Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout - Samuel Smith Old Brewery (Tadcaster)

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

550ml bottle - $3.49 at Lucky's in Woodstock, Georgia.

Appearance: Near black body with a tall, frothy, beige head.

Smell: Roasted malts, though, it's largely a scent of chocolate syrup. It's odd, I've found a few of the chocolate beer scents a bit repellent, but others I've found to be just fine and dandy. This is one of those fine and dandy times.

Taste: Roasted, toasted maltiness, really just enough of a scaffolding to hold the chocolate flavoring. Maybe a faint fruitiness. Maybe. Mostly just a sweet, chocolaty thing, like those Hostess cupcakes minus the white swirls.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-plus carbonation.

Overall: Hits the spot, if you're looking for a pleasing chocolaty dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 19:35:48 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours a slightly translucent dark chocolate color with an impressive head that sticks a bunch of lacing

Smell: Rich chocolate, coconut and vanilla

Taste: Tastes like a milk chocolate candy bar, with hints of coconut and vanilla to add another dimension to the flavor

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A great dessert beer; not something to drink in a large quantity due to the sweetness, however

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 23:26:18 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.05/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a thin cap on top of the beer. Thick swaths of foam form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of roasted malt, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, and chocolate syrup. Taste is much the same with an intense chocolate aftertaste. There is a medium roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a great aroma and a satisfying chocolate flavor.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 08:47:28 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.13/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

There's something about the seductive nature of chocolate that lulls the taste buds under its spell and makes it easy to dismiss any unpleasantries elsewhere in the beer. Yep, I'm guilty as charged!

The pour delivers a solid brown and slightly viscous appearance with a creamy whipped topping of mocha-stained foam. As the cap collapses underneath the cocoa oils, intricate patterns of lace decorate the glass with a full mural of randomness.

Aromas of straight-up chocolate fills the nose first and foremost. It's not until the beer warms that it starts to share more moderate notes of caramel malt, whipping cream, coffee, wood and hops; even if these remain in the backdrop and scent.

The chocolaty flavors are just as forward as they are in scent. Sheer chocolate wraps the tastebuds in a cocoon of silky, velvety, and milky delight- all spiced with the seductive cocoa bean. The taste displays more of a bittersweet chocolate taste than the more moderate aromas of milk chocolate and shares slightly bolder nutty coffee, vanilla, and woodish bitterness, particularly in the timid closure.

Medium-full in texture, the beer's silky smooth mouthfeel is sultry, velvety, and lightly creamy from early palate to late. Only a slight waivering into malt sweetness that seems mildly cola like signals the closure to the beer's taste as mild cocoa-type bitterness elevates.

This is one of those delicious beers that makes you forget that you are drinking beer. Its dessert like flavors and sweetnesses transcend everything you wanted in ale, yet remains highly drinkable and enjoyable- much like hot cocoa on a snowy winters eve.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 07:27:41 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an imperial nonic a deep chocolate brown with a creamy 1/2 finger tan colore head atop,a great looking pour.Milk chocolate really stood out to me in the nose along with roast and a hint of vanilla,like dessert in a glass.Mellow slightly fizzy feel to the beer,both balance each other out well.Chocolate and more chocolate on the palate but it doesn't hammer your taste buds,it's just a mellow lingering chocolatiness,mild roast and nuttiness with a shot of vanilla.I would make an ice cream float out of this,it's not even close to being cloying but the chocolate flavors are predominant,a great fricken milk stout here!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 20:37:36 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Local Option cervoise.

When I saw the name Samuel Smith placed next to the words "Chocolate Stout", I knew I had to pounce. This stuff pours a deep ruby-brown topped by a finger-and-a-half of light tan foam. The nose is a blast of straight Cocoa Puffs-esque chocolatey-ness. I'm hooked already, waiting to be reeled in. The taste runs similarly, opting for a baking chocolate route, one that winds from overt sweetness to a dusty bitterness. Frankly, my tongue may have been overwhelmed by chocolate a bit, as my reaction was surprisingly not altogether positive. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a smooth feel. Overall, a damn fine chocolate stout, though it verges on too much. Verges, but doesn't drop off the brink.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 03:08:31 | More by TMoney2591

zeff80

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a two-finger, light brown head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of milk chocolate and some floral notes.

