Chocolate Stout - Rogue Ales

ashleyshalyn

Florida

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap in a pint glass

A: Dark Brown black with a creamy coffee colored 2 finger head with great retention.

S: Deep chocolate and coffee malt. A bit of hop is noticeable as well in the background.

T: Low on the hop and high on bittersweet chocolate! Also the coffee taste is much more evident on tap than in the bottle, which surprised me. DO not expect a sweet chocolate with this! In fact, the first time I had this we ate 70% cocoa chocolates along with it and MAN did it really bring that flavor out in the beer… simply amazing!

M: Chewy with low carbonation, but it isn’t too too heavy.

D: A personal favorite I could drink this every day if it wouldn’t make me gain 5 billion pounds!

Cheers to Rogue! This is a fabulous beer on-tap and out of the bottle... I have had both, but this review is for the tap. I'll get around to writing a bottle review when I drink it next time ;) I can’t wait to try a black and tan made with Rogue Choc Stout and Rogue Juniper Pale Ale. I think it would be fab!

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2006 20:36:40 | More by ashleyshalyn

sulldaddy

Connecticut

2.93/5  rDev -30.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

I had a pint of this while visiting Kclingers. THe beer comes in a pint glas and there is a thin creamy tan head floating on the surface. The color of the beer is drak brown with no lite passing through when held up. The aroma is rich and chocolatey, no surprise there. The chocolate is actually fairly sweet like cocoa powder of a hershey bar. First sip reveals a fairly thick body and very mild carbonation. Nice and smooth beer. Then the flavor, things go down a little here IMO. The beer is very sweet chocolate flavored like eating a candy bar over and over. By about mid pint it gets to be very cloying and not very enjoyable. Maybe with some fruit or vanilla ice cream but with a dinner it is just too much sweet chocolate. Of course if you really dig that this is for you. I am turned off by the overdose of chocolate and wish it was some more roasted notes or coffee to balance the sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2006 04:16:15 | More by sulldaddy

kkipple

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

On-tap at CW's Tap Room in Columbia, SC.

Appearance: Rogue Chocolate stout is a deep, opaque brown (nearly black) beer with a fine bubbly head that's the color of brown sugar. But really, who drinks this for the looks?

Smell: Pure cocoa. Barely anything else makes it out of the glass. A few malt scents escape, but this is just an intensely sweet, chocolate smelling beer.

Taste: Chocolate. Chocolate chocolate chocolate. What, you need more detail? Alright. Rich, thick, perfectly bittersweet cocoa. Dark chocolate in a glass. You won't notice anything else for the first few sips (or half pint). Just amazing chocolate flavors that coat the mouth.

Mouthfeel: Mildly warming, thick, heavy cocoa aftertaste. Slightly dry, just like you've eaten a bar of dark bittersweet chocolate.

Drinkable? Well, not for me. It's incredibly filling. I have no idea how many calories are in a pint of this but I'm not sure I want to.

This is an admittedly odd beer, and if you're not crazy about chocolate, it might be something to try once for the experience.
However, if you, like me, relish a good dark bar of chocolate (Lindt's 70% for example...) then watch out. This beer will be the death of both your waistline and your wallet. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2006 02:57:16 | More by kkipple

Dithyramb

Maryland

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Served in a pint glass at Frisco's in Columbia. Deep opaque black brew with limited dark tan head. Had light retention and carbonation, but very nice lacing.

Dark malts and chocolate on the aroma is complimented extremely well in the flavor category. This is a big, creamy and smooth brew. Not too much in any category that would slow you down. Deep dark milk chocolate runs the show, with a hint of smokiness, bitterness, and coffee in the background. Very rich brew, being creamy and sugary goodness without sticking to your mouth. Most brands would throw in a bunch of bitterness just for bitterness. This one amazingly does not, making it even better. This went down like a double chocolate tort after a hearty steak. Yeah, you shouldn't have room, but somehow, it disappeared.

Desert in a bottle, this would be paired excellently with just about any desert on the planet. Frisco's plans on adding it to whipped cream, Frambroise reduction and vanilla ice cream. Yum.

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2006 19:55:23 | More by Dithyramb

Jacobob10

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap @ The Publick House in Brookline, MA.

Pours an opaque black color with a small tan head. This might come as a shock, but this beer actually smells like real chocolate! If you blindfolded me and put the beer and a chocolate bar in front me, I would be hard-pressed to tell which one was which. The taste is great as well, but I did not receive the chocolate rush that I did from the aroma. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Slightly bitter from the use of hops brings the drinkabikity down a bit, but it's still great for a stout. This beer was a treat to have on tap and left me feeling very satisfied.

