Double Chocolate Stout - Rogue Ales

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance- Pours a jet black with a finger width of dark mocha head.

Smell- chocolate, roasted malts, roasted cocoa, coffee bean, vanilla

Taste- Strong, bold bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate, followed up with roasted flavours from the cocoa, malts, and coffee bean. Bitter chocolate finish.

Mouthfeel- Medium-to-full bodied with light carbonation.

Overall- Good use of bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate without running the risk of becoming too cloying or too syrupy. Lots of roasted flavours add to the profile. I like Rogue's Chocolate Stout, but this one takes it to a whole other level.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 04:06:01 | More by leaddog

Pegasus

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Deep mahogany in color, opaque to light, crowned by a massive mocha-colored cloud-top head. The head fades very slowly, the lacing is fine-beaded nd glass-coating.

Aroma: Deep aroma of bitter cocoa, sweet cream, dark roasted malt, and vanilla. The aroma makes me think of bitter chocolate swirled in sweet cream and vanilla beans.

Taste: Opens with a massive cocoa presence, rich, earthy, and a bit smoky. Soon after the ope, the is a brief moment of sweet milk chocolate, before the more earthy dark chocolate flavors ascend. Beneath these rich flavors is a base of sweet, spicy alcohol, although it is secondary to the chocolate flavors, and verges on being subtle. Towards the latter part of the taste, the roasted stout notes dominate. The taste draws to a graceful close with a flourish of herbal hops, which serve to counterbalance the opening sweetness.

Mouth feel: Smooth, soft, full, velvety upon the palate; quite pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A superb Double Chocolate Stout, worthy of a very special occasion. Pairs exceptionally well with dark chocolate cheesecake.

Presentation: Packaged in a red-enameled twenty-five point four ounce Belgian bomber, sealed with a pry-off crown.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 14:58:41 | More by Pegasus

circus_cat

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Wow, this looks inviting. Pours absolutely jet black with no light peeking through whatsoever. Rocky khaki to light brown head leaving beautiful, elegant lacing on its way down.

S: Dark fruits (plum, blackberry), baker's chocolate, caramel and toffee, a hint of coffee grinds.

T: Mimics the nose--dark fruits, mostly plum, with a healthily competing dark chocolate kick and a little punch of espresso bitterness that lingers on the finish.

M: Slightly less full-bodied than the appearance and aroma would suggest but nice and smooth.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 04:10:18 | More by circus_cat

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours black - no light showing through when back lit - with a thick creamy tan head. Consistency of this beer appears thicker than your average. Good frothing but little lacing on a clean glass. Smells of darker malts and chocolate is easily detectable via nose. Taste reveals a sweet chocolate flavor - kind of like a Hershey bar in a bottle with some other surrounding malts. Great beer for the season.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 21:28:59 | More by Oakenator

spoony

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a 750 ml bottle into a snifter.

A-The beer is completely black and opaque. A normal pour produced a two-finger, dark brown head. The foam dropped pretty quickly into a ring around the glass.

S-The smell is pure chocolate (milk chocolate and dark chocolate) and roasted malts. One-dimensional, but I guess that is what you get when you buy a double chocolate stout.

T-Taste is also pure chocolate (more bitter dark than milk chocolate, though) and slightly bitter malts. I found the taste to be a little simple...just because this is a chocolate stout doesn't mean other complexities can't be allowed to complement the main flavor.

M-The feel was medium to heavy with a slightly aggressive (for the style) carbonation.

O-This beer is something of a one-trick pony. The chocolate flavor is almost overpowering and I could have used a bit more complexity to balance things out. That being said, this IS a double chocolate stout, so I cannot judge too harshly for being heavy on the chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 17:17:49 | More by spoony

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep black color with about two fingers of coffee colored head that remains throughout most of the beer.

The scent is of sweet chocolate and roasted malt.

The taste is of sweet chocolate, roasted malt, and some notes of coffee.

Full body, smooth and very creamy, low carbonation.

