Riley's Brewing 'Cowlifornia' Milk Stout. 5.5% abv. 40 IBU. Dense black color. Half-finger of creamy mocha head. Good retention and lace. Nose of roasty dark malt, ground coffee, cocoa powder. Woody, herbal notes emerge as the temp rises.

Front taste of black coffee, milk chocolate, toffee ribbon underneath. Aftertaste of light ground coffee, mild spice, dark chocolate, warm brown sugar, mild plum, with a sweet finish. Thin-medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, creamy, rich, sticky on the back end.

This is a wonderful milk stout. Sweet, rich, round, malty, roasty. The dominant tastes here are coffee and chocolate, and they alternate from dark to mild throughout the session. The lingering sustain of the aftertaste is coffee and milk with distant notes of cocoa and dark fruit. A lovely beer with just enough body, just enough complexity, to place it above most others in category.

In a world of bourbon barrel aged imperial this and that, triple IPAs, and quads, it's rare that I see a simple milk stout, rarer still to see one done well. Like brown ales and pales, I find most milk stouts are pedestrian at best. This one brings to mind the classic but sadly discontinued Mackeson XXX Milk Stout, one of my favorites from the old world. Riley's is slightly thinner in body but still worthy of comparison, which in itself is high praise. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"A sweet and creamy mouthfeel from milk sugar and flaked oats is harmoniously balanced with a rich, roasty finish from darkly roasted malts. Expect notes of semisweet chocolate and coffee with some light caramel character from this decadent and luscious sweet stout."

[source: bottle]

Riley's Brewing 'Rain Dance' Imperial Stout. 9.5% abv. 55 IBU. Black in color. Two fingers of creamy, foamy tan head. Superb retention, excellent lacing. Nose of dark chocolate, roasty, nutty. Aromas of coffee and round oak emerge as the temp rises.

Front taste of caramel, plum, bittersweet chocolate, wood notes on the back end. Aftertaste of dark fruit, raisins, bitter cocoa, earthy hop sustain. Full body. Mouthfeel is warm-hot, thick, rich, silky, slightly clingy.

This is an outstanding beer, and a sterling example of its category. It's instantly one of my favorite imperial stouts from any brewery, and firmly my new favorite beer from Riley's. The name is surely appropriate as the aroma and initial taste dance in a myriad of flavors on top of a full body of creamy rich dark, sweet, roasted malt and earthy and slight herbal hops. Seek out this beer. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Rich dark chocolate, roasted malts and caramel, balanced with notes of coffee, dark fruits, oak and earthy Goldings hops make for a delicious and malty brew. Light carbonation provides a thick and full body to our Imperial Stout."

[source: bottle]

Riley's Brewing 'Sancha' Honey Blonde Ale. 5.5% abv. 15 IBU. Pale yellow-gold color. Finger of white bubbly head. Good retention and lacing. Nose is herbal, honey, faint cloves. Front taste is earthy, cloves, slight sweet. Aftertaste is where the honey shines through, notes of biscuit, herbal hops. Light body. Mouthfeel is thin, cool, faint carb.

This is a solid beer from a reliable local brewery. It's light and refreshing, very drinkable, with just enough notes of sweetness and spice to place it above most blondes. It lies confidently between the easy-going lawnmower beers and the bigger, bolder brews out there. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A light bodied ale. A smooth refreshing blonde, flavored with real California honey to enhance your drinking pleasure."