Serving type: on-tap

01-06-2006 00:39:25 | More by Jacobob10

TheEclecticGent

Georgia

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

One of the better Rouge beers in my opinion. This stout has a very dark brown color (thick and rich), a brown head with even carbonation. The smell is a very light hint of chocolate. A very stout taste with chocolate overtones and even more chocolaty aftertaste – nice. It’s has a light mouth feel for a stout. This is a very nice chocolate stout!

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2005 04:24:50 | More by TheEclecticGent

bjohnson

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Definately Jet black with a one and a half brown foamy head that left TONS of lace down the sides.

S: Roasted and burnt chocolate, smells delicious
T: Chocolate flavors of course, both burnt and roated with a distinct Nestle Chocolate sauce aftertaste. First couple of sips were good, but got much better after that.
M: Mouthfeel is nice and silky smooth. Tons of chocolate! Not much carbonation on this allows you to savor the flavors.
D: I only had one of these and would have another if I could on tap. amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2005 03:14:20 | More by bjohnson

xoqx

Washington

3.78/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Appearance - This beer arrived dark brown with a brown, two finger head exhibiting moderate retention and heavy lacing.

Smell – Whoa Chocolate. I mean, they must add a lot of actual chocolate to this beer. Not sure how I feel about it – it’s nearly overpowering. Chocolate rushes to the nose with every sip. It’s not really an expensive chocolate taste either; tastes like lots of chocolate syrup has been mixed in.

Taste - This beer tastes of caramel, with a finish that’s malty and – you guessed it – chocolaty.

Mouthfeel - The mouthfeel is chewy, creamy, medium-full-bodied, rich and smooth.

Drinkability – The overbearing cocoa notes detract from my ability to really get into this beer, but one can tell some work went into making it. Solid. Not my cup of tea.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2005 23:25:47 | More by xoqx

akajimmyd

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at McGrady’s in Bethlehem

Chocolate. Smells like it. Tastes like it. Looks like it. Pours thick and black with a nice mocha head. The chocolate is the dominant flavor but also has some smoky and malty characters. Hops were not too evident. Really smooth to drink, unfortunately it was on special by the pitcher and even with pawning some off on my skeptical friends I was overwhelmed after two pints. It really s quite bittersweet. Very enjoyable for a pint or two.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2005 19:56:08 | More by akajimmyd

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on-tap at Redbones.

This stout poured as black as night with creamy, brown foam that settled to a thin coat and clung to the glass a bit. The smell was full of chocolate and cocoa with some mild maltiness as well. The taste was chocolatey -- darky bitter, with cocoa, malt and some bitter hoppiness in the finish. The mouthfeel was dry and smooth with full body and good carbonation. The bitter chocolate flavor lingered in the aftertaste. Very nice. This was an excellent beer, and I wonder why I don't drink it more often?

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2005 22:05:21 | More by UncleJimbo

superdavex

Washington

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Served on tap at Coho Cafe. Redmond, WA

This is only my third time or so having this style of beer(chocolate stout). I must say I was overwhelmed with the wonderful chocolate taste and smooth drinkability of this beer. I ordered this brew at a restaurant before my food came and damn near wanted to cancel my food and have a two or three more of these, as this is a very filling beer. This one would taste great paired with damn near anything or alone. Rogue has definately done it again with this one. Man, am I glad I found this one on tap! This seems to me to be what other chocolate stouts should be measured by.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2005 20:22:12 | More by superdavex

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.53/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The bartender asked if I was having any food. Just a beer, I said. Make it the chocolate stout. Hey, he says, beer is food, especially that beer.

He’s right. This is food. And I’m glad I gave this one a second chance because my first effort from a 22 oz. bottle was rather ho-hum. On tap, the chocolate stout is hell yeah.

Rogue’s Chocolate Stout may be thought of as a double chocolate stout; it’s made with both chocolate malt and actual chocolate. In this case Rogue opted to put the chocolate where it belongs; not as a shy condiment, but as a full-term partner boldly defining the flavor from start to finish. The nose is dry, chocolaty, and profound. Likewise, the chocolate flavor washes across the palate with expressive authority. As the more beerish elements recede, the chocolate remains to define the finish. It’s a finish worth lingering over.

