Oppo Beer Review - New Holland Dragon's Milk

"All Motor Is Best Motor" (acidicheartburn)
09/27/2014 at 00:42 • Filed to: Yes i just drank the whole bottle, so deal with it, Beer

Full disclosure: New Holland Brewing wanted me to drink this beer so badly they sold it at a local St. Paul, MN restaurant/bar called the Happy Gnome, where I tried it at a price of $9 per pint glass, decided it was the best beer on the planet, and proceeded to go out and buy two bottles of the stuff for $8 a bottle. I may or may not be slightly intoxicated while writing this review.

Here's a link to the beer website: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

The New Holland Dragon's Milk is a beer. Yes, a beer. Not a sissy light beer, but a real beer. 11% alcohol by volume. Not by decibel, or some other babies measurement, but by volume. The description on the bottle states "A barrel-aged stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones, all dancing in an oak bath."

This is a dark beer. A very dark beer. Shine-a-light-underneath-the-bottom-of-a-glass or-mug-and-you-won't-see-it dark. The kind of dark that shadows are afraid of. Here's a graphic example, because who doesn't love pictures of beer you aren't actually drinking at the moment?

It's somewhat smooth, but not "baby, I shouldn't have gotten this condom at the gas station" smooth. Remember that this has a manly 11% alcohol content. Pour it vigorously with enthusiasm like a real man and it will get a small to medium sized head. This isn't a highly carbonated kind of beer. But the head is very fine and will remain for a while.

The flavor: Excellent. This isn't a very bitter beer. It only has 31 IBUs, so there is but a slight bitter flavor. Very malty, and I would go as far as to call it sweet. Definitely sweeter than a Blue Moon, but that's an overrated beer anyway. There's no mistaking this is a dark beer. The vanilla is perceptible, but not a strong characterizing flavor. My taste buds identify an almost wine-like quality to the beer. It tastes somewhat like a cross between a beer and a wine. There's a fruitful quality to the beer that lends this winelike taste. It's heavy and full, but not so much as a regular Guiness. It's creamy, but not as creamy as an Irish beer such as a Wexford or something similar.

Flavor rating: 10/10 would drink while dragoning a McLaren F1.

Overall Score: /10

Even Fuller Disclosure: I'm definitely intoxicated but this is a seriously incredible beer. If you like dark craft brews you have to try this. If you are hops crazy you probably won't like it. But that's too damn bad, because I hate bitter beers and this one is seriously amazing.

DISCUSSION (27)

Cajun Ginger > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 00:48

They use it to make ice cream/beer floats at their brewpub.

You can kick it up a notch by adding a shot of makers mark to it. (usually I do that with Oscar blues ten fiddy but sometimes dragons milk.)

You should notice coconut notes to it. If you aren't, let it warm up a bit and try another sip.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cajun Ginger
09/27/2014 at 00:49

After having the whole bottle I don't think I'll be tasting any coconut. Especially not on an empty stomach. That sounds like an epic rootbeer float, though. Not sure how I feel about altering the qualities of this awesome beer with something other than more of itself, however.

Cajun Ginger > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 00:50

ya still have that second bottle?

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cajun Ginger
09/27/2014 at 00:50

I do, but I'm saving it to share with a friend. It would be a waste to drink at this point, as any beer would do. Drink your best first, save the crummy stuff for later :)

Cajun Ginger > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 00:52

well when you share it, pay attention to how the flavors develop as it warms up. :) it's an interesting beer to do that with.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cajun Ginger
09/27/2014 at 00:55

I remember the flavors changing as it sat on my table at the bar I first had it at. Definitely an interesting beer to enjoy. It's very much my favorite. After having all of these different craft brews in the last year, I can't hardly stand most mainstream beer.

Cajun Ginger > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 00:57

mainstream beer is not my thing either. I'd rather spend a few more bucks on one of something I really enjoy than slam 3 cans of crap.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cajun Ginger
09/27/2014 at 01:01

Exactly. The past year I've spent exploring a variety of craft brews after being frustrated/not really caring for beer in general, and I've found there's plenty of good beer out there that I like, it's just expensive or not mainstream. There's a British beer expert at one of my local liquor stores that pointed out that most of American beer has been trending towards more hoppy, heavily bitter beer. That just so happens to be the opposite of the kind of beer I like. Dark with few hops/bitterness is the way to go for me.

Cajun Ginger > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 01:05

I lean more toward stouts and porters myself. Sometimes I'm in a hoppy mood but not often. So of course I'm married to a hophead.

Have you tried founders breakfast stout?

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cajun Ginger
09/27/2014 at 01:14

Not yet, but I've had their Dirty Bastard. It's pretty good.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 01:30

it's called dragons milk. I stopped reading the review right there. Looked at my clock. Fuck. Its 130. Tomorrow! I shall acquire the milk of Dragon.

All Motor Is Best Motor > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/27/2014 at 01:33

Be warned that it isn't cheap. A "Pint 6 oz" bottle cost me 8 bucks. It's great though. This is a beer with "depth". Depth of flavor, of color, and of texture. It's not one you drink to get drunk on, but instead one you drink because of the flavor. That isn't to say you can't get drunk on it, because holy crap 11% alcohol by volume.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 01:44

I'm a scotch fan. Something tells me I'll enjoy and you've lead me to something wonderful

All Motor Is Best Motor > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/27/2014 at 01:47

I hope so. I'm not a beer expert, and everybody has different tastes, but this is one seriously good beer. If you like dark smooth beer with a complex flavor profile then you should enjoy this one.

treesmakewater > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/27/2014 at 01:47

according to the internet, the lowest place I could aquatire it is 25 miles away

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > treesmakewater
09/27/2014 at 01:55

yeah their website says the closest place to Va Beach is some 150 miles away. Balls.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 01:56

it's a short road trip to find the closest place with it. Disappointed

All Motor Is Best Motor > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
09/27/2014 at 02:10

Not every liquor store lists online everything they carry. Hopefully you can find it somewhere near by.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 02:15

sure hope so. Cause if not it's going to be like the Canadians and their damn kinder surprises all over again

Kinja'd!!!

Cé hé sin > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 05:15

"....Irish beer such as a Wexford"

Is it unusual that I'm from Ireland and have never heard of this?

I'll take 911 RS for $5000 > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 10:05

Friend got this when we were out a few days ago. He was kind enough to let me try a sip. Absolutely incredible beer. I really loved the vanilla flavor, and it's incredibly smooth for 11%. I'll have to try and find bottles, as $7 a glass is a bit much, and the only bar I've found with it is kinda far away.

I had a different Imperial Stout with dinner last night, hoping it might capture some of the same magic. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

ihm96 > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 12:53

Sounds nice. As a result of being a college freshman I mostly drink natty light, which is worlds away from actual good beer. The only time ive had good beer is two weeks I spent in Australia this summer where I tried a lot of local beers that were awesome

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cé hé sin
09/27/2014 at 13:19

It's probably not that unusual. My guess is that America gets imports that you guys wouldn't even bother drinking.

Cé hé sin > All Motor Is Best Motor
09/27/2014 at 13:56

Found it! It's actually from the UK.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2…

All Motor Is Best Motor > Cé hé sin
09/27/2014 at 14:23

Figures...

Stupidru > All Motor Is Best Motor
12/05/2014 at 11:59

I had my first Dragon's Milk a week or two back. Right off the shelf it was pretty boozy, so I'm hoping that the alcohol taste falls off with time

All Motor Is Best Motor > Stupidru
12/05/2014 at 16:34

It's a pretty high alcohol content beer.