Chocolate Stout - Rogue Ales

Gavage

New Jersey

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black color with a thick brown head. The aroma is sensational as chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, and some more chocolate are very strong on the nose. This first smell did get me ready for the chocolate overload here. The flavor is huge, my first thought was a liquid chocolate candy bar. The chocolate is wonderful and the stout is well balanced on the malt and bitterness levels. By far the most flavorful chocolate beer I have ever consumed.

The mouthfeel is thick and full bodied. Subtle coffee and bitterness linger on the tongue behind the chocolate well into the aftertaste. The drinkability is knocked down a notch because after finishing the bomber bottle, I felt like I ate the several whole chocolate bars and I had enough for this sitting. I consider this a chocolate meal.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2004 19:50:07 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -24.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

650 ml bottle, "Made with imported chocolate" stamped on bottle.

Pours almost black with a foamy tan head that descends to a thin cover.

The smell is of sweet chocolate with some cherry notes.

The taste is of bittersweet chocolate truffle upfront. Slightly chalky. Some metallic/plastic notes. Opposite of descriptiion - start off sweeter and ends more bitter. Not too fond of the way the Cascade hops work together with the dark malt and chocolate.

The feel is a bit thinner than expected, but holds up decently. Doesn't quite coat the mouth the way I would like it to.

I love chocolate and stouts, but this one doesn't thrill me. I much prefer the Shakespeare Stout.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2007 00:21:31 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

650ml bomber. I've always liked this one, even shared it with my mom, for heaven's sake. Time to get to a review, methinks.

This beer pours a opaque dark brown, with slight reddish edges, and a few fingers of thick, foamy beige head, which leaves decent curtained lace as it recedes.

The aroma is of slightly roasted chocolate malt, sweet cocoa powder, and some earthy, floral hops. The taste is bittersweet chocolate, some singed caramel malt, and earthy, slightly bitter hops.

The carbonation is moderate, the body smooth, a bit creamy, and fairly full, and it finishes just barely off-dry - the hops definitely come to play with the residual chocolate essence.

A nicely balanced affair - the hops keep the sweet chocolate in check, making for a comforting, drinkable stout - provided you like chocolate, of course.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 22:00:24 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

This is a bomber of Chocolate Stout purchased at Barnyard Spirits and served chilled in a Great Lakes tumbler.

A: The ale is black with a whitish-brown head.

S: Sweet milk chocolate dominates the nose.

T: The stout runs the gamut of flavors. Up front, sweet chocolate notes hit the tongue, followed by a mid-strength hop flavor then closing with a long-finishing roasted malt flavor.

M: The mix of sweet and bitter flavors give the beer an interesting mouthfeel.

D: The ale is very drinkable with a decent hop flavor that underscores a decadent chocolate taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 01:34:43 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

Picked up a bomber from the Blue Max in Burnsville, MN.

Pitch black body, darkest American stout I've ever seen, look like a double or imperial stout. Tan/brown head with some lacing and a little head retention.

Smells like dark chocolate. Fairly strong aroma, but very complex tho. Tastes like dark chocolate too, and again, lacks complexity. No roasted malt flavors to be found. At 69 IBUs this beer is surprisingly balanced however.

Interesting mouthfeel, a bit heavy, but very smooth drinking. Big flavors, but not overwhelming. Easily the best Rogue brew I've had thusfar and best chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2005 00:50:05 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

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

Appearance: Ebony just barely letting any ruby highlights through at the edges when held up to the light, seems viscous with the pour and forms a nice sized milk chocolate colored brown head leves behind beautiful uniformed webbed lacing. Aroma: Hints of roasted marshmallows, deep milky chocolate, toasted nuts just one heavenly aroma barely letting some floral notes of hops. Taste: Ladies and gents what a beer, this one is definitely worthy of the Best of BA, with dark roasts blending with hop bitterness in the finish upfront the beer is full of toasted nuts and chocolate pleasure. Nothing compares to this one just awesome I like Brooklyn's Luxury Double Chocolate and Young's as well but this one kicks up a notch in the right direction. Mouthfeel: Full bodied almost chewy definitely pours like motor oil this is one big brew, awesome. Drinkability: Limit yourself to bomber this stuff is flavorful and full in body as lucious as they come an experience that I am going to enjoy for the next 30 to 60 minutes just sipping on it.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2003 04:33:46 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

