Chocolate Stout - Rogue Ales

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance- Poured a great, fluffy brown two-finger head. Color a nutty black.

Smell- Reminded me of German chocolate Ritter Sport. With a little bitterness to bely the mocha sweetness.

Tatse- I never drinka ANYTHING that has chocolate in it excep this. This was fantastic. Great dark chocalate mixed with some cream. Leaves a coffee aftertaste. A little hops to remind me that I was drinking beer.

Mouthfeel- A nice smooth, yet thick chocolate palate with a little bitterness.

Drinkability- For something made with chocolate, this has a great need to be imbibed.Especially for desert.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2005 02:38:58 | More by scruffwhor

stcules

Italy

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Almost black, some dark brown edges. A finger of a compact beige head.
In the smell: chocolate, strong, and vanilla. Definitely soft, smooth and pleasant. Under that, some toasted malt, fruit, but the chocolate is dominant.
In the smell some more bitterness, but still it is very smooth, with a dominant note of chocolate, and oat for the softness. Balanced. Vanilla.
Quite light in body.
Chocolate, hazelnut in the aftertaste. And a very long bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2007 18:34:20 | More by stcules

TheLongBeachBum

California

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

I have read so much about this beer that when I spied a 22 fl.oz. Bottle recently whilst out beer-shopping, it was immediately purchased without the merest thought.
It poured a lovely a deep black color. The head races up the glass as I poured the beer, forming a huge deep brown mass that looks like it belongs in Starbucks. I noted that intense chocolate aromas were already building up into quite a nose before the beer had even finished pouring. The frothy head soon settled to a thin creamy looking brown collar that laced well as it collapsed. Aromas are not surprisingly, of chocolate, but these smells are dominated by cocoa powder and cooking chocolate.
First tastes are overwhelmingly of chocolate – real chocolate – which is quite astounding, and this is what differentiates this Chocolate Stout from other “wannabes”. As the beer reaches its middle the chocolate is dark and strong and lingers. I was expecting this beer to be overtly sickly, it is not, it is not in fact sweet at all. Putting the chocolate tastes aside, the beer has quite a dry bitter finish which I like. Mouthfeel is silky, milky and smooth, it positively coats the mouth. Nicely put together, this is certainly no 10 cent Hershey Bar, but more of a hand-made dark Belgium chocolate.

I am not a huge chocolate fan, my own tastes are spicy rather than sweet, and I am not sure just how much of this I could drink to be honest.
One of the better Chocolate Stouts.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2003 19:20:20 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.8/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I am just wrapping up tasting about a dozen of Rogue's beer and this along with the Imperial Stout, Shakespeare Stout, and I2PA are the cream of the crop...

For a chocolate stout the nose is surprisingly devoid of huge cocoa characteristics..more of a nestle quick milk chocolate nose, but also a huge breeze of fresh hops..and a hint of herbal/leather/earthy notes...it looks like I'd expect it to look dark black with a tinge of ruby red on the lace...Mouthfeel is about perfect...creamy...smooth..maybe a tich thin, but for this kind of stout it is probably right on the button...

I think the taste is exceptional...sweet milk chocolate but not overdone...also a nice herbal/leathery hop finsih that adds a real nice characteristic to this beer....

This isn't perfect but it is very close...I still like Youngs a tad better personally but this might be a better made beer...Young's has a bigger chocolate flavor and has very little hop bite...this is more complex and should be a must try for Beer Coniseurs around the globe...

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2002 21:09:47 | More by ZAP

jrallen34

Illinois

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

I drank this from a 22 oz bottle into a Rochefort glass.

The beer is black with a light to medium tan head rising about 2 fingers and falling to quickly. There is great lacing.

The aroma is awesome with tons of light better chocolate on the front, its like smelling a chocolate cake. At the end before being overwhelmed with just sweetness you get a nice bitter hoppiness.

The taste is all chocolate. There front is sweet chocolate but then it fades it bitter chocolate all the way. The taste is too much bitter chocolate and one note for me to be great. Its a nice change of pace.

The feel is decent not terribly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2009 03:28:09 | More by jrallen34

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - received the ale cold in a standard pint glass
Thick black body with thin sandstone tan shade head.

S - Bittersweet chocolate and chocolate malt aromas coplimented with sublte citrus odors that lingers with a faint hop aroma. The smell is similar to chocolate cereal.

M - Creamy tip of the tongue sweetness tantalizes. The full body and dry chocolate sweetness finishes with a slight bitterness.

T - Chocolate, the bittersweet variety similar to baking chocolate and cocoa flavors. Nutty and roasty malt with a subtle dry texture. Sweet mixes with bitter or spicy hop tinges toward the end.