T - It tasted of milk chocolate and maltiness. A touch of bitterness added some balance.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a really good milk stout. Another tasty brew from Samuel Smith's.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 22:22:25 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4.18/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: The beer is jet black in color. It poured with a finger high dark beige head that has excellent retention properties and consistently left a half finger high head covering the surface along with some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: There are aromas of chocolate syrup and chocolate milk in the nose.
T: The taste has lots of flavors of milk chocolate and cocoa power along with some hints of sweetness. It's a bit like Hershey's chocolate syrup but is much diluted.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied and a little fluffy and creamy (like a milkshake) on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: After much pondering, this beer most reminds me of drinking some chocolate milk (without the heavy dose of lactose) or a good glass of hot chocolate. Nevertheless, it is packed with lots of chocolate flavors but is relatively light-bodied and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 02:47:00 | More by metter98

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a bottle of this just out of pure curiosity, it sounded good so I figured what not try it. The beer poured out as a very deep brown color. It's got a decent looking head on top. Not much retention but it does have some sticky lacing which is impressive. The smell of the beer is chocolate which is good, it's a soft milky cocoa aroma and not overly sweet at all. The taste again is full of soft cocoa flavors, it's got a moderate bitterness in the finish but the flavor itself is very easy going. The mouthfeel of the beer is medium bodied, the carbonation is a little high but remains very drinkable. Overall it's a really good chocolate stout. This was very surprising.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 01:55:07 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany with 3 fingers tan head. Fantastic lacing & head retention

S: Rich chocolate, vainilla & caramel

T: Chocolate, slight caramel notes powdery dryness up front with a whisper of charred grain. More chocolate, slight bitterness as this warms, a bit of pecan too, some dulce leche
also. Finishes sweet, slightly dry just a little coffee

MF: Light/medium bodied, slight carbonation, become creamier as this warms

I really enoyed this, more of a dessert beer very drinkable. Might pair well with spicy foods as well, wouldn't mind trying it with some curry

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 04:37:14 | More by russpowell

jwc215

New Jersey

3.8/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with a rich creamy tan head that leaves wispy lacing.

Smells chocolatey - a mix of baker's chocolate and milk chocolate.

Sweet and bitter cocoa/chocolate soon becomes powdery. A sour milk tang gives it a kick. Some alcohol is noticeable.

It has a creamy, full body that is not too thick.

It has strong characteristics of sweet stout and milk stout with cocoa powder, so fits style well-enough. It does have a tang to it. It started off chilled, and became smoother as it sat and reached (near) room temperature. It started off fine, and became more enjoyable as it progressed, landing the overall score a half-point higher than I was going to give it after the first half. Worth the buy if you like English Milk/Sweet Stouts!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 19:44:41 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Pitch black body light tan head leaves a fine evenly dispersed head coated around the sides of my chalice. Aroma milk chocolate all day, the lactose infusion combined with the organic chocolate sends this one to the Milky Way in Nestle/Hershey terms of course. Perceived sweetness on the nose did somebody just milk a cow? Tame English stout with semi sweet cream laden chocolate notes, not the worst or the best but damn tasty stout in a dessert kind of way. Mouthfeel is one word: creamy medium to light bodied ample even flowing carbonation not bad nothing cloying in the finish. Overall a tasty albeit a bit gimmicky beer, I'm good for one too dessert like for more not overly decadent but a nice cream/sweet stout balanced out with some semi sweet bitter dark chocolate additions.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 23:51:58 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.01/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Way back, years and years ago, I remember picking up a Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout in Honolulu on a particular day. Clearly, it was a day cemented into my memory. That is about how long it's been since I've tried something from this brewery.

Very strong cocoa nose on this one. Flavor is heavy, in my face, cocoa laden chocolate. I put strong emphasis on the cocoa bit as it's quite pronounced. Probably a bit too much, honestly, as I would like a bit more actual chocolate character on the mix. But I can live with this. Definitely bringing something beyond the typical.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:39:21 | More by RblWthACoz

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.21/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours a four-finger, khaki head that fades slowly leaving a very good lace. Midnight black color, no highlights. Light-medium carbonation and light-medium bodied. Sweet chocolate nose and flavor is like a sweet chocolate malt with carbonation. $5.00 for a 550ml bottle from Tully’s Beer & Wine Wells, Me.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 23:15:44 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

(Served in a nonic)

A- This beer pours a jet black body with a thick creamy tan head that last a good spell.

S- The big nougat chocolate syrup aroma dominates and covers any other possible aromas.