This is by far the best chocolate stout I have tried to date. (keep in mind that these reviews are off notes from long ago and my palate is much different now than then) The chocolate flavor is smooth and perfect as far as I am concerned. If there is another one out there that is better, I can’t wait to try it. As far as appearance goes it is dark brown with a thick head.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 04:11:00 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

Poured a very, very dark brown and the tannish head looked good and the chocolate smell was awesome. Taste was roasted malts and hersheys chocolate upfront, beginning to end. Mouthfeel is amazing, cocoa, roastiness and a slight coffee hint but very minimal. I can drink this all day long.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2009 15:19:34 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

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

Very dark brown with a deep beige head (light brown?). Three-finger head from the pour, excellent ring lace on the glass side with each sip.

Strong cocoa aromas, almost like hot chocolate mix. Some sweetness to the smell. Some dark malts come through; no discernible hop.

Very chocolatey taste with very little sweetness. I like how the beer transitions to a subtle hop flavor. Perhaps the only flaw is that aftertaste is so brief. Thick body, similar to hot chocolate. Appropriate carbonation. Nice complexity with lots of differing tastes coming through at different points of the taste. The balance at the swallow is something special.

Do you like chocolate? If so, this is a great beer. It does not have the usual overdone flavors, just a wonderfully balanced brew. If you're expecting a dry stout, this will be quite distracting. Go with cocoa flow and enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2005 21:43:08 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

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

A - Pours black in color, some carbonation, nice creamy tan head that lasts a long time, nice lacing afterwards.

S - Scents of sweet malts and chocolate.

T - The taste is sweet/bitter/malty, nice chocolate flavor.

M - Medium body.

D - Drinkable. Another great brew from Rogue, highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2006 23:16:48 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

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

Pours with a one-finger light brown head that leaves a little lace. Totally opaque black color. Medium bodied and light carbonation. Nose is strong chocolate. Starts with a strong dark chocolate flavor (are there Hersey bars in this??) and finish is a mix of chocolate and hops. $4.89 for a 22oz bottle from Northend Superette Manchester, NH.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2005 22:53:53 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in an imperial pint glass)

A- This beer pours a thick dense black body that is to dark to see carbonation but the thick creamy head is light cocoa colored.

S- The nice smell of roasted malt and black toasted malt with some earthiness and finish of green hops in the background.

T- This beer has a nice earthy robust dark malt flavor with some hints of dark slightly sweet chocolate, although the beer itself is not sweet. The finish is a nice green hop bitterness that balances well with the dark grains. As this beer warms the chocolate taste becomes more of a fresh tobacco taste with some nice sourness from the oats.

M- The mouthfeel is medium-full with some chewiness in the texture. No fizz or alcohol warmth.

D- This beer is a nice smooth stout. It has good qualities and it has a nice faint chocolate flavor that is made with great grains and not chocolate powder or extracts. It is nice to see a chocolate stout that is well balanced with hops and dark malts but stays true to beer ingredients.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2005 23:51:24 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

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

Jet black colour with a thick bubbly light brown two fingered head, sticks sporadically down the glass. Chocolaty aroma, reminiscent of powdered hot coco … it even goes further with hints of carob with a soft powdery sweetness. Roasted malts are there but restrained in the aroma. Big viscous crispness within the full body and medium carbonation. Big dark chocolate flavours with a dark fruitiness in the middle similar to black berries, maltiness is big but the roasted flavours are humble yet generous with a mild bitterness from the bite. The blend of roasted malts and chocolate flavour make for a bitter sweet flavour likened to baker chocolate. Hops are held to a minimum though are certainly present with earthy undertones that complement the roasted flavours.

