24 Dec Blackwater Draw St. Nipplaus by Tony

St. Nipplaus

Blackwater Draw Brewing Co.

Bryan, College Station

Peppermint Milk Stout

ABV: 7.2%

IBUs: 17

Packaging: Draft, 12oz. Cans, Seasonal

My family and I visit Santa’s Wonderland annually as a Christmas tradition. As my family and I stop to gas up before we head out to College Station, our Beer Chronicle group chat begins going nuts. Nick tells us that Blackwater Draw has re-released St. Nipplaus this year. He goes on to say that there’s been a black hole in his life since the last time he had this beer. Trying to share a Christmas smile, I inform him that we’re headed that way, and that I’d pick up some cans if they were still open when we left. Long story short, I got the cans for the team, so here we are.

This St. Nipplaus smells of straight peppermint and chocolate. It tastes just the same. St. Nipplaus starts off sweet and creamy. It rests on the palate with a creamy maltiness that makes way for the aftertaste filled with cooling peppermint. Nick wasn’t kidding in his review when he likened this sucker to a Klondike bar!

Nothing I’ve ever had comes close to this St. Nipplaus. Nothing’s close.

I’m giving this a five star because I don’t think I’ve ever had a Milk stout this beautiful and creative.

St. Nipplaus pours a rich black-brown with a foamy two-finger head. The head is a medium brown, but as it settles down, it turns a bit lighter, and that light brown cream makes way for the lace. It’s not creamy lace. It’s not delicate lace. It’s somewhere in between. The mouthfeel is, again, creamy and the light carbonation is right on style.

This is hands-down the best Milk Stout I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting, and it blew me completely away. If hot chocolate got cold but didn’t suck, and you added alcohol, peppermint and tons of gifts beneath a fresh Christmas tree, that’s St. Nipplaus.

As I finish off my son’s Nutter Butter cookies, I can’t help but share that this makes for a terrific dessert beer.

The St. Nipplaus can features a topless Santa with red and white suspenders, cruising along with a smile. That’s all framed by a minty green and peppermint candy stripes and big, retro, calligraphic “St. Nipplaus” in red.

St. Nipplaus can be found in December in a few places in and around Bryan/College Station. A few I found were Smitty K’s, Proudest Monkey, Carney’s Pub, West End Elixir Company, World of Beer, and of course, at the brewery itself. Aside from visiting annually, I don’t know the area, so take all this with a grain of salt, I suppose.

This St. Nipplaus blew my mind. If I had to choose between light, hoppy beers and malty, heavy ones, I’ll go for the hoppy ones all day. That said, there’s no denying how delicious and creative St. Nipplaus is. What’d you think? You like it as much as me and Nick, or are you still chasing the sleigh? Let us know in the comments below!

Speaking of Nick, he fell short on his one-post-per-week commitment, so that’s why I’m posting 2 this week! Thanks to him for the beer he’s about to buy the team! Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals, and as always – Beers to you, Houston.