Chocolate Stout - Rogue Ales

k3n

California

3.33/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22 oz bomber. Poured into a Delrium tulip.

A: Black. Opaque. Really opaque-ly black. 2 fingers of mocha-colored head that fades down to a sheet of bubbles, leaving a solid film of lace.

S: Semi-sweet baker's chocolate. Can't smell much else.

T: Roasty. Big hit of bitter-sweet chocolate. A drying hop astringency at the end.

M: A bit of a fake-out here. Starts big with all the roastiness, but peters out pretty quickly. The hop bitterness in the end cuts the mouthfeel down sharply.

D: It's good, but not blowing up my skirts. I think I liked the Hazelnut Nectar a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 05:10:49 | More by k3n

pants678

California

3.33/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured it into an english pint, two finger brown head and deep brown, almost black, opaque body. No light passing, not even at the edges. The head doesn't exactly maintain, but the lace is there. Looks like a stout to me.

Hard to pinpoint anything but a chocolate aroma. Defined and very deep, maybe just a hint of charred malts.

Chocolate. Again, the taste is distinct. Bitterness on the back combines with the light carbonation. Not too much of a bother, perhaps there to break up the strength of the cocoa. Not great, just what I'd expect really. Though, I must say I should have chilled this much longer.

Thick and smooth. Carbonation helps things along, really, without this might be chocolate syrup.

Should be much tougher because of the thickness, but all in all, it's alright. Not unusually easy, but not bad for a stout that I'd expect to be this heavy.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2009 04:44:24 | More by pants678

jcalabre

California

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Originally sampled on 3 February 2003. I am writng this review from my notes.
Appearance: This pours Jet black w/ a tan head.
Mouthfeel: My initial sips brought some unpleasant bite to the roof of my mouth, but those ceased after a few minutes. It is Definitely loaded with a lot of chocolate flavor.
Those initial unpleasant flavors lowered this review for me. I'll have to try it again in the future

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2003 14:25:28 | More by jcalabre

Tallboy

Antarctica

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

appearance - a dark chocolate.chocolate.

smell - verry much like a cup o' hot chocolate.

taste - complex and deep with a slight coffie tinge to this sweet chocolate stout.

mouthfell- nice and thick

drinkability - I myself rate this verry high, and if you are a fan of this genre, you proaly will too...but if not you may find it to ba a bit to sweet.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2006 05:22:07 | More by Tallboy

bcastine

New Hampshire

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 22oz bomber into a pint glass

A: dark almost black 2 finger mocha head that slowly disapated, some lacing

S: chocolate and coffee

T: tasted like cold hot cocoa, slightly creamy, really sweet

M: Medium bodied, creamy, typical nice stout feel.

D: I just can't give a good score here, this is a beer thats good in moderation, and that's not due to the ABV. Its just to over the top chocolate rich, and the sweetness builds to a point you can't take it anymore. This is a brew that gives a very satisfying first impression that halfway thru has you thinking about your next selection.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2009 14:58:17 | More by bcastine

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into my Chimay goblet. Initial pour is a dark brownish black with a tan head. Smells like...well, chocolate. Not too strong, however. Tastes of chocolate malts, much more bitter than sweet though. Would really like more sweetness. Very thin in the mouth. I couldn't drink more than a couple of these in a night...just a little too bitter for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2010 17:54:27 | More by bigfnjoe

sellmeagod

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Ah, the chocolate stout. The classic dilemma of whether to go with the beer or just stick to an average chocolate bar and a shot of liquor.

But Rogue, obviously, doesn't think that this should be the case and instead provides an excellent alternative, if a bit safe.

Sure the chocolate smells, tastes, feel, and look are all over, but when it tastes like a thick stout with the texture of chocolate you don't hardly mind that this is such a weak (6.0) abv. I would drink again, and the moderate price makes this seem possible as a common beer for the festive season.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 21:17:01 | More by sellmeagod

sevenarts

New York

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

A: Dark brownish black, decent-sized tan head, very little lacing left behind.

S: Just lots of rich, sweet chocolate here.

T/M: Sweet chocolatey goodness up front, balanced out by some bitterness from the hops. Very little follow-through, though, and the mouthfeel is surprisingly thin and watery.

O: A decent, tasty, rather mild chocolate stout. Pretty good stuff, but could be lots better with some more body.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 22:13:52 | More by sevenarts

clvand0

Kentucky

3.38/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

This beer is fairly rich in flavor, but not thick in flow. Easy to drink, and it has a distinct hint of chocolate, but it is slightly tart as though there are grapes or something hidden in the shaddows. Very enjoyable beer, but the aftertaste is very undesireable.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2003 20:41:00 | More by clvand0

Estarrio

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

One of the blackest pours that I've ever seen, with a small cocoa colored head. OK retention, fancy lacings.

Big chocolate smell. Sweet malts and molasses lend to a chocolate bar wrapper aroma. Some hints of vanilla as well.

The flavor is not as sweet as the aroma would suggest. Bitter chocolate, cocoa and coffee balance with earthy oatmeal, slight dough flavors. There is a pronounced bitter finish but not overly flavorful. The taste somewhat more bland than I imagined. Much better at room temperature but still somewhat watered down tasting.

