ABV 6% | IBU 30

In anticipation of Terrapin Beer Co.’s upcoming Hop Harvest Festival, today’s beer showcase will feature the seasonally appropriate Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout. Admittedly, that is partly because I already consumed my bottle of their newest release, The Walking Dead Blood Orange IPA, but Moo-Hoo is well deserving of a write up. To some, Moo-Hoo will be a welcomed relief from the surge of IPAs over the summer and the ongoing flood of pumpkin-themed brews. It is a chocolatey marvel that comes out but once a year.

Moo-Hoo Chocolate Milk Stout is one of my favorite beers from this Athens, GA based brewery. Moo-Hoo has a well balanced sweetness that accentuates its drinkability. Terrapin adds actual chocolate by way of cocoa nibs to their Moo-Hoo from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate out of Nashville, TN. However, this is not like your Hershey’s milk chocolate bar. The stout’s sweet flavor comes more from the lactose that is added to it during the brewing process. Lactose is a sugar that does not ferment; the yeast cannot consume lactose and turn it into alcohol. This adds to the sweetness, but also provides a silkier mouthfeel.

Side note: If you are lactose intolerant, beware.

Pouring Moo-Hoo into my glass revealed a deep dark chocolate color that is the foundation for a graham cracker colored head. There were comforting aromas of roasted barley, dark chocolate and a faint hint of either nut or graham cracker; it was hard to decide. It has a richer flavor than most other milk stouts. It is smooth and soft with combined flavors of roasted barley and chocolate. There is little perceived bitterness in this one thanks to the style.

Open season on Moo-Hoo has already started. This winter seasonal got a new set of digs for this year with its premier in 12oz cans. The 6pack 12oz cans replace the previous 4pack 12oz bottles. This is exciting for those who like to stock up on the brew as the season draws to a close. Cans provide more protection for beer than any other form, arguably even kegs, if you take cleanliness of lines into account. Check out Terrapin’s distribution page to find out if Moo-Hoo is available near you, and don’t forget to stock up before they are gone.