Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs / Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout - Stone Brewing Co.

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours a clear but opaque jet black in color with minimal amounts of visible carbonation and some light amounts of dark amber highlights. The beer has a half finger tall dark tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of very thin film with a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderate aromas of roasted chocolate malts, cocoa, and lactose along with a very light hint of cherry (which intensifies as the beer warms up).

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of roasted malts with milk chocolate, lactose sweetness, cocoa, and just a hint of vanilla. Cherry flavors intensify as the beer warms up and become more pronounced in the finish.

M: Medium bodied with slightly more than moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly creamy.

O: This beer is pretty easy to drink and the alcohol is pretty well hidden by the sweetness from the lactose. Several people mentioned a taste of robitussin but I do not get any of that medicinal cherry, maybe it has faded with the age - cherry flavors in general are pretty reserved.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 00:32:58 | More by dbrauneis

Stunner97

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

I tried this beer after a decent amount of cellar time to it. Overall the beer was an enjoyable experience. The appearance was on par for the style as being dark black with thin tin lacing that remained after the pour. Smell was heavy roasted malts hint of cherry and vanilla . Taste was that of a very smooth stout with roasted tones and slight cherry tang to it but overall nice long finish and taste. Mouthfeel is medium with nice slick feel. Overall not sure how this beer compares to when was fresh as this was only bottle I had but I did enjoy the experience now as good solid stout collaboration not over some with cherry either.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 20:33:51 | More by Stunner97

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.99/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle from Capone's Restaurant, Mike's cellar. Pours black as coffee with about an eighth of an inch of light brown retained head, and lace gracing the glass all the way down. Roasty chocolate aroma. Above average mouthfeel, a rich aged taste and feel, however a little chalky. The cherry hits mid sip and builds over several sips. Very well integrated. Good drinkability for a higher abv drink. Dry and sweet finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 03:29:08 | More by northyorksammy

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

My first pour at the Boise "Stone Tap Take over".... Greg hadn't even stagedived yet!! :-) 5 oz pour is pretty much black with a decent tannish head.. that doesn't last too long.

The nose shows good chocolate, but only a bit of fruit if you concentrate... more sweet roasty notes than anything else.

Flavor is not much better, but a dark cherry element is there, but gets lost pretty quickly.. with warmth, there is more cherry...

Interesting.... Unfortunately I SIPPED this one forever while trying to get ANY other pour.. Still This is a decent brew... I suspect is pretty old for the element that should be enjoyed fresh.

3.5's across the board.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2012 05:26:47 | More by JohnGalt1

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.15/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle poured into a Kate the Great snifter.

Appearance - Pours a very inky black with a nice mocha head. Almost overflows the glass until it settles into some foam and eventually dissipates.

Smell - Strong roasty malt aroma. Some cherry, but it isn't overt. Mostly a deep dark chocolate and burnt toast smell.

Taste - Bright cherry up front. Mixes into a sweetness that doesn't last long. Quickly becomes chocolate, but in a bitter chocolate way. Ashy and dry in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Fairly low in carbonation with a dry ashy finish. Burnt malt flavor in the end.

Overall - Unexciting with some unpleasant notes in the finish. Still nothing that makes me gag or want to drainpour it. Just an average stout with its pluses and minuses.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 01:10:34 | More by Alieniloquium

lazjuarez

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've been saving this...I don't know why, but tonight seems like a great time to open this collaboration brew. Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Cigar City snifter

A: Poured Hurriedly, creating almost 3 fingers worth of foamy mocha colored head, but recedes rather quickly with minimal lacing. Body is black, absolutely no light coming through, but carbonation is noticeable right under the head.

S: Nose is amazing! Big chocolate notes upfront, molasses, some light vanilla notes, and cocoa as well. Nose is complex, I'm picking up some espresso notes as it warms, cherry notes are extremely light maybe due to cellaring.

T: Cherries are definitely more apparent in the taste upfront, then sweet chocolate notes along with cocoa and vanilla make their appearance, finally at the end of the tongue, cherries show up again with a hint of bitter chocolate lingering.

M: Medium bodied; great coating of the tongue, nice velvety silkyness, but doesn't overwhelm the palate. Light carbonation, ABV is barely noticeable, but great balance between sweet and bitter.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 04:56:48 | More by lazjuarez

beer2day

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Very dark brown pour with 1 finger dark cream head. Head disappears very quickly and lace, while there, is quite thin and recedes faster than my hairline.

Nose is quite nice. Definite milky, sweet stout underneath. The chocolate and the cherries walk all over that. More cherry covered chocolate than chocolate covered cherry. Nice malt notes from the milk stout backing that up, too.

Sweet cherry hits the tongue first, then the acid from the cherries kick in and things get tart fast. Picking up the roast notes from the malt, but the sweetness from the milk stout is lost a bit. Definite chocolate/mocha notes in the finish. Plenty of lingering tart flavor from the cherries. A lot going on here and easy to get lost in the flavors.