T- The taste of cream gives way to a big hershey’s syrup and chocolate nougat flavor with some tootsie roll hints leading to a slightly dry finish. The hershey’s syrup flavor lingers after the finish aswell.

M- This beer has a medium-light mouthfeel with a slippery finish and no alcohol heat.

O- This is like drinking carbonated hershey’s syrup. The stout flavors are overpowered and don’t even come through the artificial chocolate flavor. It was tough getting through this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 22:01:08 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.2/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Typical SS mid sized bottle. No freshenss info.

Pours near black. Head is larger and luxorious. Stays and stays. Then a nice film, low sheeting and ample fine bits of lace and more sheeting.

Chocolate sniff. Yum

Smooth and super tasty. More milk chocolate all over this one.
Also notes of dark malts, vanilla, dark bread. A treat to enjoy this well crafted ale. They have been doing it since 1758! Dark beer lovers go get some and enjoy with a chocolate dessert or worked great with some spicy mexican tacos

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 19:33:58 | More by Billolick

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a decent creamy foamy 1/2 finger head that fades at a med pace with a bit of lacing, very dark essentially pitch black beer.

Nose is just all chocolate, candy chocolate, milk choc mostly, like Hershey candy bar, sine light cocoa nibs and bakers choc, hint of vanilla with it, little caramel, not much else.

Taste starts with creamy choc again, milk choc, little bakers choc, again that candy bar choc with lush melting choc, but also a little fake choc kinda taste, and a bit of a make syrup kinda thing as well, a bit strange. Light honey malt flavor, little caramel and candy syrup. A light earthy hop flavor and bitterness to. Finish is drier, little sticky though, lots if lingering cheap choc flavor, light earthy bittering hops.

Mouth is med bodied bit creamy and bit syrupy, fluffy carb.

Overall not bad but harder for new to drink since its pretty much just cheaper end chocolate candy bar flavor and very little beer, bust still tasty as a dessert.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 01:50:47 | More by jlindros

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark chestnut brown color that appears pitch black in the glass with only faint mahogany edges. Two finger, frothy beige head that has great retention, only slowly fading into a lasting cap/ring. Streaks of soapy lace left behind.

Slightly roasted dark malt aroma with a strong, desert like chocolate presence bursting with cocoa, fudge and chocolate cake character. As it warms, the roast becomes more prominent with some toast and coffee bean but it still smells like pastry. There's some hazelnut and toffee as well butbthe chocolate really stands out.

Medium bodied with tight carbonation and a very nice balance of sweet and roasted malt notes. Strong lactose/creamy presence up front followed by fudge-y chocolate cake flavor, oatmeal, hazelnut and toffee. Not too sweet though with some roasted malt, burnt toast and espresso like flavor balancing things out. Very clean and easy to drink, excellently incorporating the chocolate without being overly sweet/gimmicky. Pretty damn good!

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 08:04:33 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.23/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Well this beer is essentially Rogue Chocolate Stout, but more affordable and in 12oz four packs. Score. Pours out a brown liquid, light beige head on the top, the cocao nibs don't really allow for much in the way of head retention, lacing etc. . .

Aroma is chocolate, and big on it. Its not really a dark chocolate vibe, more of a lighter variety. But its tons of chocolate. The flavor profile is rather simple: tons of chocolate, some chocolate malt, an average amount of two row, alcohol kept low, a really good sessionable chocolate stout. Good stuff. Easily jumps to the top of the list in terms of my favorite imported beer. Very smooth, hardly any bitterness to it. A little caramel running through it melds quite nicely.

These guys have never come out with a new beer in my drinking lifetime, its nice to finally see a new addition to the portfolio, which was already good, this one might be my favorite. I'd stay away if you don't like sweet chocolate, but if you fancy yourself as a chocolate and beer fan, this is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 20:10:42 | More by Beerandraiderfan

DoubleJ

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Chocolate stout for dessert? I don't see why not. Coming out of a 550 ml bottle, on to the beer:

Black as ink in color with an inch thick head, whose color is tan and texture is semi-soapy. Excellent webbed lacing rings around the glass. That chocolate thing is done right, at least so far. I've only gotten to the nose, and it's lovely. It smells like a vanilla chocolate mixture with a kiss of coffee beans and hazelnut. I like it a lot.

