Fallen Angel Sweet Stout

Last year Empyrean Ales began bottling its seasonal beers for the first time. Starting with Super Nova, then the infamous "flaming goat" Aries Marzen (Oktoberfest) followed by the Winter Tilt "festivale" - now we've come full circle with the fourth (and restaurant favorite) Fallen Angel sweet stout. I've been recommending this beer to people who claim that they "don't like dark beers". Not that this by any stretch of the imagination a "training wheels" type of brew, but oftentimes a beer drinker's first (and only) exposure to a dark beer is some warm Guinness. Put off by the strong bitter taste, they cut themselves off from a promising segment of the beer world. And remember, "dark" is only a color: you can have a black lager that's as mild and sessionable as any wheat beer or a light-hued IPA or barleywine that's stronger than any stout available. No, Fallen Angel is a good introduction because it's what's sometimes called a milk stout. Lactose, which unlike most sugars will not convert to alcohol during fermentation, contributes to a sweet taste that makes it more palatable to those who haven't developed a taste for hoppy bitterness.

Fallen Angel pours a deep, dark brown, almost black, with a hefty brown head. Some superficial similarities to Scottish Ale and an obvious resemblance to the taste of semi-sweet chocolate. Low carbonation, smooth texture, medium hoppiness, more than balanced by the sweetness. I find that, as one might expect, the taste complexity comes out closer to room temperature. My first glass this season was at cask night, so the high standard was set. Definitely an IGB recommendation.