Feel is actually quite nice. This could easily be a very heavy drinker, but it is only appropriately heavy. Nice hop resin with the lightness of a sweet stout.

Overall, a very nice sipper and one I'm glad I tried. Nice special occasion beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2012 02:03:44 | More by beer2day

Dankuel

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a beer mug.

Appearance appreciable to a stout, ok head on first pour (may have been poured a little too cold), and moderate lacing which dissipates quickly on the side of glass.

Smells incredible. An even mix of cherry and chocolate hit the nose. Very sweet and well balanced with the stouts malty aroma.

The taste is analogous. A sweet milk chocolate, blended with cherry, hits the palate in an even, well distributed manner. In the background lay the metalic, maltiness of the stout.

Great mouthfeel. Goes down smooth with a little after swallow burn. A hint of acidity lingers afterwards.

Overall this a great beer, I have the rye whiskey barrel version sitting next to me for my next venture.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 07:46:42 | More by Dankuel

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a dark brown-black color with a finger of frothy chocolate head with a touch of ruby mixed in. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lace.

S - Aroma is a mix of roasted chocolate malts and cocoa with cherries, some coffee and a touch of other dark fruits.

T - Starts off with some roasted cocoa with some cherry sweetness and a bit of lactose. Through the middle, some coffee flavor comes through with some more cherry flavor and a bit of other dark fruit sweetness. The finish is a mix of cherry, cocoa, coffee, and a bit of bitter dark chocolate.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth and a touch thick with a roasted and sweet finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice balanced stout with the cherry flavor at a really nice level. I could drink a whole lot of this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 22:52:03 | More by ngeunit1

Sixt9coug

California

4.08/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I just finished my last bottle of this tonight. I had a few bottles when it was fresh about a year ago, and now it's all gone. I'll make comparisons to both fresh and aged, so keep up!

A - Dark as can be. Black, black black with a faint red/brown tone as you swirl it in the glass. There is definitely carbonation present similar to Edmund Fitzgerald from Great Lakes. However, this Stone brew is much heaver in viscosity. A coffee brown head forms and then is gone shortly after leaving some brown lacing on the glass.

S - FRESH- Heavy notes of cherry, bitter chocolate and some roasty malts present.
Aged - The cherry scent is all but gone. More sweetness is present in the nose for me, and lots of the chocolate bitterness has mellowed and subsided. Most of this has been replaced by the roasted malts.

T - FRESH - Cherry is the first thing I tasted. This was quickly followed by a heavy dose of bitter chocolate. The sweet cherry was a little unexpected, but it was balanced immediately by the bitter dark chocolate. On the finish there was plenty of roast coming through with a bit of the bitter chocolate lingering. Yes, there was some heat apparent.
AGED - I could not taste the cherry anymore, but there was a residual sweetness left in the taste, followed by a more muted bitterness of the chocolate. The roasted taste is much more noticeable now and the alcohol has not been mellowed juuuust a touch, but it's still noticeable on the finish.

M - Creamy, creamy creamy fresh or aged. Creamier on the aged version with a heavy coating left on about anything it touches. Thick, but not "Ten Fidy" thick. A bit oily, but just very nice.

O - I wish I had the sense to buy more. I enjoyed the cherry notes more when it was fresh, but the creaminess that came out as it aged was awesome. Loved this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 05:18:27 | More by Sixt9coug

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another collab from Stone.

Pours out an intense black with a mocha/tan colored head.

Smells intensely of fresh cherries and chocolate.

You get the same taste as the aroma. It tastes as if fresh cherries are in your mouth followed by a sweet/ slightly bitter dark chocolate and roasted malts.

Very tasty and a great dessert beer too.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 19:01:54 | More by JohnnyMc

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A Collaboration by Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard, Troegs, & Stone: Cherry Chocolate Stout. 12 fluid ounce bottle. 7.3% Alc/vol. Brewed and bottled by the Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, San Diego county, CA.
I will not repeat here the story told by Mitch Steele, Head Brewer, Stone Brewing Company, April, 2011. But it tells the tale of the brewing of this beer with gusto and enthusiasm, with none of the nonsense and hyperbole normally found on this bottles.

Intense black, thorough opacity, slim cocoa-tinged head, starts proud and dies down.

Roasted malt and espresso in the nose. Not much more, but we'll give it time. Let it open up. Hints of fruit, chocolate's starting to show. It's there, but not terribly loud, erring on the side of subtle.

So, drink up, already. Ah, here we have it happening in harmony, the rich, roasty malt, the mellow cherries, the sweet but serene chocolate. All in there at once, with no one side dominating another. Sweet chocolate and cherries never quite cloy, but close to it.

Full-bodied, rich and thick, beautifully layered, and delicately flavored. Medium length finish, and all in all, not too anything. Balance with complexity. Excellent combination.

The dry sour/sweet cherry flavors rolls back in, taking turns with chocolate. This one keeps growing and changing, and I find myself liking it more and more.