Prior to drinking this beer I’d only known much tamer versions of the style such as Young’s. I’m thankful for Rogue’s success in convincing me that chocolate stout is a meritorious concept. I’d previously been skeptical that the temporal sugars of grain maltose fermented in a dark beer could successfully intermix with the tropic sensuality of tart cacao. But it works. It works exceedingly well.

This is an artistic and imaginative beer whose exotic properties are neither shy nor misplaced.

Serving type: on-tap

03-31-2005 01:06:43 | More by RedDiamond

oracle

Indiana

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

10 oz draft

This beer is exactly what it advertises itself to be. An excellent stout with heavy chocolate aroma and taste.

Beer arrived typical stout black with half inch tan head that left heavy lacing.

Smell was all about the chocolate, with coffee and rich malt undertones.

Taste was pretty good. Rich complex malt, very mild coffee flavor and strong chocolate notes, without being too sweet or cloying.

Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2004 14:03:41 | More by oracle

AlexJ

North Carolina

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Mmmm, nitro-tap (Homer Simpson drool). I have to say, a fresh nitro-tap is the only way to enjoy this stout of stouts!
-Pours pitch black with the most fantastic, creamy head imaginable. Lacing goes beyong what I consider normal, there are actually multiple layers of lace-rings that cling till' the end-spectacular!
-Aroma bursting with sweet, roasty choc. malt, cappucino, faint plum, and piney hops.
-Tastes soooo much better that bottled version. Huge bittersweet chocolate and coffee notes followed by carmalized sweetness and a lingering piney hop bite. Like a big, creamy glass of chocolate cake. The hop flavor is much more pronounced than in the bottled version.
-Lush, creamy mouthfeel. Full-bodied with silk-like carbonation. Finishes with a balance of chocolate malt flavors and bright, sprucey hops.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-14-2004 17:07:54 | More by AlexJ

soulfly967

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had this on tap at Smokin' Joes in Pittsburgh. This is one top notch beer. Poured a beautiful black with awesome cascading action, a brown head that stuck around to the very end and left awesome lacing. The smell is of dark chocolate, roasted malts and some hops. The taste, AMAZING. Dark chocolate and toasted malts, with the aftertaste of a chocolate truffel. The mouthfeel was rich and creamy, just as expected. It was so good I had to have another. Very drinkable, yet another awesome brew from our friends at Rogue!

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-10-2004 15:08:09 | More by soulfly967

PopeJonPaul

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Whoa! Call me the Kool-Aid Man, but I had to exclaim "Oh Yeah!" when I had this beer (luckily I hadn't had enough to bust through a wall yet.) Deep brown with a puffy tan head, looked good but didn't look so special, but smelled like a Hershey's Special Dark, or the bags of chocolate chips I used to steal from the kitchen cupboard. Ultra creamy fabulous semi-sweet chocolate malts with a lightly citrusy hopped coffee finish. Goes down crazy smooth with great lacing all the way. Superb.

Serving type: on-tap

09-21-2004 02:17:55 | More by PopeJonPaul

99bottles

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: The beer has a dark brown-black body, completely opaque, and is topped with an inch of dark tan foam. Good head retention, a 1/2" stays the entire time.

Smell: This has a wonderfully rich nose of cocoa powder and lightly roasted malt; only the most faint touch of bitterness in the nostrils.

Taste: This is pure decadence. A well balanced malt profile gives this a rounded flavor, not an astringent one. Rich dark malts combine nicely with real chocolate? to elicit the cocoa flavor in the nose, and even a sweet coffee liquer flavor. So smooth and chocolately. Mmmm. Even though I don't match beer with desert, this could convince me otherwise. Roasted bitterness creeps in to finish, and keeps one honest.

Mouthfeel: Very nice, not thick and viscous like an Imperial, but not flimsy and weak like a dry stout. Just right.

Drinkability: I'd gladly have more than one. Delicious. I'm very happy to have found it on tap in my neck of the woods.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2004 20:17:44 | More by 99bottles

bultrey

New York

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Wow. Wow. That's all I can say. I had this on tap in a 20 oz. glass at Spuyten Duyvil.
Beer brewed with actual chocolate, as this one is, scares me. I don't think of it as a natural combination (except for maybe some good dark chocolate with a malty barleywine).
The chocolate is incredibly aggressive in the aroma, making for one of the most unsual and delicious smelling beers ever. But again, I'm thinking "I don't want to taste this, just smell it."
Well, I was wrong. The chocolate is there in the taste, but not nearly as aggressive as in the aroma, and it is quickly balanced by smooth, dark roasted malt with some nice hoppiness on the edge. The beer finishes cleaner than any stout I've ever had, as the chocolate shows up again in the aftertaste, more in the form of vanillin, perfectly balancing out the roastiness. Mouthfeel is smooth, smooth, smooth. One might classify this as a dessert beer, but I think not one to accompany dessert; rather, it IS dessert. Sublime.

