The Bottom Line
Sweet stout that takes the "sweet" to absurd levels.
Pros
- It's the right color for stout
Cons
- Too sweet
Description
- SWEET
- SWEET
- SWEET!
Guide Review - Kiuchi Hitachino Lacto Sweet Stout
Home brewers should already be looking askance at this beer based on the "lacto" in the title. What exactly do they mean when they say lacto?I'll get to that.
First the tasting notes: When I opened this bottle I knew that something was wrong. The smell of a carnival hit me - specifically cotton candy. The aroma was overloaded with the smell of raw sugar and just the slightest bit of malt. The beer pours black and opaque with a lovely thick, brown head. It's mouthfeel is thin and watery though you hardly notice because the flavor is overwhelmingly sweet. My notes say "SWEET SWEET SWEET!" With a bit of digging you can detect some hints of licorice.
So, after dropping everything and rushing to brush my teeth lest the onslaught of sugar would rot them out, I studied the label. Right there on the back they boast that 10% of the grain bill is "authentic lactose." Yes, ten minutes before the end of the boil they add a whole lot of unfermentable sugar to the brew. ON PURPOSE!
Need an illustration? Think of it this way. Think of your favorite stout or porter. Now imagine adding a quarter cup of regular sugar to it just before drinking it. This should give you an idea of the flavor of this stout.
