Ninkasi Noir
While their Tricerahop served as a decent enough intro upon their arrival in Virginia, Ninkasi’s Noir left more of an impression long after it was gone. This 7.6% ABV milk stout is crafted with cold brewed coffee from Stumptown Coffee Roasters.
I’ve since purchased this beer a couple of times since this initial review from early December and each time it has delivered a smooth beer with plenty of flavor and an easy drinking nature. The coffee flavor tends to be a little shy, but does leave behind a dryness and soft bitterness as cocoa and the lactose glide over the tongue effortlessly. As a result, I’d personally prefer a bit more of the coffee, but then again, I like my coffee blacker than black.
Ninkasi Noir is a solid beer. The slightly elevated alcohol is well masked, letting the flavors speak for themselves. I wish I had another bottle or two with which to recover after shoveling the 24-30 inches of snow the local area is scheduled to receive over the next two days.