Harpoon Chocolate Stout - Harpoon Brewery

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Strong aroma is seriously decadent, mainly sweet chocolate with hints of - is that cherry? - as well as caramel and roast coffee. It pours a rich sable just a snip above black with a very thick and quite persistent tan head. Malty flavor has a strong overtone of chocolate, decadent and not too sweet, hints of coffee and caramel, just a whisper of fruit. Texture, though, is a bit weak - body and fizz are both lacking. However, that is the only weak spot in an otherwise scrumptious brewski. Finish is chocolaty and just a little smoky. Overall, quite satisfying.

Serving type: growler

11-18-2012 23:25:40 | More by Cyberkedi

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a milk chocolate brown with a small tan head of tiny bubbles just around the edges.

Nose of strong milk chocolate, roasted chocolate malt and some black patent malts, Im reminded of Swiss Miss powdered chocolate when I smell this beer from a snifter.

Taste of sweet milk stout, chocolate, very light body with an airy milk stout presence. In the back room, there is some tiny hop presence if you seek it out. Very light on the hops, but they are there. One thing I did notice more as it warmed was black patent malt flavors - not particularly a flavor I really look forward to in an American stout.

Drinkability pretty high due to its sessionability, a nice quarter of a Winter package from Harpoon. While there are better American Stouts out there, this one does pretty well for a beer coming from a reasonably priced 12 pack.
---

I had a very similar experience to in the bottle with the the growler version of this beer. I actually thought this was smoother than I remember coming from a growler. Probably most likely due to a lower carbonation, but also likely to be because it was fresher and refridgerated its entire life. The chocolate flavors also seemed to be more preserved than I remember them.

Serving type: growler

12-14-2011 00:13:25 | More by alpinebryant

glid02

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Growler shared by Ding - thanks!

Pours a dark brown color with a half-finger light brown head. The head recedes into a wispy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of a strong combination of dark and milk chocolate. Not cocoa nibs, not chocolate malts, just chocolate.

Tastes similar to how it smells however the flavor is maltier than the aroma lets on. Chocolate malt flavors with light hints of roastiness up front sweeten midway through the sip. The ending is mildly bitter leaving hints of chocolate lingering on the palate.

Mouthfeel is alright. It's got a slightly thinner than average body with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is good. I finished my glass however I'm not sure about another.

Overall I have to say that the first half of my glass went down quickly then the flavors began to wear on me. It tastes slightly as though the chocolate was piped in as an adjunct though it's still solidly drinkable. Worth a shot if you like chocolate however it lacks the body of some other intensely chocolate beers (think Choklat) to make it very good.

Serving type: growler

12-22-2009 03:45:06 | More by glid02

Duhast500

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Held to the light this beer becomes opaque. Very black with a slight foamy brown head. Not very carbonated but the growler I had sitting in the fridge for a week so that may have been my fault.

The smell, as by the name, smells strong with a chocolate flavor. Somewhat coffee in nature the smell bursts out from the first pour. Has a slight almond smell as well.

The taste is smoky, somewhat with that same chocolate and coffee flavor to it. Almond and a soft hop taste rounds this brew out. If you are not used to a stout with this type of taste it may take you a sec to get used to it.

The mouth feel is a bit strong. Since I like a beer that is a bit strong I was quite happy with the results.

My first real experience with a beer that was chocolate flavored. I was quite happy to say that I enjoyed it very much.

Serving type: growler

12-06-2008 07:04:44 | More by Duhast500

TeamMathis

West Virginia

4.06/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance: Black with a quickly dissipating dark, tan head.
Smell: Intense chocolate with roasted coffee beans.
Taste: Chocolate with roasted coffee beans. Bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Watery yet with decent carbonation.

I really like this stout. The chocolate smell is one of the most pronounced of any beer claiming "chocolate" in the title. The drink greets with chocolate near the front of the tongue, but in the back of the mouth there is the roasted coffee beans aspect. It turns bitter as it goes down. I will get this again next Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 02:37:07 | More by TeamMathis

DrewSnyc667

Massachusetts

2.18/5  rDev -39.4%
look: 1.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle into a pint glass

A - Pours like dark muddy pond water that isn't that appealing. No head at all, dark and flat, cant see through it

S - Sweet roasted malts

T - Artificial toasty sweetness and the chocolate tastes like bad yoo-hoo, bitter

M - Feels flat, nothing there

O - Pass on this one

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:08:59 | More by DrewSnyc667

Treyliff

West Virginia

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

A- pours pitch black with a small light tan head that reduces quickly leaving no lace.

