Oreo Speedwagon Review: Lake Time Brewery Milk Stout

Lake Time Brewery calls Oreo Speedwagon a chocolate vanilla milk stout, and that description sets the right expectation: a dark, soft-edged beer built around dessert-like flavors rather than hop bite. I rate it 3.87 out of 5. At 5.6% ABV, it sits in approachable territory for a sweet stout, while the published 26 IBU figure gives it a little bitterness to keep the finish from feeling completely flat.

My interest in this one starts with the balance implied by the style. The appeal is not simply piling sweetness on sweetness. A good milk stout should let dark malt, smooth body and a restrained roastiness frame any added flavor, then leave enough bitterness to pull the palate back for another sip. Based on its public description and style, Oreo Speedwagon sounds designed for that cozy, rounded end of the stout spectrum. It is also a beer with a memorable name that nods to the cream-filled cookie without needing to turn the whole glass into liquid frosting.

Oreo Speedwagon at a glance

The rating shown here is the supplied community score; no rating count was provided. The IBU value appears in third-party beer listings rather than a detailed brewery technical sheet. The calorie figure is an estimate from a third-party listing, not a brewery-published nutrition fact. I have not filled in missing ingredient details by guessing. If you are new to this style, my primer on what makes a milk stout sweet and smooth explains the key distinction, while my guide to what IBU means puts the bitterness number in context.

Lake Time Brewery and the Clear Lake setting

Lake Time Brewery is based in Clear Lake, in northern Iowa, a town whose identity is closely tied to the water and its relaxed lakeside pace. The brewery was founded by Bob and Suzy Rolling. Bob began homebrewing before turning that interest into a business plan, and the taproom opened in downtown Clear Lake in 2013. Early production was small-batch, brewed on site; the business later expanded into a production facility and added canning in 2018. Those details help explain the brewery name: Lake Time is meant to evoke unhurried time with family, friends and a good beer, rather than a strict clock-watching kind of evening.

That background makes Oreo Speedwagon a fitting local-style release. Its easygoing strength and sweet stout profile suggest a beer aimed at lingering over conversation, dessert or a cool evening, not one built to overwhelm the palate. Lake Time has grown from a tiny operation into a brewery able to can its beer, but this particular stout still reads as a personable, taproom-friendly idea: familiar comfort flavors, interpreted through a craft beer lens.

ABV, IBU and ingredients: what is confirmed?

Oreo Speedwagon is listed at 5.6% ABV. That places it firmly in the middleweight range for a sweet stout: strong enough to carry a rounded malt body, but not so high that the alcohol should dominate a serving. For a reference point, that is a more casual proposition than many imperial stouts, which can use a much higher alcohol level to support intense roast, chocolate or barrel flavors. I would expect a more sessionable profile here, while still treating it as a full-flavored beer rather than a light lager.

The listed bitterness is 26 IBU. IBU is a brewing measurement that estimates bitterness potential, but it does not tell the whole story in a beer with sweetness, dark malt and a creamy body. The roasted malt character can contribute its own dry or bitter impression, while residual sweetness may make a measured bitterness feel softer. The number suggests that Oreo Speedwagon is not intended to be aggressively bitter, but it should have some balancing structure. My explainer on how to interpret IBU in the glass covers why the same figure can taste different from one beer to another.

Lake Time and the listings I checked do not publish a complete hop bill or malt bill for this beer. I cannot responsibly name specific varieties or claim a precise grist. The style and description do point toward a stout base, and the brewery describes chocolate and vanilla notes, but those are tasting cues, not a recipe disclosure. In practical terms, this is best understood by what is confirmed: a sweet milk stout, 5.6% ABV, 26 listed IBU, and a stated chocolate-vanilla profile.

For homebrewers, the gap between a recipe and a flavor description is worth respecting. Chocolate character can come from roasted or specialty malts, cocoa, flavor additions, or a combination, and vanilla aroma can be produced in more than one way. Without a brewery recipe, it would be pure guesswork to attribute the effect to a specific malt or adjunct. My guide to base and specialty malts is useful background if you want to understand what the grain bill can contribute without treating a general style description as a confirmed recipe.

What does Oreo Speedwagon taste like?

