Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout

Tasting Summary

These comments are the opinion of the individual reviewer and represent what they thought of the beer on a particular day in a particular pub. If a review is less favourable, it may be because the beer suffered somewhere in the supply chain between them and the brewery.

The Compass Alehouse, Gravesend, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	07 Mar 2026
Hogan Sampling		24 Jan 2026	My first stout of the day or even a similarly dark one. Presented with good creamy head and lacing and lasting. A very dry malty first hit. A spicy dark fruitiness leaping up complemented with a coffee bitterness. A bitter maltiness with hints of dark chocolate winning over. A dry hoppiness sloshing downwards. Labelled on this micro's blackboard as iconic, it is described as the iconic BBF (Bristol Beer Factory) Milk Stout. Presented in superb condition and tasting very moreish, this made it a real treat to end on, on this visit.
Hogan Sampling	Not Tried	11 Jan 2025
Philip Pirrip		07 Sep 2019

The Just Reproach, Deal, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Jack William		12 Feb 2026	Smooth but rather sweet.

The River Ale House, East Greenwich, Greater London

The Harp, Charing Cross, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		13 Sep 2025	The most authentic of the milk stouts in really superb condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Apr 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	13 Oct 2017
Philip Pirrip		05 Jun 2017
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	22 May 2017
Philip Pirrip		22 May 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	18 May 2017
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jul 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	21 Jul 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	16 May 2014
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 May 2014

Sonder (formerly The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse; The Thirty-Nine Steps Alehouse), Broadstairs, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		12 Jul 2025	A very malty first bite to this Bristol-based milk stout. Very good head and lacing and lasting throughout. Any ice-cream out there would be only too proud of its creamy head which was something to marvel at. A rising bitterness rearing up among it moreishly sweet chocolatey notes and hints of dark fruits getting in on the act. A hoppy note or two bobbing up and down and playing a good tune aided by its Challenger and Fuggles. A lovely sweet maltiness and a coffee-infused bitter dryness pervading my palate and lingering. Not a bad price either at £4.30 for a 4.5%.

Parkerville, Herne Bay, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Hogan Sampling		29 Mar 2025	It came with good head and lacing on this Bristol-based milk stout. A slightly malty first hit and a bittersweet mouthfeel from all the chocolatey infusions therein. A pleasantly dry bitterness lingered.
Jack William	Not Tried	30 Jun 2022
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	25 Sep 2020
Andrew	Not Tried	23 Sep 2020

The Dog & Bell, Deptford, Greater London

The Hovelling Boat Inn, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		12 Jul 2024	Not exciting at £4 a pint.
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Apr 2024
Dosser		17 Nov 2023	In superb condition
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	23 Sep 2023
Dosser		11 Aug 2023	Superb stout at £3.80.
Dosser		15 Jul 2023	Top stout. Good temperature.
Dosser		19 Feb 2022	In good condition but too sweet for me. £3.40 a pop.

The Fynn (formerly The Georgi Fin), Worthing, West Sussex

Stormbird, Camberwell, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	24 Oct 2023
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Aug 2019
Philip Pirrip		16 Aug 2017	All real ales still £3 a pint anytime, any day

Nelson Arms, Tonbridge, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Sep 2023
Philip Pirrip		29 Aug 2023	The head and lacing retention said it all

Lord Harrowby, Grantham, Lincolnshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel		11 Aug 2023	Smooth creamy and not too sickly sweet delicious nectar.

Furlongs Ale House, Faversham, Kent

The Tamworth Tap, Tamworth, Staffordshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		12 Apr 2023

The Plum Tree, Plumstead, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		02 Mar 2023	Probably the very best of this ale I have had anywhere
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	26 Jul 2019
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	22 Jul 2019

The Dolphin, Eastbourne, East Sussex

The Long Dog (formerly The Dartford Jug), Dartford, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
ChrisE		27 Nov 2021

Southampton Arms, Gospel Oak, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Magnus Greel	Not Tried	26 May 2021
Dosser		20 May 2012

Leyton Orient Supporters Club, Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		22 Feb 2020	Great.
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	31 Oct 2014

