Chicory Stout - Dogfish Head Brewery

Mojo

Alabama

4.01/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle -> Snifter

This beer pours up a beautiful and black with a fluffy one finger tan head. Retention is good and there is a surprising amount of lacing. The nose is mostly coffee with maybe a fresh undertone that I can't quite identify. Taste is overall kind of dry with coffee being the biggest component but also some cola and maybe toffee. Mouthfeel is thin for a stout. Nothing here spectacular, but solid nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 04:15:41 | More by Mojo

Goosehunter75

Missouri

3.05/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

A - Poured very dark. Not quite black but an attractive dark beer nonetheless. Decent tannsih looking head the went away after a few minutes

S - I picked up sweet and smoky at the same time. I just didnt smell coffee or chicory. Pleasant smell, just not what I anticipated it would be

T - Right up front I tasted smoky dark chocolate. Definately not sweet. I only picked up a slight coffee taste and the chicory really wasn't there. Maybe its just me, but I detected a very slight cherry undertone on the finish

M - Not as heavy as most stouts I've had. Wouldnt call it watery, but not a heavy stout either. It did feel dry in my mouth

O - Its a good stout. The guy at the beer counter said "Finally someone brave enough to try the chicory stout" Definately not as big a beer as I thought it would be. I'd drink it again

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 23:11:42 | More by Goosehunter75

bensbeers

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours nearly black with a tan bubbly head; when held up to light, a deep amber creeps through; good head retention and moderate lacing. Cocoa is noted first in the smell, followed by roasted coffee beans; also noticed a bit of smoky, rich vanilla. Taste is typical for a stout; chocolately, but not too sweet; bitter and smokey without being too overpowering. Mouthfeel is pretty bubbly for a stout, which adds an interesting component to it; I think the bubbles allow the flavors to open up a bit more than your average stout; virtually no aftertaste.

Overall, a good but not too noteworthy stout. Enjoyable and refreshing - really liked the way the flavors changed slightly throughout drinking. Chicory Stout makes for a good session stout - only problem is it only comes in 4-packs, which may or may not lead to you drinking the whole pack in one sitting. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 23:05:08 | More by bensbeers

magictacosinus

California

3.19/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Poured out of a 12oz bottle into a pint glass. The bottle states that the beer was bottled in 2012.

The color consists of a deepened dark color with lots of carbonation at first, consisting of a three finger head filled with enormous bubbles, and after settling down seems to leave pretty decent lacing scattered on the walls of the glass. While this isn't dark enough to the point that light doesn't pass through it, I couldn't notice too many bubbles rising to the top. It looks pretty close to the homebrew stout I made recently, which is a good sign (at least from my perspective), as it indicates a fresh look overall.

Right at the front of the nose, there are clear signs of coffee notes (in the deep, espresso variety), although most definitely the same earthy phenols resembling Mexican coffee beans. The coffee is rather predominant, and as a result there's hardly any other flavors present left from the roasted malts, yet at least I am picking up interesting smells I haven't gotten yet in a coffee stout, such as chipotle and charred woodiness. Can't pick up any of the chicory, however, which is pretty disappointing as it's advertised by DFH as a stout focusing on this flavor. There's a bit of a caramel finish, and little bit of brown sugar towards the end. While not terrible, I'm still trying to process how this will be in flavor and feel.

The flavor is pretty much more of the same, yet without the desired thick consistency that I enjoy in stouts (especially coffee-infused ones). While it is nearly a sessionable beer, I believe that some extra alcohol on this would definitely enhance the various flavors a bit more, as some extra sweetness would balance out a lot of the charred, smoky bitterness produced by the coffee notes, as well as the excessive graininess. However, I would never in a million years actually directly claim there's anything wrong here that the brewers at DFH didn't intend! This is actually a decent entry-level beer for people wanting a taste of coffee stouts. I do wish there was more spiciness in the flavor as there was in the aroma, as well as more of the chicory or woodiness. It simply feels a little too watered down and excessively grainy at times, which really makes the coffee flavor oppressive in the long run.