As far as flavoured stouts go this is one of the best, very well balanced and quite drinkable for a brew with such a big body.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2002 19:09:50 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

Bomber bottle, pours black and rich, engine oil. Heady nose of chocolate and expresso. Creamy, smooth mouthfeel. Notes of expresso, cholcoate, chocolate cake. This stuff is just plain yummy. Great dessert beer, great for a night capper. Classy product from a long time major player in the craft brew market. Thanks Rogue..

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2004 01:48:30 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a - Pours a dark dark brown, letting no light pass through. Little carbonation evident, but 2 fingers + of a brownish head with very good rentention. Looks great.

s - Smells of dark chocolate, sweet and roasted malts, some hops.

t - Tastes like a dark/bitter chocolate with some roasted malts. Slightly more bitter than I was expecting.

m - Little carbonation and a lighter body than I was expecting, on the medium side.

d - Overall this was a very good chocolate stout. It was a bitter chocolate but you could still taste some roasted malts, so the balance was nice. I would definitely try this again.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2010 01:04:26 | More by mdfb79

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

weeare138

Pennsylvania

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

This one is really really good. Although, some of the reviews may be a bit on the overkill side of praising her. The appearance is murky black with constant strings of bubbles arising throughout the entire duration of the brew. Actually looks like Bosco's/Hershey's syrup when I pour the remainder into my glass. Smells of bitter chocolate all over the place with a sweet malt jumping into my nose. Definitley some semi-sweet chocolate going on about halfway through...I also like trying different chocolates! I have to say that this brew is a good one but it is sweet. There's just not a ton of balance going on as the finish is lingering all on the front of my tongue. That IS what I expected though being a chocolate stout. Feels pretty good going in and down the hatch, with some carbonation and bitter sweet chocolate tickeling the front and sides of my mouth. This was out of a 22 bomber, so I think that 1 of these would be enough for a night. It is a good one to cap the night with though.

Finger licking good!

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2005 03:01:46 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

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

Pours a coal black beer with a tall brown head.

Smell is slightly sweet and fairly hoppy for a chocolate stout. Once you get past the hops the chocolate and vanilla aromas really come out and massage your nose. But there are more aromas; this is unexpectedly spicy with a good cinnamon and slight chili pepper aroma like Mexican chocolate. There also seems to be some allspice and ginger in the scent as well.

Taste is semi dry and spicy at the beginning with a strong cinnamon and ginger flavor.
Chocolate kicks in more after a few more sips, but the spices never quite disappear from the taste and adds that extra kick that Mexican chocolate and coffee has. This is a stout that never gets bitter and stays semi dry in your mouth a most superior stout.

Mouthfeel is thick.

I really want to hate this beer because of who makes it, but I can't do that this is really a great beer. Creamy and tasty this is quite good, and somewhat expensive at $7 a bottle. If you are holding out on trying this just because of who makes it then stop and give it a chance. I would possibly question the Style classification, as this is most certainly a heavily spiced beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2006 04:53:11 | More by Zorro

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

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

On tap @ Tria (Philadelphia, PA) on 4/2/11. Served in a pint glass.

Pours black in the glass, topped with a ½ finger of smooth looking burnt mocha head. This retains well, leaving back a foamy cascade of lacing that quickly slides down the sides of the glass. Chocolate is strong and delicious smelling in the nose, rounded out on the edges by notes of roast and green citrus. This smells great!

The taste doesn't miss a step, with rich chocolate flavors carrying on here, but this seems to be much more assertive with the roasted malt and hops, which really dries the backend of the profile out. Lingering burnt roast, in particular, is strong. The mouthfeel is fuller bodied, with a pleasant mellow prickliness that flows well across the palate. That 6% ABV feels right-on here, with no alcohol flavors or even warmth being picked up at all.