S- slightly artificial candy-like chocolate syrup, vanilla bean, grainy malt and so e graham cracker

T- sweet and chocolaty, just a trace of roasted notes, some cocoa. Finish is sweet with a bit if a grainy malt and chocolate linger

M- medium body and carbonation, creamy and velvety mouthfeel, finishes slightly thin and watery

O- simplistic stout, yet very drinkable. Pretty one dimensional but makes a good dessert beer that isn't too heavy. Reminds me of a poor mans Sam Smith Chocolate Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:14:00 | More by Treyliff

fx20736

New York

4.19/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a nonic, served at room temp.

oil black with a billowing nougat head

aroma: chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate. Chocolate brownies, chocolate syrup, chocolate malt. the malt sneaks in at the end is a nice toasty chocolate malt.

mouthfeel: pretty thin, too thin for the style.

taste: rich and malty with lots of chocolate and just a touch of hops for bitterness.

notes: decent, tasty, easy drinking, great aroma. This beer would benefit from a bigger mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 01:29:22 | More by fx20736

hornsup

Virginia

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle with date poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint

A: Poured a deep, dark brown color with a weakish khaki head that keeps a thin layer on the top while you drink

S: Smells like roasted malts, nesquik powder and dark chocolate..not much else

T: Tastes like a melted milk chocolate bar, not overly sweet, slight bitterness and metallic finish at the back end. Very chocolate forward, no booze

M: Thin mouthfeel, no stout characteristic to it but it is refreshingly smooth

O: Overall, this beer achieves its goal. Its a light stout with a very chocolate forward profile, no booze to make it appealing to more than beer connoisseurs and its perfect as a dessert substitute. People have been too harsh on this. Ratings would be higher if people just considered what it set out to do. But...what can you expect of people

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 04:37:03 | More by hornsup

hosehead83

Ohio

3.31/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a standard pint glass.
Black in color with a nice cap of tan foam.
Aroma-Dark malt and cocoa powder
Taste-Herbal hop note, cocoa powder, dry finish. Flavors are not quite in harmony as they seem to exist seperately without complementing each other. Interesting but unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 16:21:17 | More by hosehead83

VoodooBear

Puerto Rico

3.19/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz. brown bottle with the "Best by" date printed on the neck. Served in a pint glass.

Appearance: Deep, dark brown, almost black color. Develops a half finger dark tan head that fizzles out into thin ring. Leaves some nice, thick, lacing.

Smell: Smells of chocolate with a hint of roasted malt.

Taste: Almost a mirror image of the smell. Mainly chocolate with some roasted malt in the background a bit of bitterness to balance it all out. Not extremely flavorful or complex, but very satisfying and interesting.

Mouthfeel: Deep and rich, very nice texture. Full bodied with little carbonation.

Overall: "Less is more", pretty much defines this beer. The chocolate hint and roasted malt presence make it very easy to enjoy and a perfect brew for a cold night with some type of chocolate dessert. It gets creamier and the chocolate flavor is more pronounced as it warms, so let it sit at room temperature for a bit the enjoy it better.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 08:12:43 | More by VoodooBear

plaid75

New York

3.4/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a deep brown hue with a two finger foamy tan head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a full blown chocolate milk.

The taste consisted of a muttled mixture of cocoa, lactose and coffee.

The mouthfeel started full and finished dry.

Overall a decent stout.

Serving type: on-tap

03-02-2013 00:32:48 | More by plaid75

mcerka

New Jersey

1.7/5  rDev -52.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Bud Light mixed with NESQUICK. Also on the bottle stating "Ale with """NATURAL""" chocolate flavor. Anything that says natural is not quite natural. Limited Edition... thank christ. It's a good thing this beer was free because if I would have spent money on it i would spit it in the closes face near me.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 22:32:40 | More by mcerka

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Pint glass pour from a bottle with a black body. Light brown head forms to about a finger in size but doesn't retain well at all. The cap had a bubbly texture and leaves only a thin ring behind. Lacing is pretty much non-existent for me.