The taste of chocolate is obvious from the get-go. It hits in two stages; first the sweet chocolate sauce flavor. Vanilla is weaved into the note as well. The second stage is a bittersweet cocoa; not only does the chocolate adjunct hit with full force, but the chocolate malt adds a bittersweet aspect which brings some roasty bitterness into the picture. It's medium full bodied, smooth, with a sweet and slightly roasty aftertaste.

A stout well done! Ditch the Lindt, get a Samuel Smith's.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 05:28:20 | More by DoubleJ

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I scored the last bottle in the cooler at The Fridge last night. I did not realize that it was a limited release, but I have reviewed most of their other beers and I definitely wanted to get this one in also.

From the bottle: "Brewed with water from the original brewery well sunk in 1758, the gently roasted organic chocolate malt and real organic cocoa used in this ale impart a delicious, smooth and creamy character, with inviting deep flavors and a delightful finish - this is the perfect marriage of satisfying stout and luxurious chocolate that will lead to smiles and refills. Samuel Smith's brews in traditional coppers, uses stone 'Yorkshire squares' for fermentation, and ships every bottle from the brewery with great pride."; Captioning a picture: "A brewer caring for a batch of ale during open primary fermentation,where the centuries-old Smith yeast strain produces the rocky white foam."; "Samuel Smith's brews at a small, traditional British brewery, the oldest brewery in Yorkshire."

My pour produced a finger of dense, mocha-tan head with great retention. I was mesmerized while watching it slowly fall on top of itself. Nose was definitely sweet chocolate, probably much sweeter than I will care for, but we shall see. Color was a deep dark-brown with cola highlights at the edges. Mouthfeel was more medium than creamy and the flavor was more like chocolate extract or chocolate liqueur than any chocolate beer that I can remember. Finish continued to have an odd sweetness to its chocolaty flavor. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but it is not leading to either a) smiles or b) refills.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 20:04:05 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

4.71/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a pitch black with a two-finger brown head into my glass. Reminds me of a cup of coffee more than anything chocolate.

The mixture of chocolate malt and cocoa is intoxicating with a very nice touch of cream. Like chocolate milk here. I'm ready to dive in.

Very sweet and creamy with an awesome chocolate kick. Tobacco and licorice stand out as additional flavors.

Excellent mouthfeel that is slick and creamy. Wow.

Impressive. The closest counterparts are Young's Double Chocolate Stout and Southern Tier's Choklat. I prefer this though!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 20:30:28 | More by Brad007

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.43/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

New to me beer picked up at Whole Foods this afternoon.. Pours dark walnut brown.. almost black but not quite... tannish head with decent lacing.

The nose is chocolate and vanilla extract... seems very VERY artificial.. No "real" beer qualities at all... more "SODA".

Flavor is the same.... vanilla soda with a chocolate extract addition.. Very light "stout" qualities..

Mouthfeel is better.. but the body and carbonation are still like an alcoholic "POP".

Disappointed for sure.. throw away... dumping.

I rated this one waaay too high for my liking.. but I did not want to destroy the curve.. I just don't like beers with additions.

4/3.5/3.5/3.5/3

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2012 05:37:59 | More by JohnGalt1

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.28/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I really enjoy Samuel Smith beers, so was excited to pick up one of these to try.

The beer appears black with a thick, dense foamy head. A mouth watering appearance, really. Chocolate hits the nose right away. Sweet milk chocolate, chocolate milk, roast chocolate milk shake. You get the idea. Perhaps the beer is one dimensional to some degree, but damn, this is tasty. Light to medium in body. Creamy smooth feel on the palate. A must try for those who enjoy chocolate and beer. A beautiful marriage of the two. Impressive.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 03:40:46 | More by Huhzubendah

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Samuel Smith Old Brewery
Organic Chocolate Stout

LOOK: Pours a dark brown color. Soapy head forms leaving lace down the pint. Immediately after pouring I began to smell chocolate.

SMELL: Chocolate malt, milk chocolate candies, and even chocolate iced cake. A really delicious smelling beer. Just a little toast, bread and floral touches, this smells like hot cocoa.

TASTE: Roasted chocolate malts, cocoa powder, big on chocolate, with a English ale yeast twang that seams tart by comparison. A good helping of earthy bitterness balance this most chocolatey ale.

FEEL: On the light side of medium bodied, with a firm chocolate finish and a good level of carbonation.

OVERALL: Beer and Chocolate lovers unite! This is what you need to get your hands on.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 00:23:40 | More by Stinkypuss