarity, but it was sitting in my fridge for a while before I actually popped one open. It’s not my favorite because it’s just too much. Should’ve seen that coming but now I know for sure. If you’re a fan of cookies ‘n cream ice cream, I’d shy away from this because I don’t think this flavor profile works well in beer. I don’t think Flying Dog pulled this one off, but I gotta say I don’t think anyone else could either. It’s such an eclectic flavor that getting it just right would be practically impossible. I get the feeling that it’s trying so hard to be like cookies ‘n cream ice cream that it’s been over sweetened and that takes away from the traditional rich bitterness of a stout. Though, it is a milk stout, so you’d expect it to be sweeter, but it was just too much. If you like sweeter stouts or simply non-traditional beers, I say go for it but be prepared for what you’re about to drink.
I don’t plan on buying this again, and I’d be surprised if Flying Dog brought this back as any kind of regular release. It’s upsetting that I didn’t like it but not everything they make can be a winner. That’s what makes the good one’s even better! They tried something new, and it didn’t work at all but that’s okay because they will keep exploring and keep taking these kinds of risks.
Can’t wait to try the next one! :)