The brewery describes this beer as a silky-smooth chocolate vanilla milk stout. I read that as a promise of soft texture first, then layered sweetness rather than a sharp, dry roast. In the glass, I would expect an opaque deep brown to near-black pour, with a tan head that gives the beer a little visual lift. The label art and community photos show a classic dark stout appearance, but an image cannot prove body or carbonation; those are expectations based on the style and the brewery description.

On the nose, chocolate should lead, with a sweeter vanilla impression behind it. Think cocoa and cookie cream rather than bitter baking chocolate, with roasted malt underneath to keep the aroma recognizably stout-like. The flavor should open soft and rounded, showing chocolate, some gentle roast and a dessert-like sweetness. Vanilla can read as a smooth, creamy note that rounds the edges instead of taking over the glass. There is no published hop bill to support claims about a particular citrus, pine or herbal aroma, so I would not expect hops to be the headline here.

The finish is where the 26 IBU figure matters most. A sweet stout needs enough contrast that the last sip does not simply linger as sugar. If the bitterness is well integrated, it should give a lightly roasty, cocoa-like close, with the chocolate and vanilla fading together. The alcohol level is modest enough that warmth should not be the main finish. This is not the sort of stout I would choose for sharp espresso bitterness or a bone-dry, austere roast; its appeal is comfort and a softer dessert profile.

Texture is central to the promise. The brewery uses the phrase silky smooth, and the milk stout family tends to aim for a rounder impression than a lean dry stout. I would describe the intended body as medium and creamy rather than heavy or syrupy. The head also matters: beer foam and head retention influence the first sip and carry aroma toward the nose, so a sensible pour into a clean glass should be more rewarding than drinking straight from a can. Give it a moment to settle, then let the chocolate and vanilla aromas open.

How I would serve it

I would serve Oreo Speedwagon cool, but not ice-cold. A little time out of the refrigerator can make the chocolate, vanilla and roast easier to pick out. A nonic pint works well for a casual pour, while a small tulip or stout glass concentrates the aroma and gives the creamy head room. Pour steadily down the side, then straighten the glass near the end to build a soft cap. If a nitro version is specifically labeled, follow its pouring instructions; the standard beer should not be assumed to be nitrogenated just because it is described as silky.

For a first taste, try a few sips without food. Then compare it with something mildly sweet or salty. That will show whether the chocolate character feels more like cocoa, cookie, or a roasty stout backbone. My guide to getting more flavor from beer covers serving temperature, glassware and pour choices that can reveal more detail without turning a simple beer into a science project.

Food pairings for this chocolate vanilla stout

Oreo Speedwagon naturally points toward dessert, but I would avoid pairing it only with foods that are equally sweet. Chocolate cake, brownies and chocolate sandwich cookies can make a fun match, especially if the beer has enough roast and bitterness to keep the combination from becoming cloying. Vanilla ice cream can soften the roast and make the pairing feel like a float without actually mixing the beer and ice cream. Try a small pour alongside a brownie first, then decide if a larger dessert pairing is what you want.

There is also a good case for salty and savory food. Aged cheddar, blue cheese in a small portion, toasted nuts or a pretzel can bring contrast to the stout’s sweet side. Grilled sausages, barbecue pork and charred onions make a more substantial dinner pairing: the savory fat and browned edges play well against chocolate malt, while a little bitterness refreshes the palate. I would avoid very delicate fish or crisp salads, which could disappear beside a dark, sweet beer.

For a broader look at matching flavors, see my guides to pairing beer with desserts, beer and chocolate and the general beer and food pairing framework. A simple rule works especially well here: choose one dominant dessert note, then balance it with salt, roast, or a less-sweet accompaniment.

Oreo Speedwagon compared with other stouts

The best comparison is another milk stout rather than a high-strength barrel-aged beer. Lake Time presents Oreo Speedwagon as smooth, sweet and chocolate-vanilla led. Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro is a useful style reference for a creamy, familiar milk stout, though the nitro format gives it a different texture and the beers should not be treated as recipe twins. Oreo Speedwagon sounds more explicitly dessert-flavored; Left Hand is a straightforward style benchmark.