Moderate carbonation, what I might expect from an ale. Not creamy in the least.

I went back to the bottle to look for a freshness date but none was to be found. I have to wonder if this is either stale or light damaged. I honestly could not finish the entire bottle, as it simply was not appealing to me in the least. I'm going to try a another bottle from a different state and re-review if there is a significant difference. Otherwise, I'm very unimpressed by this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2006 00:47:05 | More by Estarrio

JerseyKirk

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: 3 finger brown creamy head. Pitch black color. Great lacing and head retention. 4.5

S: roasty upfront, dark and bittersweet chocolate notes, slight coffee, caramel, vanilla finish. 3.5

T: Chocolatey but very bitter at the end. No sweetness found.

M: Velevety and thick. Definitely and chew on it. Tongue drying but leaves mouth moist.

O: I liked this beer a lot. Not my favorite in the style but still really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 02:26:14 | More by JerseyKirk

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a plastic tumbler.

Another revisiting from me during this stretch. It pours a garnet-tinged black-brown topped by a finger of sandstone foam. The nose comprises, you guessed it, chocolate, along with some seemingly obligatory roasted malts. The taste merely sprinkles on the cocoa powder while simultaneously skimping on the roast as well. And, unfortunately, just like the smell, there ain't nuthin' else happenin' up in here. The body is a light medium, with a very light moderate carbonation and a kinda dry finish. Overall, despite this being easy to drink, I really don't have much of an inclination to do so. It's not really bad (meaning offensive), but it's far from very good.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2011 06:06:17 | More by TMoney2591

KATE12

New York

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I was very excited to try this beer but over all not impressed.

It poured a very dark,dark brown with hints of amber towards the head. The head was thick and creamy but diminished quickly.

The smell was awesome. It was so chocolatey and rich with hints of roasted coffee and toffee.

The taste was a dissapointment. It was not very flavorfull at all. It lacked everything that smell made me believe it would taste like.

The mouthfeel was a little gritty, not very smooth. Maybe I was just upset because the taste was a bit boring and it brought the mouthfeel down as well? I can't really say I'm dying to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2007 15:12:02 | More by KATE12

JDV

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Deep black oily pour with a nice medium to small sized brown head. Smell is sweet milk chocolately. Pretty smooth tasting, with an obvious big flavor of chocolate up front, followed by a noticeable, but slight hop presence in the finish. Somewhat crisp carbonation. Rich and chocolately as expected and quite good, but very simple at the same time. Might have rated a bit higher had I been more in the mood for something dark and rich.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2008 22:00:28 | More by JDV

jackie7787

Maryland

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Pours pretty dark brown, a bit of a light brownish head but not too much and dissipated quickly leaving just a bit of swirly light brown foam on top.

S - Smells strongly of chocolate and a hint of roastiness!

T- Something kind of overpowers the chocolate and roastiness. It was really bitter at first. It was a bit too much, more than I was expecting at least. I didn't think it went with the beer very well. Finished with nice bittersweet chocolate flavor though. I guess it got a little better over time too, but still couldn't really get past the initial bitterness that came with every sip.

M - This was good. Not overly carbonated or anything. Pretty light and smooth.

D- While it was decent overall, I probably won't be having it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 20:56:16 | More by jackie7787

frogships

Minnesota

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a standard pilsner glass.

A: Pours a jet black with a hue on the bottom where light barely gets through of the darkest brown possible. there is a 2 finger foamy/bubbly head that goes down after about a minute or two but does retain a small half finger of bubbly head for a few more minutes. Minimal lacing, but some circulated throughout the glass.

S: Sweet chocolate, like sticking your nose in a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Rather pleasant.

T: Dark chocolate. Sweet but a tad bitter, like dark chocolate. It is a nice tasting stout that is dominant in the chocolate taste of course, but tastes like a stout nonetheless.

Mouthfeel: pretty full bodied with moderate carbonation. Very smooth like a stout should be but heavier than anything i would call medium bodied.

O: I am not overly impressed with the stout. It is a nice chocolate stout, a sweet smell and dark chocolate taste provides some complexity and uniqueness, but it lacks something that I can't quite put my finger on. I just didn't love it and I would consider it a tad overrated given the scores on this site, but I would recommend giving it a try for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 07:03:07 | More by frogships

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep brown cola color with a two finger frothy khaki colored head. The head stays for a decent amount of time and leaves some lines of lace on the glass. The aroma is of a roasty malt backbone with the aroma of bitter chocolate coming through as well. The taste has a roasty malt backbone with a bitter chocolate taste up front and in the middle. The back end has a milk chocolate sweetness to it. The mouthfeel is smooth and lowly carbonated. Overall it is a decent stout, not best in class but it is good for what it is suppose to be.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2012 22:48:06 | More by goblue3509

ballewblake

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

poured from a bomber into an oerbier glass.

