Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout

It’s easy to see why stout enthusiasts love this dark velvety beer because, apart from the alcohol, it takes everything that’s lovable about stout and maxes it to the power of ten. Perhaps that’s why it’s called galactic, because it’s rocket-powered with malty caramel from the first whiff of bitter barley on the nose to the big brown-bubble pour and head, and on to the first distinctively chocolaty sip. A well-rounded mouthfeel underpins that initial chocolate-caramel with undertones of dark espresso coffee but there’s also a sharp hoppy bitterness noticeable at the edge and a faintly peppery complexity that develops in the cheeks and on the palate to give a satisfyingly long finish. Possibly not the best choice for the lactose intolerant (it has milk in it) but, somehow, it manages to be gluten-free. Overall, then, another winner from the alcohol-free powerhouse that is Big Drop Brewery, and no surprise that it has won a string of awards around the world.