I first had this at a restaurant in downtown Athens. Can’t remember the name of it, but it was a block from the 40 Watt. They had quite a few stouts, and would let you have samples if you were having trouble deciding what you wanted. The name called to me… Creme Brulee; what’s not to like? You know Creme Brulee; a rich, custard base with a hard caramelized topping (or a flan, same thing with a soft or liquid caramel top).
The sample came in a shot glass, and I knew from the first sniff that this was going to be what I was ordering. It smelled, in fact, exactly like a Creme Brulee. And the taste? Well, it’s a stout; so the first taste is what you’d expect from a stout, malty, but sweet as it is a milk stout, and smoother than a lot of the dry stouts. There’s also a noticeable vanilla flavor and an aftertaste of… yup, Creme Brulee.
It’s a sweet stout, to be sure; and like any milk stout, it’s damn near a meal in itself. The sweetness may turn some away but, damn, that’s a tasty beer. It’s a summer seasonal, and only available in a pony keg or 22oz bottle; so either share it with a friend or prepare to stay in for the evening- 10% alcohol by volume.