Serving type: on-tap

08-20-2004 02:38:05 | More by bultrey

sideshowrob

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this one on Tap at Max's on Broadway in Baltimore. I've also had it in bottles, and will note where different. It's interesting to note that in Summer of 2003 the American Museum of Natural History in NYC had an exhibit on chocolate, and this beer was offered for sale in the gift-shop!

Served in a pint glass. Beer was nearly black with little head. The aroma of chocolate was immediately evident. chocolate bars don't smell this chocolately. Sweet aroma and a slight hop backbone were detected. Taste was outstanding. Off the tap this beer had a totally different characteristic than in bottles. The strong malty chocolate was balanced by a carefully tuned hop note. Very surprizing in this style. Very agreeable. Easy on the palate, and remarkably easy to drink for a heavy, full-bodied stout. A superb brew!

Serving type: on-tap

06-27-2004 14:47:11 | More by sideshowrob

PudTinkler

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Holy sweet mother of God...this is the finest beer I've had.
The color is borderline black..deep and beautiful. The head is caramel-colored but doesn't last long...the scent is a fantastic combo of chocolate with the slightest hint of coffee (or toffee?)...
The taste is what blows me away....sweet, yet still has the strong "stout" feel to it. I give this beer the highest ratings I possibly can.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2004 16:45:35 | More by PudTinkler

Edwin

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Kclinger's Publik House

Appearance - Dark as night. Black with caramel-like head on top. Head didn't stay along for the ride, but initially this was a total prom queen of a stout.

Smell - Yum. Nutty, chocolaty with some coffee notes and roasted hints. This made my stomach growl. Very nice arome to this one.

Taste - Wow. Very nice. The cocolate is the front-runner here with the roasted and coffee flavors coming in a quick second and nuts pulled in with the bronze. A very nice array and balance of differing flavors.

Mouthfeel - Silky smooth and as comfy as an old recliner. This beer just "fits" on the palate. A welcome guest.

Drinkability - If I wasn't trying to accumulate passport stamps, I would have camped out on this one all night. Very drinkable.

Overall - This one is a truly remarkable brew. If you do see this one, pick it up and enjoy it. It is worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2004 16:57:12 | More by Edwin

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

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

Had on tap at Redbones. Pour was dark as night, low head dissipated quickly. Aroma was all about rich chocolate. I thought the taste was mostly dark chocolate with some roasted notes. A very nice and tasty stout that does exactly what was expected. Would get again, no problems.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2004 15:33:45 | More by PatandDavid

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at The Moan and Dove, Amherst, MA, presented in a pint glass.

Delivered with a nice head on top of a dark brown/near black brew. Chocolate and roasted malts scream out at the nose, and the taste buds are not disappointed. Bitterness tempers the sweetness excellently, almost like a mouthful of bittersweet chocolate. Hearty, smooth, imminently drinkable. Get it if you can...

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2004 03:35:36 | More by ppoitras

pheurton

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on tap at isaac newton's: inky black with an increidibly dark brown bubbling head, that retreated for the most part. on the nose...oh man, what a nose...this had to be one of the best smelling flavored stouts i've ever come across....deep dark milk chocolate covered roasted barley smell. i can't stress enough how good this beer smells. a tad bit too much carbonation thins out medium body. hints of chocolate and smoke at first sip, followed by a massive roasted flavor and quite strong (for the style) leafy hop flavor. this beer smells alot more chocolatey than it tastes. a great sippin' brew, though i don't think that i'd want more than one in a sitting. a must try.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2004 18:04:11 | More by pheurton

Reidrover

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another pint at Rogue's Pub on the Newport dockside.
Very good beer in appearance a dark brown, dark cooking chocolate brown ale. Small tan head.
Smells of good copoking chocolate ( Ghiardelli)..malty and great.
Beautiful full dark chocolate taste..not too sweet yet a nice bitterness is present..especially in the aftertatse.
Very nice on the palate..smooth and rich.
A most drinkable stout..nice

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2004 04:02:43 | More by Reidrover