This is far from a drain pour or anything, but it definitely feels thinned in some ways. As a near sessionable coffee beer, it works pretty decently, although knowing the wonders DFH can do for body, this could be far more syrupy and wholesome than it is. While the coffee characteristics are pretty spot-on, the rest fizzles out, in the end.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 05:29:45 | More by magictacosinus

gr0g

New Jersey

3.23/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Jet black in color with about one finger's worth of head. Some light lace curtains left behind as it recedes. Aroma is very coffee-forward, which works for me. A ton of coffee, backed up by some roasted malt notes. It's not all that complex, but it still smells great.

If only the flavor were as straightforward and punchy... Overall flavor is dry with bitterness picking up on the finish. There's some bittersweet espresso and charred malt, but the flavor just dies from mid-palate to the finish. The initial flavor is quite good, but then it just checks out. Warming improves things slightly but not enough to make much of a difference. Mouthfeel is smooth and weighty enough for a stout, but the bubbles are a bit too prickly.

If everything about DFH Chicory Stout were as good as the aroma, this would be a winner. Look elsewhere for your coffee-forward stout needs.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 04:12:55 | More by gr0g

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Not sure why I never tried this beer back in my Dogfish Head phase but I sure am glad I only bought a single. Dark black color with a coffee colored head, not a bone-white head as the label indicated. Aroma is dry stout, coffee, hint of dark chocolate, kinda nice. Flavor has a nice coffee note but then it segues into this weird peppery thing which I guess is the chicory? Either way I don;t like it and I sure would have been sad had I bought more than one.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 00:09:42 | More by ArrogantB

TheSixthRing

California

3.75/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pours black with a deep ruby hue where light can penetrate. The head is light tan, about 2 fingers thick with fair retention.

Smell - Strong coffee aroma, with lesser notes of milk chocolate, earth and an herbal character.

Taste - Follows the nose, though the coffee flavor isn't as predominant on the tongue as one would derive from the aroma. Chocolate hits mid-taste and into the finish. Earthy. Subtle herbal qualities. Finishes with nice balance.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium in body. Thin for a stout. Fair carbonation. Goes down smooth, though not in a way that's expected of the style.

Overall - Solid flavor, but the body kills it. It's a beer I'd probably give another go, if not for the high price point.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 21:51:06 | More by TheSixthRing

Jonada

New Jersey

3.81/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Pours a dark brown, but not opaque. Hints of ruby red when held up to the light. 2 fingers of a light tan head that dissipated to a thin coating that stuck around through the whole glass and left a fair amount of lacing.

Smell: Roasted malt, milk chocolate, slight smoke, fresh coffee.

Taste: Some sweet malt thats pretty well balanced with subtle coffee and smokiness as well as a slight bitterness (from the chicory?). The finish is bittersweet. The flavors aren't super strong but they all seem to work pretty nicely together.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, but surprisingly full considering the low ABV. Medium carbonation.

Overall: One of the more underrated offerings from DFH. It doesn't measure up to a FBS or other imperial coffee stouts, but this is still a solid and highly sessionable stout. I wish Dogfish would put this in 6 packs and make it available year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:42:28 | More by Jonada

sjones5045

New Jersey

3.49/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Dogfish head does many things right but this isn't one of them. Short on smell, appearance and most importantly taste. By no means is this a bad beer, but in the rehlem of coffee stouts it's unimpressive. Bottom line, it's a fizzy weak coffee stout that just doesn't bring anything unique or different that we usually get from Dogfish Head. Won't be egar to get this again with so many other top notch coffee stouts out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 12:14:05 | More by sjones5045

Uncle_Jimmy

California

3.3/5  rDev -12%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Appearance- pours a ruby brown with one finger of light tan foam with some sustain. no lacing

Aroma- Grainy , Hay Slight coffee.

Taste- roasted dark grains at the front that gives way to a dry earthy coffee flavor. Light on the coffee but present in the finish. kind of like a dark piece of whole wheat toast. Hops work well and don't compete with the coffee.

Mouthfeel- Dry and light

Overall- A tasty lighter coffee stout. I think the best way to describe the flavor is the term earthy, but don't mistake that for a "heavy-ness" or "richness". This one is dry and light on the palette and with the lower ABV even somewhat session-able.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 23:42:39 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

ghengisflan

3.26/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Pours a nice, opaque black with hints of ruby around the edges and a 1 1/2 inch tan and creamy head.