The Admiral's Arm, Queenborough, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Archie14		15 Feb 2020
Archie14		14 Feb 2020	Deliciously smooth
Archie14	Not Tried	12 Feb 2020
Philip Pirrip		05 Jan 2017	I had sampled this with creamer on handpump and from gravity and plumped for my pint on gravity and it was superb

The White Swan, Charlton, Greater London

Tap East, Stratford, Greater London

York Tap, York, North Yorkshire

The Berry, Walmer, Kent

The Catford House (formerly Catford Constitutional Club), Catford, Greater London

Suttons Radio, Lewisham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	08 Apr 2019
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	07 Apr 2019
Philip Pirrip		02 Apr 2019	A fine pint
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	10 Jan 2018
Philip Pirrip		07 Jan 2018	Not quite so good as the other day
Philip Pirrip		05 Jan 2018

Royal Albert, New Cross, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		31 Jan 2019	Not quite the peak condition of yesterday
Philip Pirrip		30 Jan 2019	Always a decidedly professional brew, good enough to have a second one for sure
Philip Pirrip		02 Dec 2018	Always the professional brew from BBF

The Door Hinge, Welling, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		16 Nov 2018	Superb head, lacing and condition
Philip Pirrip		10 Nov 2018
Philip Pirrip		05 Jan 2018

The Rusty Bucket, Eltham, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	19 Oct 2018
Philip Pirrip		18 Oct 2018
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	11 Oct 2018

Crate Brewery, Hackney, Greater London

Star & Garter, Bromley, Greater London

Euston Tap, Euston, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	15 Jun 2018
Jack William	Not Tried	30 Nov 2016
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	29 Dec 2014
Nick Willis	Not Tried	04 Oct 2014
Philip Pirrip		30 Apr 2012
Stephen Harris	Not Tried	27 Feb 2012

The Kentish Belle, Bexleyheath, Greater London

The Conqueror Alehouse, Ramsgate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
Dosser		24 Nov 2017	Very nice

The Cock Tavern, Hackney, Greater London

Leyton Star, Leyton, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		12 Oct 2016	Always a nice discovery on a bar. I should probably describe it as ‘nourishing’.

Post Office Vaults, Birmingham, West Midlands

Who	Score	When	Notes
Blair		17 May 2016	Delicious milk stout, went down a treat.

The Firkin Alehouse, Folkestone, Kent

The Cellars Alehouse, Maidstone, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		28 Dec 2015	In excellent condition.

The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer, Bristol, Avon

The Hare & Billet, Blackheath, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip	Not Tried	25 Sep 2015
Philip Pirrip		18 Sep 2015	Newly on but too fresh and clip left turned round after mine was pulled. Sickly too

The White Lion Inn, Bridgnorth, Shropshire

John O'Gaunt Inn, Hungerford, Berkshire

Leyton Engineer (formerly Leyton Technical), Leyton, Greater London

The Albion, Winchester, Hampshire

Bridge Inn, Bristol, Avon

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		15 Sep 2014

Pelt Trader, City, Central London

The Ale House, Stroud, Gloucestershire

The Flower Pot, Maidstone, Kent

Schooner Inn, Southwick, West Sussex

The Evening Star, Brighton, East Sussex

The Snowdrop Inn, Lewes, East Sussex

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		22 Mar 2014

The Barley Mow, Bristol, Avon

The Marine Hotel, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Who	Score	When	Notes
McGargle		21 Oct 2013	Brave to brew and brave to stock this was an excellent example of a classic style. Coffee, chocolate with a distinct milky overlay - top stuff.

Catford Bridge Tavern, Catford, Greater London

The Beer Hall, Staveley, Cumbria

The Wenlock Arms, Hoxton, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Philip Pirrip		11 Jun 2012	Seems a resurgence of Milk Stouts at the moment. Had none for years and some on Friday last and tonight!

Planet Thanet Easter Beer Festival 2012, Margate, Kent

Who	Score	When	Notes
oz11		07 Apr 2012	4.5% according to the label on the cask.

Duke of Wellington, Dalston, Greater London

Who	Score	When	Notes
Stephen Harris		29 Jan 2012	Black, rich and lactose sweet, with a decent hit of Challenger hops in the finish.

London Drinker Beer and Cider Festival 2011, King's Cross / St Pancras, Central London

Who	Score	When	Notes
thebrewingman		09 Mar 2011	Sweetish and creamy.