For a more intense chocolate experience, my Pinche Guey review covers a barrel-aged Mexican chocolate imperial stout. That beer is a much bigger, richer proposition, with a different strength and flavor scale. Oreo Speedwagon is closer to the casual end of the stout spectrum: lower ABV, less emphasis on barrel character, and an easier role as an after-dinner pint. The site guide to stout beer brands and styles is useful if you want to see how milk stouts fit beside dry stouts, oatmeal stouts and imperial examples.

Vanilla also creates a natural comparison point. My roundup of vanilla-flavored beers includes beers that use the flavor in different ways, from subtle warmth to overt dessert character. For a wider chocolate angle, these chocolate-friendly beers show how roast, sweetness and cocoa can vary across styles. Oreo Speedwagon’s charm, at least on paper, is that it keeps its proposition direct: chocolate, vanilla and a smooth milk stout base.

Where to find Oreo Speedwagon

Oreo Speedwagon is a Lake Time Brewery beer from Clear Lake, Iowa, and its distribution may be more regional than nationally available. The brewery is the most dependable place to check current taproom and package availability; availability can change with the season and production run. I did not find a confirmed Saucey listing for this exact beer, so I have not added a misleading direct-buy button. Instead, the alternatives below are real stout products with existing Saucey links in the site system. They are not claimed to be identical, but each offers a similar chocolate, milk stout, coffee stout or dessert-stout route.

Five similar stouts to try

If Lake Time’s beer is outside your area, these are the five alternatives I would consider first. I have aimed for beers that share at least one useful feature: a creamy milk stout base, chocolate character, or a roast-forward dessert profile.

For a direct milk stout comparison, start with Left Hand. For chocolate depth, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is the closest flavor cue. Founders Breakfast Stout and Guinness Nitro Cold Brew move toward coffee and roast, while Belching Beaver brings a peanut-butter dessert angle. As with any delivery option, availability is location-dependent and should be checked at the merchant.

My verdict

Oreo Speedwagon looks like a likable, accessible take on the sweet stout idea. The most appealing combination is clear and easy to understand: a smooth milk stout, chocolate character, a touch of vanilla, and a moderate strength that does not demand a special occasion. The published 26 IBU provides a reasonable counterweight on paper, while 5.6% ABV makes it approachable for a slow pint or dessert pairing.

I would reach for it when the mood calls for a soft, chocolate-led stout rather than an aggressive imperial pour. It should work especially well with brownies, cookies, a slice of chocolate cake, or savory food with a little char. The main limitation for a distant drinker is availability: a regional brewery beer can be harder to track down than a national brand, and the full recipe details are not published. Even so, the brewery’s own description gives enough to set expectations and the supplied 3.87 rating points to a well-regarded community beer. It earns a 3.87 out of 5 from me as a flavorful, clearly positioned milk stout.

FAQs

What style of beer is Oreo Speedwagon?

Oreo Speedwagon is a milk stout, also described as a sweet stout, from Lake Time Brewery.

What is the ABV of Oreo Speedwagon?

Oreo Speedwagon is listed at 5.6% ABV.

What is the IBU of Oreo Speedwagon?

Third-party listings publish 26 IBU. The brewery does not appear to publish an official technical sheet for this figure.

What does Oreo Speedwagon taste like?

Lake Time describes it as a silky-smooth chocolate vanilla milk stout. Expect a sweet stout profile with chocolate and vanilla as the stated flavor cues.

How many calories are in Oreo Speedwagon?

One third-party listing estimates about 170 calories per 12-ounce serving. This is not an official brewery nutrition figure.

Where is Lake Time Brewery?

Lake Time Brewery is in Clear Lake, Iowa. The taproom opened in downtown Clear Lake in 2013.

References

• Lake Time Brewery, brewery story and beer description: https://www.laketimebrewery.com/
• Lake Time Brewery, Oreo Speedwagon beer listing and community rating data: https://untappd.com/b/lake-time-brewery-oreo-speedwagon/2438266
• BeerMenus, Oreo Speedwagon style listing and calorie estimate: https://www.beermenus.com/beers/238500-lake-time-oreo-speedwagon
• This Is North Iowa, Lake Time Brewery history: https://thisisnorthiowa.com/lake-time-brewery/
• Clear Lake Iowa, Lake Time Brewery background and expansion: https://clearlakeiowa.com/anchored-in-clear-lake-yet-forging-ahead-on-the-business-frontier/