deep brown color with a dark tan, 2 finger head on inital pour, head falls quick and lacing is thick at first. Smell is minor, getting very lite, almost hot chocolate smells, not as heavy as I expected.Tingaling on the tongue with a very nice chocolate after taste. This coming from someone that isn't a chocolate fan. Finish is a bit watery, slightly bitter. The roasted malt, smoky flavors really came out towards the end and when the beer warmed up. Not really my style, but I wouldn't turn one away if offered again.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 17:30:46 | More by ballewblake

SolomonGrundy

California

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

First off, $5.99/bomber and 6% ABV. OK priced, a little high. Pours a nice, opaque ultra-dark brown to black. Wonderful head, about 4 fingers high, springs up and persists, leaving excellent lacing. Aroma is oaded, almost too much so, with chocolate. Actually, once it settles and warms a touch, it smells like hot chocolate. Some faint espresso notes and also a touch of hops in there, but dominated, almost to a fault, by hot chocolate. Maybe a little cinnamon hint also.

Flavor is a confusing mix of hot chocolate and tangy chocolate malt. At first it wants to be malty, then the initial tang burst gives way, one-two punch-like, to a rich chocoalte flavor. This then washes away and is replaced by the tanginess of the malt and some nice hop bitterness. Not too sweet, but there is some in there. Finish is super long and bitter from both the hops and, I think, the chocolate flavoring used. Kind of a jumble and sort of a mess. Not worth the price but it is unique.

What I like most: The beautiful pour.

What I like least: The confused flavor profile.

Verdict: Unique and robust, but not worth the price. Novelty only.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 02:11:12 | More by SolomonGrundy

russwbeck

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep brown pour with a big bubbly brown head. Retention is phenomenal as a thick cap sits atop the liquidy beneath.

S: Dark chocolate smell that seems a bit watered down. Not really much else going on.

T: The seems a bit strange to me. A lot of roasted malts up front, followed by the deep dark chocolate. Not a lot of sweetness to balance it out though. The flavor hits you and then sort of just drops right off.

MF: Medium to heavy body with great carbonation. I wish this beer was a bit "fuller." The 6% ABV is a bit limiting.

O: For a beer that is literally available everywhere, you can't go wrong here. If you're looking for something to blow you away, keep going.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 16:04:47 | More by russwbeck

DavidST

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a snifter.

This pours a pitch black color with a decent mocha colored head, but with large bubbles which quickly dissipate down to a thin layer, its a good looking beer but I prefer the look of the stouts with a nice frofty bubbled head (the one with the dense thin bubbles). The smell was pretty good, chocolate with roasted malts. The feel was good medium to thick, although it was also a little grimy and gritty. The taste left something to be desired though. The main taste was an artificial gritty/dirty/grimy chocolate flavor maybe like a Hersey chocolate syrup (the stuff you pour into milk), it was a little too sweet and I didn't get the normal roasted malt bitterness, just this grimy sweetness (gone are the great dark chocolate flavors). You could probably take a Guinness draft and load Hershey's Chocolate syrup into it and get basically the same poor taste. Overall this was decent, but I'd take a Brooklyn Chocolate Stout over this one every time (and they cost less). I definitely don't understand why this is rated so high.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 16:30:08 | More by DavidST

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours black with light tan head that dissipates quickly.

Smells like chocolate milk with a hint of toffee.

Taste follows smell. Lots of chocolate milk flavor. Toasted malt is there. Very little bitterness.

Mouthfeel is far too watery for me. Average carbonation.

Overall this was good but lacks complexity.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 00:09:47 | More by TrappistJohnMD

mattcrill

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Pours thick and black with no visible carbonation.

Smell: Is my sniffer broke? I don't smell anything! Maybe a hint of chocolate but I have to bury my nose in there just to get anything.

Taste: All chocolate. Nothing else. No malt, no hop bitterness. Just like drinking chocolate milk.

Overall impression: A good beer but very one dimensional. I liked it for a dessert but it just didn't scratch my beer itch.

If you are in to stouts, try it once. But that's about all you need to do with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2004 21:17:36 | More by mattcrill

mcallister

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A used motor oil brown pour, with very little head present and no lacing. Overly roasted choclate malts, oats, malt ball, cream and sweet vanilla abstract and used coffe grounds make up the aroma.

The mouth of this beer is very austere to me. There are some sharp edges I think need straightening but I feel this way about all of Rouges darker brews. Almost like a low end mocha latte. And I say low end because of the coffee taste, which reminds me of either used rinds or a cheap folgers or maxwell house type blend. Overly choclate hops and oaty flavors and very unsweetened. Roasted malts, cream, cassis, and a slight background hop, and maybe some burnt marshmallow.

This beer leaves a very tannic mouthfeel with a long choclate finish. Too choaclaty for my liking; making this a one beer and done for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 01:29:57 | More by mcallister

charlzm

California

3.48/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottled, consumed 01/03/08.

Almost-black pour creates a lingering dark tan head. Aromas are red wine like fruit and, you guessed it, chocolate. Mouthfeel is unremarkable. The flavor is strong bitter chocolate/cocoa that grows more defined as the beer goes down. Slight sweetness totally conquered by big bitter flavor. Oats mellow the flavor somewhat, but only a little.

Not really my bag.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2008 14:25:25 | More by charlzm