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Tip the Cow

SingleSpeed Brewing Company
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🌍 United States · Cocoa Espresso Milk Stout · One of 1 Cocoa Espresso Milk Stouts in hopIQ

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
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Cocoa Espresso Milk Stout.
Malt character
chocolate
roasted
coffee
Distinctive notes
dark fruit

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
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Tip the Cow

Serve at 10–14°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Tip the Cow

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.

Compare with another beer →