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Fairytale of Brew York

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Fairytale of Brew York is the brewery's annual Christmas milk stout at 4.9%, released every winter with a new recipe built on a confectionery theme. The 2026 edition is modelled on a chocolate snowball: chocolate malt forms the base for toasted coconut, and a marshmallow sweetness leads into a smooth, creamy finish. Lactose, oats and vanilla are part of the recipe. Earlier vintages took up gingerbread, pistachio with cherry, or walnut. It appears alongside the stronger Nightmare and the sour Dreams of Brew York.

ABV
4.9%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark35
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolatetoastyvanilla
chocolate
toasty
vanilla
nutty
roasted
coffee
Aroma
Chocolate dominates the nose, rich and roasted without harshness, accompanied by warm vanilla notes and a subtle toasted coconut backdrop.
also:dark fruit
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Fairytale of Brew York

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to nearly black in the glass, with a warm mahogany translucence at the edges when held to light. A dense, tan head builds and clings to the rim with notable staying power. Carbonation is moderate and even, creating fine bubbles that rise steadily through the dark body.

deep mahoganypersistent headmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

Chocolate dominates the nose, rich and roasted without harshness, accompanied by warm vanilla notes and a subtle toasted coconut backdrop. Beneath lies a faint coffee and cocoa powder character, grounded by the creamy sweetness of lactose and oats. The overall impression is confectionery and approachable rather than intensely bitter.

chocolate, vanillatoasted coconutcreamy sweetnessroasted cocoa

◐ Taste

Entry is smooth and malty, with chocolate and vanilla meeting a marshmallow-like sweetness from the lactose. The mid-palate develops a gentle toastiness and nutty undertone—echoes of the coconut base—while the creamy oat body prevents any drying sensation. Bitterness remains restrained at 18 IBU, allowing the confectionery character to persist without turning cloying.

smooth chocolatemarshmallow sweetnesscreamy oat bodynutty toastiness

◑ Finish

The finish is gentle and lingering, fading to a soft vanilla and cocoa warmth on the palate. No sharp edges or astringency; instead, a milk-stout creaminess carries through to the aftertaste.

soft vanilla fadecreamy aftertaste
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
82
Appearance
80
Finish
80
Serve at 10–14°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Drink within a year. Standard stouts are best fresh but hold reasonably well for 6–12 months.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Fairytale of Brew York

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About Milk Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Milk Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Milk Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, sweet, creamy character as Fairytale of Brew York will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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