D - Decent amount of chocolate in the aroma keeps you coming back. The Cocoa and bittersweet cocoa tastes are the primary flavor with a citric hop quality and a dry stout finish. It is a decent chocolate stout, but not the best chocolate ale overall.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2007 15:05:10 | More by Slatetank

dirtylou

Washington

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

100 degree temperatures faded into stout night...This was the 3rd in line after highland black mocha stout and youngs double chocolate.

appearance: dark, chocolate brown, foamy tan head.

smell: strong aromas of very sweet chocolate, earthy, underlying strong malts are apparent

taste: sweet and dark chocolate, cocoa powder, quite malty, slightly bitter but mostly sweet

mouthfeel: creamy, moderately heavy

drinkability: very drinkable

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2005 20:10:05 | More by dirtylou

Bitterbill

Wyoming

4.4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The pour is a near pitch black but when I hold up my glass to the light, I can that it's a very dark brown. Big 2 finger+ head of tannish foam and there's plenty of sticky lacing. Awesome head retention and plenty of lacing.

The smell has oodles of both dark and milk chocolate tickling my nosebuds. Wow. Does this ever smell inviting!

And...the taste tells it all. Big baker's chocolate taste that literally has me grinning after every sip. Oh, there's definitely some sweeter milk chocolate flavour there as well but it's nicely countered by a very pleasant dryness coming from notes of coffee and a bit of toffee and that just kicks up the drinkability factor for me. Wow is this stuff good or what?

Good thick mouthfeel gives it a really creamy texture and the carbonation is low and perfect for this beer.

I've had this available locally a few years ago but I never got around to reviewing it so, I had to grab a bottle yesterday when I was in Ft Collins. I'm *so* glad I did!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2008 19:03:22 | More by Bitterbill

cokes

Wisconsin

4.68/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Wormhole black body with a galactic, nebulous dark brown head. Lasts indefinately, and leaves huge amounts of lace in it wake.
Cocoa powder and oaty sweetness on the nose...Maybe hints of vanilla. In the basest of terms, it smells like a Hostess Ho-Ho.
Tell me this isn't alluring...
First off in the good old roasted malt stouty flavors. In comes the soothing oaty smoothness coupled with a chocolate flavor that rest between dark and milk. Some graininess lies underneath along with some some slight vanilla and carmel tones. At 69 IBU's, this is no slouch in the hops dept. But they only add a bit of citric bitterness at the finale. They do, however, balance the load well.
Smooth and gliding across the mouth. Delectable.
I don't even care for chocolate that much, but I recognize a treat when I taste one. And this one is a treat. Easily the best chocolate stout I've had.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2002 22:14:28 | More by cokes

Tone

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/3 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of chocolate, sweet malt, slight hop, slight roasted malt, slight earthiness/wood, and a hint of citrus. Fits the style of an American Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, slight hops, slight chocolate, hint of roasted malt, and slight citrus. Overall, a good blend and aroma, decent body.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 20:36:24 | More by Tone

beertunes

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a solid black with a dark tan head that had decent retention and lacing. The aroma was strongly chocolate, with some roasted notes in the background. That's a fairly accurate summation of the flavors as well.

The body was a bit thinner than I like for the style, but was still decently full. Drinkability was pretty good, but this brew is kind of a one-trick pony and can get boring pretty quickly. Overall, a very decent beer, certainly worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 21:39:12 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

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

.A: 1.5 finger head with tons of circumferential lacing on a jet black body.

S: excellent chocolate aroma, one of the best. Vanilla notes

T: lots of chocolate and vanilla on a roasted malt background.

M: full body, smooth, light to modErate carbonation.

Overall one of the best chocolate stouts I have had. Very drinkable and very smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2012 03:34:27 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

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

Poured from large Rogue bottle into 2 pint glasses. Appearance was so good, dark brown chocolate color with chocolate milk looking foam on top.

Taste was OK, but not as outstanding as the visual. Tasted a little light, not as chocolatey as expected. Kind of similar to Rogue mocha porter for me, in that I expected more based on the name and previous reviews.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2006 15:12:58 | More by TurdFurgison

DefenCorps

Oregon

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

I grabbed this at State Line a couple of weeks back. This is the first beer I've had in about 4 days, thanks to a sickeningly awful cold, but hey, if I'm good enough to function, I'm good enough to drink, right?

Rogue was one of the first breweries I got into as a n00b, and their marketing did play a big part in my choices. In the past couple of years, apart from the infrequent glass at a bar, I haven't had too many beers from them, and I'm now going to attempt to work my way through their catalog.