This was a delicious beer, very flavorful and an easy, smooth drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 19:13:40 | More by BeerCon5

SawDog505

New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a 13 oz tulip glass. Pours nearly completely black, with a 2 inch brown head, that clings to the sides of the glass. Smell is bakers chocolate, carmel, and roasted grain. Taste is all about the chocolate, one dimensional in a good way. Body is medium, with a good amount of carbonation, slightly dry, and very easy drinking. This is a good chocolate stout and it is nice to see a solid price tag, at less than $7 a 750 bottle. I think this is a great beer to introduce people to imperial stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2012 04:13:15 | More by SawDog505

UCLABrewN84

California

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle pour at the BevMo Holiday Beerfest held at Golden Road Brewing in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours an opaque black with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and chocolate syrup. Taste is much the same with a slight tartness in the flavor. There is a mild 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 some nice aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 06:02:14 | More by UCLABrewN84

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter on 7/7/12

Moderately dark brown for the style, at least until I came across the 9% abv noted on the label. Certainly a nice change of page; dark in the glass, but you can tell it's brown. 1/3rd inch head does not last long. There a bit o' ring retention. The second pour has a 2 inch head and leaves some drippy lace.

I really enjoy the aroma. Roast is prominent, but clean. Mostly chocolate with some faint coffee. Milk chocolate sweetness. Seems quite grainy (I reckon the rolled oats mentioned on the label explain that). Sweet, roasty and clean - good combination as far as aromatics go.

This tastes good, too. Roasted chocolate with undercurrents of dark chocolate sweetness and cocoa bitterness. Semi-burnt coffee finish. My fiance doesn't care for it because it tastes like molasses. Oats add a touch of smoothness to a medium, sugar-plump body. Carbonation is fussy; thankfully it mellows some over time.

Overall, this is a heck of a lot better than I was anticipating, especially the aroma. For Rogue, consider me impressed.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 03:53:56 | More by Ryan011235

gtermi

Texas

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

A: This beer pours a dark black body with a thick dark tan head that slowly fades and leaves a nice amount of lacing on the glass.

S: A lot of sweet milk chocolate, a tiny bit of roasted malt and again with some more chocolate.

T: Wow this is delicious. It starts with a strong milk chocolate flavor that quickly turns into a nice tiny bit of roasted malt and a strong sweetness.

M: Smooth and creamy like peanut butter! The beer has a nice full body and doesnt have much crispness at all.

O: This is probably my favorite beer by Rogue. The beer doesnt miss a beat while I drink it. The mouthfeel, appearance, smell and taste are homeruns with me. They need to make this year round!

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 05:28:32 | More by gtermi

Ranz

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Because of the hefty price tag, I split the bottle with one of my best buds, but I'll admit that I nearly ran off with this jewel.

A: Poured jet-black into my tulip glass, the brew created a head not unlike chocolate meringue or puffed frosting, a finger-and-a-half.

S: Yes sir may I have another! A divine mixture of sweet cocoa, cherries, vanilla extract all with a slight medicinal tinge, this aroma was a symphony of the senses. Whatever Tiki god you've been sacrificing to, Rogue, keep it up.

T: And the taste follows in grand fashion. Sweet chocolate, malt, and caramel notes sing on your palate, inviting you to savor every drop. My buddy and I couldn't stop raving about it all night. It is by far the best chocolate beer I've had yet.

M: Intensely creamy and with a medium carbonation, the beer feels more like a cooled chocolate fountain in your mouth.

O: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways, Rogue. Bravo, good sirs. This is one for which I'll always keep an eye out.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 02:59:02 | More by Ranz

wedge

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

@ Growlers Pour House

Pours pitch black with some bubbly cream floating on the surface. Smells like pure chocolate...that's pretty much it. Dark, syrupy, straight-up chocolate sweetness. As expected, the flavor is more of the same: a big mouth full of semisweet chocolate morsels. Heavy, almost syrupy body. Wow. One was enough for me (I honestly don't think I was in the mood for such a pure dessert-like beer). Chocolate to the max. I prefer the regular Chocolate Stout just because at least there is some indication of a stout underneath. Tasty in a novelty sort of way.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2012 17:28:34 | More by wedge

ADZA

Australia

4.2/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

So excited to try this and glad with the new importer we see these alot cheaper than before and it pours the blackest kola hue which lets no light in whatsoever and leaves a two finger chocolate laced head and a rim of lacing,the smell is sweet milky chocolate,chocolate liquor,cappicino,turkish delight, and caramel,the mouthfeel is full bodied with moderate carbonation which suits and on first sip its like chocolate icecream very enticing followed by caramel,turkish delight,cappicino,cocoa,a slight dark fruitiness and finished just like a nice mocha and overall i really enjoyed this and would buy again without doubt a must try that would suit a rich hearty meal or chocolate dessert.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2012 05:34:46 | More by ADZA

Beaver13

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

750 ml bottle. Pours dark brown black with a medium creamy brown head that goes to a thin film and laces the glass some.

