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Tip the Cow

United States·Cocoa Espresso Milk Stout
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Iowa Beer Brackets winner 2019 and repeat finalist — the most beloved dark beer in Iowa. A milk stout with lactose sweetness, chocolate depth and a silky smooth body. Accessible enough to convert stout sceptics, complex enough to satisfy dark beer devotees.

ABV
6.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark37
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastedchocolatecoffee
roasted
chocolate
coffee
dark fruit
Aroma
The nose opens with roasted grain and cocoa powder, followed by espresso and dark chocolate.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Tip the Cow

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to near-black color with a dense, tan foam head that clings to the glass in persistent lacing. The body is opaque and full, with minimal light transmission. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a creamy visual texture.

deep brown-blackdense tan headopaque bodypersistent lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with roasted grain and cocoa powder, followed by espresso and dark chocolate. Subtle notes of lactose sweetness provide a soft undertone without masking the roasted character. The overall impression is malt-forward and coffee-driven, with no harsh burnt edges.

roasted malt, cocoaespresso, dark chocolatelactose sweetnessbalanced, not burnt

◐ Taste

The palate opens creamy and full, with immediate cocoa and chocolate depth. Coffee bitterness arrives mid-sip at moderate intensity, complemented by the lactose-derived sweetness that prevents harshness. The body is silky and smooth, with enough roasted grain character to satisfy dark beer enthusiasts while remaining accessible to stout newcomers.

chocolate, cocoa depthcoffee bitternesslactose sweetnesssilky, full body

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and moderately dry, with lingering cocoa and coffee notes that fade gradually. A subtle sweetness persists on the palate without becoming cloying.

clean, moderate drynesscocoa-coffee fade
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
79
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 Tip the Cow

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About Cocoa Espresso Milk Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Cocoa Espresso 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 Cocoa Espresso Milk Stout

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

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