Chocolate Stout pours, as expected, black with a very dark brown head with great retention and nice lacing. The nose is excellent in so many ways. Up front, I get some aggressive roasted malt character, almost bordering on a burnt grain aroma, but a brief swirl brings out a decadent blend of chocolate and oatmeal. That combination is so intense, it's almost like a cookie, and the moderate fruitiness further amplifies that comparison. The chocolate isn't particularly dark or intense, rather milk chocolate like, and has a sweetened cocoa character. Hops? absent for all intents and purposes. Excellent stuff.

The palate opens with an intense cocoa character, very Hershey's cocoa like with a noticeable undercurrent of sweetness. The level of cocoa here is pretty darned perfect, balancing beautifully the roasted malt character that comes through on the mid-palate. Not as fruity as the nose would suggest, though there's just a touch of raisin present here. The oatmeal does present a little smoothness on the mid-palate, but the carbonation does take away a little bit from that aspect. Sweetness is almost entirely cocoa-derived without a noticeable caramel or brown sugar component present. The finish is quite excellent with flavors of burnt grain, cocoa and a little sweetness. However, there's also just a touch of a nut-like bitterness present. The other aspects of the mouthfeel are excellent too. Medium in body with a rather smooth, silky feel, the carbonation is a little high for my liking. Drinkability is definitely up there, by keeping the sweetness and alcohol low, this is almost as drinkable as water. I've drunk half my bomber in about 10 minutes. Excellent stuff, I'd LOVE to try this on cask.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 01:39:31 | More by DefenCorps

twiggamortis420

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Mostly black color with a creamy light brown head that fades surprisingly quick to a nice collar and sheen.

Mmmmm, chocolate. Impressively, I get milk chocolate, dark chocolate and cocoa powder out of here. Maybe a smattering of dark fruit and hops, but not much.

Hops are much more discernable in the taste, definitely west coasty. Chocolate takes on more dark unsweetened and cocoa characteristics and the dark fruits come out to play a bit more on the palate. Much more complex than I remember this one tasting, or even smelling for that matter. Just enough variety to keep it interesting all the way through a bomber and not too full or over the top to make it tough sledding.

A finely crafted ale, for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 02:29:43 | More by twiggamortis420

bark

Sweden

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The colour is jet black; the three finger head is uneven, brown and compact. It sinks very slowly, leaving some lacing.

The smell is sweet and luxurious with elegant flavours of milk chocolate and cocoa beans. Mild hints of pumpernickel and a touch of bitter hops.

The taste is a very well balanced blend of a dry and quite bitter stout and mellow smooth chocolate flavours. Lots of roasted (almost burned) malty flavours, a robust sour-bitter flavour and a slowly descending bitterness. The body is a little thin, though. The aftertaste is dry with notes of coffee, chocolate bars, some herbs and a mild clean bitterness.

The carbonation is mild, the few bubbles are fresh. The liquid is smooth.

The best smelling chocolate stout I have had. Though I miss some body, it felt a bit thin at times.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2009 20:30:02 | More by bark

nickfl

Florida

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

A - Pours with a small, tan head of foam that settles quickly and leaves decent lace. The body is an opaque black color with just a hint of brown showing through around the edges.

S - A rich aroma of chocolate, nutty malt, honey, and dark bread.

T - Bitter chocolate and Turkish coffee up front with a little bit of roasted nut character. Very dry in the middle with a slightly acrid, burnt flavor that seems to be equal parts roasted grain and hops. Finishes with more coffee, and dark bakers chocolate as well as a surprising note of pine hops.

M - Medium-thick body with a coco-butter slickness, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.

D - Quite an interesting beer, the chocolate character is undeniable, but the lack of sweetness skews it toward nutty coffee in a way that I didn't expect. The mouthfeel stands out more that that of most beers, due mostly to the unique slickness that comes from the chocolate. The hops in the finish help keep the beer balanced and make the darker flavors stand out. A good beer overall, though I think it would benefit greatly from just a bit more residual sweetness.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2010 02:13:32 | More by nickfl

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle poured into an imperial pint. Ingredients, 15 degrees Plato, 69 IBU, 77 AA, 135.45 degrees Lovibond, no date.

Thanks to OneNote81 for sending a second bottle of this beer to me after it broke in the first box! What a crazy story...

A - A tall pour creates totally huge cascading that ends in a three+ finger head with awesome retention. The dark mocha foam left rings and rings of lace white dropping slowly. The beer itself is black as midnight.

S - This beer smells like it's got chocolate chunks floating in it! Rich milk chocolate all over the nose. Tons of roasted malts to back it up. A touch of milky cream in there too with a caramel-cube sweetness. Just a rich, bold, thick aroma. A small hop aroma comes across on the finish.