The aroma is sweet baker's chocolate with some roast and a touch of alcohol.

The flavor is a bit thin and subdued. It's some slightly chalky, very sweet, roasted chocolate malts, with some vegetal notes. The finish is some strong roast bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and slightly watery with soft carbonation.

Overall, it had promise as a sweet dessert beer, but it had too many flaws.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2012 05:38:20 | More by Beaver13

Znsale01

Colorado

4.73/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Drank straight from the bottle so I was unable to see how this beer looks and behaves in a glass.

S - Wonderful chocolate smell that was very inviting.

T - I fell in love at first drink. The creaminess of the stout was paired with the taste of chocolate very well. I typically drink with a lot of not craft beer drinkers and everyone was in love with the taste as well.

M - Thick and creamy that was just as good to swallow as it was to taste.

O - Overall I was blown away by the deliciousness of this beer. I would recommend it to anyone even if you don't prefer stouts. This beer is a game winner.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2012 08:44:39 | More by Znsale01

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Looks chocolatey, like espresso. Regal crown of light mocha-colored foam. Nice-sized pour raises eyebrows and a smile.

Dusty cocoa, like powdered milk chocolate. A light Belgian flair to the chocolate, as well (not to the beer, mind you). Sweet roasty malts with a light peat-like charm. Hops are playing hookie. Very beautiful aroma that is hindered only by it's one-note simplicity.

Milky chocolate and brown steakhouse bread. Tingly booze gets right up through the nasal passages. Sandy charcoal character pronounces some earthy hop tones that were in absentia in the nose. Same flat Pacman Yeast, but it doesn't hurt. Light nuances of hazelnut, spruce hops, and unexplained oak. Overall, pretty damn tasty.

Thick and chewy without being viscous or really sticky. Booziness isn't a horror, either. Carbonation for this kind of beer is damn close to perfect.

Exceptional as a chocolate stout. No artificial tastes or off-flavors. Smooth as velvet and highly enjoyable at this strength. Great alcohol profile where it's never heady. One of Rogue's prizes.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2012 01:52:04 | More by thecheapies

DIM

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: This was black and it was served to me with a thin, dark brown head.

s: Fudge-y chocolate, and little roast, and some booze.

t: Great balance of sweet chocolate cake batter and plenty of roasty bitterness. Not a lot of layers perhaps, but very satisfying.

m: Plenty chewy and gently carbonated.

o: I was dissapointed to see a Rogue tap take over at the Bull's Head. I'm just not much of a fan. This cheered me up quite a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2012 15:26:03 | More by DIM

zeff80

Missouri

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

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a one-finger, brown, mocha-like head of foam. It receded to leave sticky patches of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled like a mocha with dark chocolate and some coffee notes.

T - Good chocolate flavors with some burnt molasses and rich toffee. Just a touch of coffee-like bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium to full bodied stout with a dry finish.

O - Very tasty chocolate stout. Rogue's best beers are always their stouts.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 01:04:54 | More by zeff80

Pexkool

Mexico

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

A - As black as black can be, with a beautiful brown mocha head about 1 and half inch tall that leaves a thin lace around the glass.

S - I like to sniff out of the neck of the bottle as soon as I open them to smell the preserved aromas, and I immediately smelled the sweet chocolate of this brew, that was pretty much all I could smell; when I poured it into the glass, I sensed a more bittersweet chocolate, along with some honey notes and roasted malts.

T - From the sweetness on the nose, I was a little shocked to taste such a bitter beer! But then I remembered this was supposed to be a stout, so it's okay. Coffee and dark chocolate notes, along with the dryness and characteristic bitterness of the hops, like tasting a charged and lightly sweet espresso.

M - From the moment you pour this brew you know it's going to be thick. The mouthfeel is silky smooth, almost syrup-y, a dense and full-bodied experience. Have you ever drank what's left of an ice cream bowl that was left a little too long out of the fridge? Yeah, something like that.

