Liquid Love Sad Pug 2Pk

Liquid Love Sad Pug 2Pk is a two-can pack of imperial smoothie stout brewed collaboratively by Liquid Love Brewing Co. and Maplewood Brewery in Illinois. This double milk stout leans into the thick, dessert-forward character that defines the smoothie stout category, carrying a 3.9 out of 5 rating on Untappd across nearly 300 consumer reviews.

Quick Facts: Style: Imperial / Double Milk Stout  |  Origin: Illinois, USA  |  Format: 2-Pack  |  Brewery: Liquid Love Brewing Co. (Wheeling / Buffalo Grove, IL) in collaboration with Maplewood Brewery (Chicago, IL)

Production & Heritage

Liquid Love Brewing Co. operates out of the Wheeling and Buffalo Grove area of suburban Chicago, guided by a brewing philosophy they call "Arterial Alchemy" — a commitment to using the freshest available ingredients. For Sad Pug, the brewery partnered with Maplewood Brewery, a respected Chicago operation based in the Logan Square neighborhood since 2014. The imperial smoothie stout style builds on a milk stout foundation with lactose for body and sweetness, scaled up to imperial strength for a richer, more decadent result.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted malt and chocolate dominate the nose, followed by a subtle dairy-like sweetness characteristic of the milk stout base. A faint creaminess rounds out the initial impression.

Taste: The palate opens thick and velvety, with lactose-driven sweetness meeting roasted grain and dark chocolate. At mid-palate, the imperial weight becomes apparent — this is a full-bodied, dessert-like stout with substantial malt depth. Consumer reviews note that once carbonation settles, the flavors coalesce into a cohesive and satisfying profile.

Finish: The finish lingers with residual sweetness and roasted bitterness in balance. A smooth, coating texture stays on the palate, consistent with the smoothie stout style.

How to Drink Sad Pug

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at around 45–50°F to let the full aroma and body develop — drinking straight from the can masks much of the complexity. Sad Pug works in a Stout Float paired with vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert drink. It also holds up in a Black Velvet variation, combining the imperial stout with dry sparkling cider for textural contrast. For a cocktail-adjacent option, use it as the base of a Beer Flip shaken with a whole egg, simple syrup, and nutmeg — the thick body and sweetness provide a sturdy foundation.

Best For

• Sharing with a fellow craft beer enthusiast over a weekend session
• Pairing with a rich dessert course after dinner
• Exploring the Illinois craft brewing scene beyond downtown Chicago
• Gift-pairing alongside another Maplewood or Liquid Love collaboration release

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sad Pug taste like? Sad Pug is a thick, sweet imperial stout with prominent roasted malt, chocolate, and lactose-driven creaminess typical of the smoothie stout style. The body is heavy and dessert-forward, finishing with lingering roast and residual sweetness.

How does Sad Pug compare to Maplewood Fat Pug? Maplewood's Fat Pug is an oatmeal milk stout — a lighter, more sessionable beer that won Gold at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival and Bronze in 2017. Sad Pug takes the milk stout concept to imperial scale, resulting in a significantly richer, thicker, and more intense drinking experience.

Is Sad Pug good for sipping neat? Yes — this imperial smoothie stout is best enjoyed slowly from a proper glass at cellar temperature, where its full body and layered sweetness can develop as it warms slightly.

Where is Sad Pug made? Sad Pug is a collaboration between Liquid Love Brewing Co., based in the Wheeling and Buffalo Grove area of suburban Chicago, and Maplewood Brewery, located in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.

What foods pair well with Sad Pug? Rich chocolate cake or brownies complement the roasted malt backbone. Salted caramel desserts play off the lactose sweetness. Smoked brisket or barbecue ribs contrast the stout's sweetness with savory depth. Blue cheese or aged gouda offer a sharp counterpoint to the beer's creaminess. Bread pudding with a bourbon glaze mirrors the imperial weight.

What sizes does Sad Pug come in? Sad Pug is available in a 2-pack format; individual can size has not been independently confirmed, though many craft imperial stouts in this category are packaged in 16 oz cans.

Is Sad Pug worth the price? Sad Pug positions as a specialty collaboration release in the imperial stout category, where small-batch production and dual-brewery involvement typically command a modest premium over standard craft stouts — the 2-pack format keeps the commitment manageable for those exploring the style.

Why Sad Pug?

The collaboration between Liquid Love and Maplewood brings together a suburban upstart and an established Chicago brewery with proven stout credentials — Maplewood's Fat Pug has earned GABF medals in the milk stout category. Sad Pug scales that foundation to imperial proportions, entering the smoothie stout space with a heavy, dessert-forward profile that rewards slow sipping. The 2-pack format is practical for a beer at this intensity, offering enough to share or to enjoy across two sessions. For drinkers interested in what the broader Illinois craft scene is producing beyond the usual flagships, this collaboration represents a focused, style-specific release worth investigating.