Mackeson Stout: The XXX that is exported to America has a higher abv than the original British milk stout which is 3% abv. Because of its low strength, sweet taste and supposed nutritional value, Mackeson has long been a beer associated with little old ladies. However, it was originally marketed at pregnant and nursing mothers. In the early 1900’s many stouts, including Guinness, were marketed as being “Good For You”. Mackeson’s famous line was “It looks good, it tastes good, and by golly it does you good!” The British government decided to clamp down on brewers marketing their products as being healthy and put a ban on the name ‘Milk Stout’ - but the milk association is still there in the picture of a milk churn on the label! Mackeson was a Kent brewery that was taken over by various other companies until the brand name ended up in the hands of Interbrew. Now available mostly in the can, bottles can still be had in some pubs.
Not many people have experienced the delicacy of the original 3% beer; of the few that have, Joeh noticed the “light coffee and chocolate flavours,” while Ol_Juntan_64 got the “faint deep roasted malt and vegetable soup stock aroma.”