S-Reminds me of chocolate milk in a way with a sweet milk chocolate note coming off strong. Besides that just some roasted cracked grains and a slight dark fruit hint. Mostly the milk chocolate.

T- Follows the nose with the massive amount of milk chocolate. Reminds me a bit of Choklat in a way, a rich sweet cocoa/chocolate milk like flavor. Deeply roast grains and dark fruit besides that. Some burnt hints as well.

MF- Creamy and foamy overall feel but a bit on the thin side with lower end carbonation. Burnt and roast bitterness in the finish.

Very rich flavors, especially of decadent milk chocolate. The body isn't as good as it could be but a pretty good beer nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 05:20:29 | More by cbutova

AnitaBrewski

Massachusetts

3.78/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This is a really lovely beer, I especially love that chocolatey aroma that hits you immediately upon cracking the cap off. One thing that makes Harpoon beers so great is the intersection of great beer and not too expensive. There are definitely better chocolate stouts but they tend to cost more, and for a local Bostonian, ya gotta love a good Harpoon. They need to start serving Harpoon Chocolate Stout at the party at the end of the Brewery to Brewery 148 mile bicycle ride!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:25:22 | More by AnitaBrewski

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

2.25/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Cheers to Goblinmunkey7 for giving me a bottle of this to review after I drank a bottle and complained about it

Consumed 1/23/13

Appearance: Dark brown with a small, light tan head - fades quickly to virtually nothing, leaves a tiny ring, a few spots of lacing

Smell: Doesn't particularly smell like beer, smells more like someone tried to dissolve some tootsie rolls in vodka - overall, it smells like a cheap, chocolate liqueur - oddly artificial aroma, like an artificial chocolate syrup - sweet and sugary - some dark malts, some roast in the background

Taste: Slightly more pleasant than the aroma - artificial chocolate syrup - sweet and sugary - kind of tastes like I would imagine imitation Tootsie Rolls taste like (if there is such a thing) - a strange alcohol flavor that cannot be explained by the ABV - some roast in the background, minimal bitterness, mostly just sweet

Mouthfeel: On the heavy side of thin, slick, minimal carbonation, sticky in a strange way

Overall: A great example of how not to make a chocolate stout

As I mentioned above, this kind of tastes like a watered-down chocolate liqueur with some overly sweet Tootsie Roll extract syrup. It's not the worst beer I've ever tasted (far from it), and it's not the worst thing I've ever tasted from Harpoon (I'm looking at you, Golden Wizard), but it's remarkably not good.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 05:46:55 | More by angrybabboon

fstorey

Connecticut

3.13/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A - Opaque with thin head that quickly dissipates.

S - dominated by chocolate but with milder coffee and hops aroma

T - Initially mild malt and chocolate with a hoppy bitter finish.

M - a little thinner than I expected with more carbonation than typical for a stout.

O - I think the amount of chocolate was just right, but a little short on maltiness in the taste and mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 03:42:27 | More by fstorey

Onenote81

North Carolina

4.06/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Excited to see City Bev throw this one on-tap. I've wanted to try this one as I am a sucker for chocolate stouts, and the bottles seem to elude me.

Came out a deep black with a thick frothy tan head on top. The aroma on this is amazing. Big milk chocolate, vanilla cream, malt. Really a nice, sweet aroma. The body on this is a little disappointing. Thin and lacking in body and bite. Carbonation is present, but this is too slick for the style and flavor profile.