This is one of those Rogue beers that I only try once in a blue moon but it never ceases to impress me. My wife always exclaims that "it tastes like a liquid tootsie roll!" and I'm inclined to agree. This is one of the few Chocolate Stouts out that there really brings those rich chocolate flavors to the table and then some!

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2011 19:01:04 | More by Kegatron

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Although this beer was pricy, ($5.65 CDN for a 650 ml bottle) it was one that I had to try. I was not disappointed in the least. It poured a nice dark brown bordering on black, with a thick and creamy light brown head. The smell is roasted malt and a sweet coffee-like aroma. The taste is amazing, like an alcoholized mix of rich chocolate milk and espresso. The finish is like a piece of bittersweet chocolate melting down the throat. Mouthfeel is very smooth and nice a nice sweet/bitter flavour sticks around for a while. I really enjoyed this beer, and will definitely be purchasing it again soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2004 04:02:05 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

This beer is black. It is topped with a medium sized dark brown head. It dwindles to an edging within a minute. Smells like dry cocoa powder, coffee and milk chocolate. Right up front, I get the Nestle Quick like chocolate flavor on the palette. There are other flavors at work as well. Burnt tones, bitter hops, roasted barley and oat. Body is full. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. A flavorful beer to be sure. The chocolate actually isn't as overbearing as I thought at first.

Gotta give props to ZAP, Budgood1 and Road Warrior for the combined effort to bring this beer to my presence.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2003 19:59:37 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a cocoa colored brown with thin white head. Aroma dominated by chcolate malts roasted coffee and tostie rolls. Flavor once again dominated by chocolate and chocolate malts. Nice roasted character and hops provide a tasty bitter dry finish. Very Good!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2008 08:11:08 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

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

Well nice and dark, not super thick, viscosity not over the top, back to what stouts used to look like, traditional. Aroma, well, chocolate was preeminent.

Taste, whoo, chocolate is massive, its really the only definable taste. I can't help but notice I wished the viscosity was higher on this, I did think to myself it was a little thin, maybe I'm just caught up in the massive beer trend, but this one, while having an immense chocolate feel, it didn't seem to have anything to balance itself out. Plenty more of these to check out along the way to see if it evolves into something that is better with even more legs under it.

EDIT: Having drank about a dozen more of these since the initial review, I can really say I actually have come to appreciate this being a more reasonable stout, i.e. not being massive, but allowing the chocolate delivery vehicle to be right where it need be. Can't beat this stuff at $6 a bottle, one of my frequent/almost always purchases when I go to a store that has this stuff in stock.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 05:35:50 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Had this on tap at Max's the other night.

The beer pours an impressive brooding black color with a creamy, coffee colored head. There is good head retention and lacing, and as already noted, the beer looks impressive. The nose is pretty complex on this beer, with obvious chocolate, but with some underlying citrusy bitterness. The beer really doesn't smell very malty and/or sweet, and as it turned out, it wasn't. On the palate this beer is pretty intriguing. On the initial taste the chocolate flavor is really in your face, but after that I didn't notice it so much. The chocolate, along with what sweetness there is, can be tasted on the front palate, but then the hops come on strong, leading to a very dry, somewhat citrusy bitter finish. Mouthfeel is pretty good, though it doesn't have the plush creaminess of Stone RIS, KBS or Dark Lord, to name a few. The beer finishes very nicely, and given the relatively low alcohol, I found the beer to be pretty drinkable. There is a touch of licorise and burnt toast at the very end, which is really the only detraction in this otherwise very impressive beer from Rogue.

Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

01-11-2008 21:36:52 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Rogue, Portland, OR

Poured a dark brown-black with a minimal tan head; no lacing to speak of. Milk chocolate in the aroma and a bit of roastiness. Taste of bakers' chocolate, sweet, but powdery, more subtle hints of coffee and nutshells, with a little bitterness in the finish to offset the sweetness. Mouthfeel was smooth, but a little light for the style, I thought. Still a nice drinker overall.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2012 21:00:53 | More by Rifugium