Smell: Not getting too much of a scent before tasting, mostly roasted barley.

Taste: A smoked, woody taste dominates the first sip. Roasted barley, coffee, and a little bit of malty sweetness follow subsequently.

Mouthfeel: It's a rich beer, but it's not overly thick or viscous.

Overall: Obviously not a session beer, it was worth trying. It's not one of my favorites though.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 00:13:51 | More by ghengisflan

ranger60

New Jersey

3.51/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had it on tap at Isaac Newton's in Newtown, PA.
Very dark and opaque appearance.
Very pleasant smell, with coffee notes.
Flavor is generally good, but I'm picking up some sourness. Maybe it is actually bitterness from the chicory?
Mouthfeel is high carbonation for a stout.
Overall not bad, it might be better on nitro.

Serving type: on-tap

01-15-2013 18:09:00 | More by ranger60

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

A. Dark chocolate like black with a creamy muddy head. Nice foamy stick with each drink but it does not remain on the glass for long.

S. chocolate, coffee, licorice

T. Sour and bitter, highly acidic and a drying metallic like mouth feel. Drying black licorice aftertaste.

O. Color me unimpressed with this effort. Unbalanced with some flavored that didn't seem to mesh well. This one was not for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 03:22:48 | More by andrewjraab

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3.79/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Another unique beer from Dogfish Head.

Pours out completely black with a finger of mocha/tan head.

The aroma has a decent amount of chicory, some coffee, some roasty notes, slight dark chocolate and a woody character.

Just like the aroma there is a lot of chicory, the coffee is kinda subtle, there are roasty notes, a little bit of dark chocolate and some licorice as well. There is a decent amount of bitterness coming from the coffee and hops.

The body is the lighter side of medium and the mouthfeel is smooth and creamy.

Very easy to drink and has some nice flavors, but a little too much carbonation and not enough coffee or body keeps this from being great.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 02:59:24 | More by JohnnyMc

TheMarkE

California

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Love it. A mouthful of chocolate that turns into coffee by the time you swallow. Not nearly as thick tasting as most stouts, it’s very smooth and the best coffee beer I’ve had yet. It also contains licorice root and St. John’s Wort, so it could also help with depression. In theory.

Too bad it’s a seasonal, I could drink this year round.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:05:44 | More by TheMarkE

brureview

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The beer poured an attractive dark cocoa color. Good lacing.

A good chocolate-lemon smell from the head.

Nicely carbonated.

There was stronger coffee initially in the taste which mellowed with warming.
The lemon-coffee finish is pleasantly light.

This is a decent stout. Will try again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2013 16:49:59 | More by brureview

Alextricity

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Only says "Bottled in 2011" so this thing is probably about two years old... keep that in mind.

Appearance: Pretty much pitch black with tiny bits of a ruby red on the edges of the glass. Basically no head, no lacing.

Smell: Eh... hardly average. Very faint malt aroma ... something floral as well. Chicory, maybe?

Taste: After seeing how flat it looked and how I didn't care for the smell, I didn't think it would taste too great ... but it surprised me. Super nice and deep roasted malt flavor, but there seems to even be coffee and a good bit of tobacco or something in there, too. I get some very slight traces of alcohol in the taste as well, but there's no warmth. The feel of this beer is medium ... probably my favorite part about it overall, because it isn't overly sweet, and it doesn't make me wish I could take a few swigs of water to wash out the syrupy texture I get from a lot of stouts.

Overall, solid. At $2.39 a bottle, it's pretty reasonably priced. I can get why this isn't a super high rated stout (probably because of the lack of sweetness and syrupy texture?), but for the style, I give this one a 4 for taste. My taste buds like it, and I'm not generally a stout kind of guy.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 23:36:50 | More by Alextricity

Wishdiak

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Jet black, with a tan head 2 fingers thick that recede to a thin head with good lacing.
S: Coffee, malt and hops. Woodsy.
T: Coffee and some chocolate.
M: Medium body, low carbonation.
O: An excellent American Stout. I was apprehensive about the chicory, as this isn't something I recall ever having before. Now that I have, I feel comfortable recommending it.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:13:38 | More by Wishdiak

brewtus

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Drank 11/30/12

A- pours dark brown/ black with a single finger tan head the lingers for about a min
S- lots of tobacoo, peanut butter, coffee
T n M- very woody, if that makes any sense but not like oak. I imagine that's the chicory. Very earthy flavor with subtitle chocolate and a coffe flavor comparable to chewing a raw bean. The texture is mildly carbonated and gives a lingering tobacco taste.
O- great to try, won't be up everyone's ally but its a nice change from RIS, coffee stouts, etc, its just a little unique. Off centered I suppose (too far?). I wish it was a little thicker but I like it.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 16:41:35 | More by brewtus

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours very dark brown. Hard to scrounge up any foam. Got a ring and bubbles after a few seconds from pouring.