Nice sweet chocolate flavors start this out. Vanilla sweetness fights its way in and this finishes with a slight dry note. Graham crackers, toffee bars, and more chocolate. This is sweet, for sure, but it's not overbearing in any way. I wouldn't mind having this in my fridge. Another hit for Harpoon.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2013 19:01:08 | More by Onenote81

superspak

Michigan

3.68/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 3/15/2013. Pours clear almost pitch black color with a 1 finger fairly dense mocha head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big milk chocolate, chocolate syrup, toffee, vanilla bean, light roasted malt, caramel, and light coffee. Very nice aromas with big chocolate notes and nice balance. Taste of milk chocolate, vanilla bean, caramel, toffee, roasted malt, toast, coffee, and light cream. Slight coffee bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of milk chocolate, vanilla, caramel, toast, toffee, roasted malt, and coffee on the finish for a good bit. Good flavor balance with a fair amount of robustness; but it feels a little watered down for a stout; zero cloying flavors are present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and slick mouthfeel that is ok; feels a bit thin. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a good sweet stout. Fairly robust with nice chocolate dessert flavor; and very smooth to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 05:34:33 | More by superspak

oberon

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Sticks and Stones.Poured ink black into a standard pint glass with a thin almost non existent head atop.Aromas were all fudge with some underlying roast,a dessert beer no doubt.Big sweetness from the fudge-like chocolate flavors on the palate,some underlying vanilla but the chocolate is the major player here.There is just enough roast and dryness to keep it from being overly cloying.Take this beer for what it is,it's a sweet chocolate stout and it's true to form.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2013 01:44:17 | More by oberon

Minkybut

Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured this exception beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was black and poured a rich full head that was also very dark. WOW!, the smell was supreme chocolate with a hazel nut smell. The taste was terrific, nutty, chocolate warmth that is the best beer I have tasted this winter. I would certainly buy again. Yummy!

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 19:41:37 | More by Minkybut

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Soft black color. The head fell a bit fast. Spotty residue on the glass walls as it drinks down.

Pudding and syrup aromas to the chocolate. Very milky and rather sweet. Nicely aromatic but beside mentioning some roasty coffee notes, is a little one-note. Still smells very appetizing.

Nice milky flavors of chocolate and chocolate liqueur and even artificial chocolate. Picked up some bitterness from the dark specialty malts. Not cereal-like because the malt sugars caramelized and transformed as they should have. Nice execution, but I'd be curious to see the bill of ingredients used and the way they were added. Some coffee, milk caramel, and earthy notes.

Mouthfeel suffers a bit from a thinner body. The carbonation is nice, however, and saves the day. Very drinkable.

I think Harpoon makes a good chocolate stout. I enjoyed it last year, and I'm doing the same right now.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:55:38 | More by thecheapies

DavidS88

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Here's another great one from Harpoon. Found in the Wintry Mix variety pack, Chocolate Stout is a velvety, bittersweet brew. Poured out of a 12oz bottle, this American stout is a beautiful straight-up black; none of this dark brown, translucent stuff you see from other stouts. The one knock I have to offer this beer is that there was a tiny brown head on top that disappeared nearly immediately with practically no lacing on the glass and a slight ring of foam that touched the edges of the glass. It smells like a freshly unwrapped piece of dark chocolate, bitter on the nose with maybe even some hints of dried fruit. The taste is largely the same as the nose with lots of bitter dark chocolate and is really, amazingly smooth for a malty stout. Truth be told, it's not nearly as bitter as some stouts that I have had, and that may be why I like it so much. Kick back and enjoy one of these with dessert during those cold winter months and it will warm you right up.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 02:30:45 | More by DavidS88

JasonL

4.73/5  rDev +31.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I don't care what the critics say but this is a extremely nice stout. The chocolate is a bit overwhelming but I like that in a stout. The mouthfeel lingers and is pleasant, from a stout lover I give this two thumbs up. It is not overwhelmed with high alcohol volume so it is a great fast sipper and has wonderful flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 17:38:33 | More by JasonL

abeerwiseguy

Texas

2.5/5  rDev -30.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I picked up several different Harpoon brews as part of a mixed six pack from my favorite beer mart. The label reflected Chocolate Stout but had no ABV listed.

Poured into a pint bar g;ass from a 12 oz bottle almost black with two fingers of thick brownish head that dissipated rapidly.

Had good aromas of coffee with a hint of chocolate.

Unfortunately the flavor profile left me cold. Had an almost resinous taste with hints of bitter malts and chocolate.

This beer lacks flavors and any real body that one must associate with this style. Had a very weak finish with low carbonation and no real aftertaste. Overall not a good experience. Just to make sure this was not a skunked bottle I had another before I wrote this review and had the same experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 18:30:09 | More by abeerwiseguy