T - Unfortunately the flavor doesn't live up to the hyped nose but it's close. A bit too much hops come out and really draw away from the bold roasted malts and thick milk chocolate. The flavor just ends up being thinner than anticipated.

M - Medium-full bodied and smooth with a roasty and hoppy bitter, dry finish. Not as rich as I would have liked to have had in the mouthfeel.

D - Not as drinkable as I anticipated from both the name and the aroma. A little too thin, much drier, and hoppier than I wanted. Don't get me wrong, it's still awesome but not as chocolaty as he name and smell let on.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2010 00:10:14 | More by BeerFMAndy

francisweizen

Australia

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

Opaque black with a huge tan-nish, brown head. Aromas are of
bitter, dark chocolate (duh!), roasted coffee, hops, malts, caramel, and other things. Taste is more of the same. Very chocolate-y, a bit bitter, and very malty with some hops in the finish. This beer is very similar to their Shakespeare stout, which is what the recipe is based on anyway. The mouthfeel is very creamy and solid and the drinkability is very good as well.
Another killer beer from Rogue!
Cheers!
-F

Cheers to Sakaroo for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2003 04:36:59 | More by francisweizen

tpd975

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Have had this brew in the bomber and most recently on draft.

A: Deep black brew with a nice espresso type head.

S: Chocolate, Chocolate, and more Chocolate did I order a Swiss Miss, pass the Marshmellow please.

T: Boy does the Chocolate stand front and center here, at this point I am begging for the marshmellows. So much chocolate with a great background of malt and a hint of hop.

M: It is pretty heavy, average body for a stout.

D: It goes down as good as it tastes. Due to the overpowering chocolate one pint or bomber is enough for me.

Overall its another good beer by Rogue. I love how they have brought the chocolate into the foreground in this brew while muting the coffee. The coffee is there, but the chocolate is the real star here. This would be a good beer to lay on someone who is wanting to come over to the dark side. It is not too overpowering, and has they nice warming chocolatelyness that will win their heart over. It's a winner in my book!

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2007 18:37:10 | More by tpd975

smakawhat

Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Giant head off pour with five fingers of nice light cocoa brown head. Dark brown body off the pour, body is almost a dark reddish brown. Head has lots of retention. Looks like a big beer no fooling. Some sticky lacing.

Smell is primarily chocolate of a nice almost dark in store chocolate counter. Very good quality chocolate it smells like. Nothing much else though. Strangely enough that primary chocolate smell is completely gone after you have a few sips of the beer. This beer needs aeration and a big pour to get the chocolate out, it wont come otherwise.

Taste makes you think a big sweet thing is coming but it's anything but. Hop bitters, and a wet body contribute to a sharp taste that is a little jarring, and also lacking some roast character. Not carbonated either. Very well hidden abv.

I am not exactly blown away by this, but maybe just a little disappointed. However, it does seem right for the style so I can't say this is something I wouldn't drink again or would even pan. It does some things quite well.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 03:07:52 | More by smakawhat

bluejacket74

Ohio

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

The beer pours very, very dark brown with about an inch tan head. By far the primary aroma is chocolate, but I can smell some roasted malt and a bit of coffee too. At first the chocolate sweetness takes over, and then finishes bitter. There's just a slight bitter aftertaste at first, but the longer I drink the beer, the stronger the aftertaste gets. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. It's full bodied and it's pretty drinkable. I don't think it's quite as good as Young's Double Chocolate Stout, but the Rogue Chocolate Stout is still a pretty good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 22:06:05 | More by bluejacket74

FosterJM

California

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

1400th Review on BA
Bottle to Woodshop Snifter
22oz

No bottle date

Paired with a chocolate fudge cake

App- When the pours its a good mix of browns/blacks and looks like the color and a thicker chocolate syrup. A nice two finger off brown head with some good cling and lace.

Smell- Huge malty roast notes with plenty of rich creamy chocolate on the nose. A bit of a semi-sweet aromas come up as well.

Taste- It was a chocolate stout, but didnt pound you over the face with it. I liked it better before I took a bit of the cake. Once I did it was a bit more hoppy and bitter. A bit prickly at points and semi-smooth. A tad bit of coffee flavors on the back.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a light medium semi creamy carbonation. A touch prickly and bitter on the finish. Was hoping for a smoother stout.

Drink- It was tasty, but I wouldnt suggest pairing this with anything.
Taste- A bit of chocolate

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 20:47:15 | More by FosterJM

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.63/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle. Pours black with a small tan head. Aroma of chocolate (reminds me of chocolate-flavored jello). Flavor is sweet and chocolatey but sort of artificially chocolately. A pretty good chocolate stout although on the slightly too sweet side. Enjoyable.
Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 7/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 14/20
3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 01:30:27 | More by LilBeerDoctor

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