Coffee first (and not the best quality) and chicory root second. Malts fall back from the additives, but reveal dark roast and malty sweetness.

Chicory, light roast coffee, dark roast malts, licorice, implied cinnamon, earthy hops with a spicy element, and mineral water. Somewhat attenuated, but I'm imagining just how rich this could be.

Subtle carbonation in a milky-medium body with a spicy rush in the finish. Decent.

Nice coffee flavors, after all. That, and the accent of chicory, plus some spicy and almost peat smoky undertones makes for a decent session beer from Dogfish Head. Approved.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 06:18:17 | More by thecheapies

JordonHoltzman

New York

3.35/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

jet black body, can't see through, with a tan thin head. interesting because the label says a bone-white head and that is definitely not the case.
roasted malts cocoa and coffee flavors
balanced taste but less flavorful than anticipated. roasted coffee and i don't notice much chicory either.
thinner than i'd usually consider a stout, more of a porter's body mouthfeel.
overall a session stout with decent attributes.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 01:35:02 | More by JordonHoltzman

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep black with an inch of tan head. Coffee is pronounced on the nose and palate thanks to the chicory. It's slightly different from the average coffee notes in a typical stout - a little spicier. It's an easy drinker for those who like the dark beers. Not incredible, but solid.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 04:28:49 | More by TheRealBigC

flayedandskinned

California

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in 2012
Poured into a standard tulip.

Appearance: Pours a jet black with a 2 fingers tan head which recedes quickly to about a half finger leaving plenty of lacing in it's wake.

Smell: Lots of roasted coffee and grain with plenty of herbal hops right behind. Some non hop originating herbal aromatics, which I can only assume are from the chicory and St. John's wort. Really pleasant nose on this brew.

Taste: Coffee, coffee and more coffee! Rich, roasted grains underneath said coffee. Some interesting, slightly spicy herbal characteristics from the licorice root, chicory and St. John's wort. The finish is very dry, with just the right amount of herbal bitterness from the hops and the above mentioned herbs. Some faint notes of baker's chocolate are in the finish as well. Incredibly unique and very refreshing.

Mouthfeel: Dry and thin with high carbonation. Slightly sticky from all the grain used. As with the taste, the mouthfeel is refreshing.

Overall: A unique take on a style that can be pretty homogeneous. I expect no less from Dogfish Head. It is a light, dry Irish stout in style, but it offers HUGE flavor for such a low ABV brew. Highly recommended for all coffee lovers who want a refreshing, session-able beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 02:50:59 | More by flayedandskinned

Marq18

Virginia

3.85/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A- Poured into pinto glass. It pour a dark brown almost black. Frothy, tan head about 2 fingers thick.

S- Smelled of slight coffee, roasted malt, and toffee.

T- Smooth coffee and caramel flavor with hints of chocolate and a roasty finish.

M- Body was medium to thin with medium creamy mouthfeel.

O- Nice stout to drink on any evening. Not overpoweringly strong on flavor or alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 13:14:53 | More by Marq18

mscudder

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Seen this a number of times and never grabbed it, here we go!

A - Ruby-brown hue with a nice sized tan head. Superb retention with good lacing.

S - Roasted malts, coffee, bit of wood and some chocolate. Subtle though.

T - Chicory and chocolate compliment some smooth roasted malts. Tastes quite full for such a low ABV stout. Slight bitterness on the back end with a smooth finish.

M - Medium-plus body with low carbonation.

O - Nothing to go rushing to the store over, and not worth $10/4-pack, although this is a fairly solid beer that I would not neglect had it been casually lounging in my fridge.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:30:07 | More by mscudder