SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Beer Release: 12pm

Event Start Time: 2pm

Background

In the early twentieth century, when modern medicine was not nearly as advanced as it is today, beer could be, and often was, considered a tonic for a variety of maladies. The “milk” or “cream” stout was created specifically for this purpose and was marketed to ill patients and nursing mothers (to this day, brewer’s yeast remains a sought-after ingredient to help with lactation).

This style of sweet stouts originated in England, and while the name Milk or Cream stouts are no longer legally viable there, this style of beer is still brewed to this day and gets its name from the non-fermentable milk sugar lactose, which acts as a sweetener to the beer.

While we would hardly prescribe beers for invalids or new mothers, we do believe in the medicinal properties of alcohol when used responsibly—it’s both a social lubricant and an intoxicant that can make life a little more bearable and delicious when used in moderation. This alchemy has always been inspiring to us, and this milk stout allows us to express it in the sweetest way possible.

What’s in a Name?

Vianne, the protagonist in the novel and film Chocolat, arrives in her very provincial (and very fictional) French small town where she opens a chocolate shop and begins to expand people’s palates and minds, most of the time in that order. She is a peculiar figure at first, and quite possibly a witch, but she wins more and more of the townspeople over by giving them tastes of luxurious chocolates, each of them chosen to address the private conflicts that her customers grapple with. 

We chose to honor the character of Vianne both because of the way her fictional journey resonates with our very real one, but because we have also invited Tarah Warner, a Berkshires-based chocolatier to join us in celebration of this beer launch.

Launch Party Details:

While we believe that Vianne (the beer) would be delectable on its own, we also believe that it will be best enjoyed while sampling a variety of truffles made by our friend Tarah. Promising to offer “a taste of the Berkshires in every bite,” Tarah shares our passion for creating unique recipes using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible. Her truffles are all decadent while still expertly balancing flavors, and we couldn’t think of a sweeter pairing for the debut of this small-batch milk stout.