Overall, a damn good stout! I have tasted the "regular" stout from Rogue, but it doesn't compare to this! One of the best stouts I've ever drank; bitter and sweet in perfect balance to not feel overwhelming. Would have it again for sure, and surely will look for it again when the winter comes.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 03:24:49 | More by Pexkool

pkalix

California

4.6/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

i bought this because i thought the bottle looked cool....
appearance is black, with a foamy, textured billowed head of chocolate milk(shake) on top, dwindling to a spotty lacing on the sides. when you tilt the glass (mine is a tulip glass tonight) you get a dark brown glistening bubble-y texture as the thickness slowly runs back down to catch the rest.
smell... is all chocolate. nestle quick, chocolate milk kind of chocolate.
taste...is all chocolate. nestle quick, chocolate milk kind of chocolate. okay, some roasty malts in there and a little dark coffee taste, too.
thick, rich. was already with a full-feeling stomach. this just put me over the top.
overall? wow. i have never had a beer so chocolate-y. it is literally like drinking dessert. the bottle i have says it is 8.7%. i read some people had differing thoughts.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 23:01:37 | More by pkalix

ExtraStout

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at ROGUE Ales Publick House in San Francisco. I was told it was 9.5% by the beer tender, but I see it is listed here at 8%. I thought it was lacking in alcohol for a 9.5 ABV so I tend to agree with the 8% here.

The Rogue Double Chocolate Stout pours a pitch black in the glass with a thick chocolate mousse like head, pretty good retention, but no real lacing to talk about. On the nose are pronounced aromas of milk chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate truffle, chocolate cake...needless to say, there is a lot of chocolate. Besides chocolate, I get raisin, roasted hazelnuts, espresso, & cognac.

Everything that I got on the nose, I get on the palate with a full & rich texture, full body, & long finish. Overall, this is a solid beer worth trying at least once. Recommended if you're looking to try something new, but if you're strapped for cash....go with the regular chocolate stout instead.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2012 02:57:22 | More by ExtraStout

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Whoa! This one is really chocolatey. Like, I am drinking from the chocolate river in the Willy Wonka movie, assuming it's got a lot of dark chocolate in the mix. Not much head or anything - not one you'd expect to be that creamy out of the bottle - but the feel definitely comes through. It's a tasty, smooth beer. Not too strong, but strong enough. It's easy to see how this is a double of their classic Chocolate Stout, and I think I give this one the edge. It's more of a sipper, and not a bottle you want to throw $12 down on, but it's a very pleasant experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 08:04:30 | More by TheRealBigC

Suds

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is an utterly black brew. It's thick and opaque...with a tan head, leaving an intricate trail of lace. The aroma is chocolaty, chalky, and a bit grainy. Grist, powdered cocoa, and chaff. It's an interesting smell. The taste is grainy and bitter...not as layered as expected. Some sweetness, fleeting, and balanced by the chocolate and grain. This beer hides its alcohol well. Chocolate malt aromas come out more after a few sips. Sharp finish, not as full in body as expected. Still, this is a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 01:21:47 | More by Suds

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.23/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a 10 oz snifter

Appearance –Served a black brew with a small tan head. The head fades fast to a thin film leaving a great level of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is rich and strong. It is heavy of a sweet mild chocolate smell. Mixed with these aromas are lighter notes of a vanilla and light caramel smell. Overall, big and delicious.

Taste – The flavor starts out of a smooth semi-sweet chocolate flavor mixed with a roasted malt taste. Vanilla soon comes to the tongue and along with it some sweeter and more sugary flavors of caramel and molasses. While it comes to the tongue, the sweetness soon dwindles some as more roasted malt and a bitter chocolate flavor then come to the tongue. While not detected in the slightest in the nose, at the very end a light alcohol flavor comes to the tongue and leaves a very nice bitter chocolate booze flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer was on the medium to more creamy side with a carbonation level that was rather average. It was an alright mouthfeel, although more creaminess and a bit less carbonation would have likely better suited the chocolate, roast and alcohol flavors of the brew.

Overall – It is a rather tasty brew and the name is very appropriate. It begins with sweeter chocolate and then turns more to a bitter chocolate, with big dose of chocolate in the nose. It is tasty and well worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2012 01:21:19 | More by Darkmagus82

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Maudite snifter. Pours a very dark brown, appearing black in the glass. Healthy two finger medium brown head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma of chocolate, light toasted malt, and cocoa. Flavor follows, with very well integrated chocolate, dark and toasted malt, like a creamy whipped chocolate milk with benefits. Finish slightly dry with residual chocolate and light hops; a touch astringent but the other full flavors make up for it. Medium bodied with great creaminess. Very nicely done, an excelllent chocolate stout and one I will return to in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 03:08:30 | More by LiquidAmber