Thanks to Dennis Skrade for this gift.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 03:57:33 | More by feloniousmonk

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle courtesy of Kadonny. It was allowed to warm a little before being poured into my Duvel tulip.

The Stone collaboration Cherry Chocolate Stout pours a solid black, with two fingers of surprisingly dark mocha foam. Head retention and lacing are both solidly above average. The nose reeks of sweet milk chocolate and cherry skins, and has me really looking forward to diving into this one. The taste opens with that same creamy milk chocolate, before a solid sweet cherry middle comes into focus. There's a nice light and sweet coffee flavor that slides in for the finish. The body is very creamy, while not becoming too heavy. The carbonation's just a little bit too dull though. Chocolate and cherries is a great combination, and this collaboration stout brings the two flavors together nicely. I'd love to be able to have regular access to this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 04:24:56 | More by axeman9182

weller1js

West Virginia

4.5/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

appearance: pours a viscuous and heavy dark brown, with only slight beady foam that all but dissolves save for a darker tan ring of lacing; slight film lingers when swilled.

smell: exquisite aromas of sweet dark cherry and dark chocolate, complemented by the roasted barley.

taste: begins milky sweet with the notes of cherry becoming forwardly apparent, with spicy essences bridging the character of the malts and the rich cocoa attributes; finishes as milky and velvety as it begins, with a malty lingering that rounds out the cherry-chocolate taste.

overall: consistent yet complex, the effort, quality ingredients, and care are self evident, very delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 01:21:56 | More by weller1js

drabmuh

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a Stone glass because I know what I'm doing, try and learn. Beer was surprisingly good. I'd definitely have it again.

Beer is mildly overcarbonated, black with a big brown head, moderate to low retention, thankfully. Lots of lacing, looks good.

Aroma is sweet and roasty, a hint of cherries but subtle, you can tell it is there but you have to go looking a little.

Beer is medium in body, very chocolaty, like liquid chocolate, hints of cherries and fruit on the backend, very strong, very nice. Mild roast on the backend, I'd have it again but I doubt it will get better with age.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 15:36:35 | More by drabmuh

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber from Bristol Farms Rancho Mirage CA for 2.99$

Appearance - Dark brown colour with a huge size frothy brown head. I can't make out the amount of carbonation showing and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes.

Smell - Malts, chocolate, dark fruits

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, coffee, chocolate, and some burnt/roasted nuts. I can also taste the cherries and some raisins and I can pick up on the booze. It ends with a chocolatey dark fruit boozy aftertaste.

Overall - The cherries don't stand out as much as I hoped. I can taste raisins more than anything.. The taste is pretty average. I guess I just expected more from these brewers.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 02:29:40 | More by spinrsx

ryan1788a5

Massachusetts

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A: Deep black with a thick brown head. Great retention. A thick layer of lacing coats the glass evenly.

S: Fudge brownie and a mild roasted malt acidity. Toasted grain. Floral cherry blossom scent. Hint of cherry juice. Not a very strong nose; muted.

T: Cherry juice and creamy chocolate run alongside roasted malt tastes on the attack, then begin to fall away as the malts take hold. Roasted malt tastes go from burnt coffee, to woody, to charcoal, to smoke. Bitter dark chocolate edges in briefly. Nice, long finish of dark chocolate and brownie-like tastes with just the slightest undercurrent of cherry juice.

M: Moderately thick, but very full and creamy with a silky smoothness. Low carbonation is barely noticeable, but does just enough.

O: Not a bad beer. It lacks power on the nose, which is a shame. This would be a great stout on its own, I just don't feel that the cherry adds all that much to it. It doesn't quite seem to integrate well, it's a little distracting. Not off-putting, but not contributing to the overall taste profile in the right way.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 03:14:08 | More by ryan1788a5

beveritt

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Poured from a silk screened 12 oz brown bottle into a Duvel chalice. My wife picked this up for me while passing through Granville recently.

Appearance: Pours with 1 finger of medium tan head. This settles to a thin ring around the glass and a ever replenished island of foam above the nucleation site. The beer itself is very dark brown; essentially black.

Smell: Strong aroma of of roasted barley with undertones of bitter chocolate and (maybe) the slightest hint of cherry.

Taste: Roasted barley upfront, smoothed out by a slightly sweet and very creamy lactose flavor. Slightly sour undertones leave a dryness and astringency in the finish. Chocolate if you look for it, but to claim cherries would just be going off the label.

Mouthfeel: Average carbonation level. Body is good.

Drinkability: Not as strong of a cherry flavor as I expected, which was a good thing. I have had some cherry chocolate beers that are overwhelming. Not a favorite, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 00:34:39 | More by beveritt

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a tulip

A: Pours black and pretty thick. Rich, solid brown bubbles coalesce into a dense foam but dissipates quickly.

S: Aroma is dark and rich with chocolate, nut, and hints of licorice like a heavy stout normally will be.

T/M: Sharp acidity lingers with hints of tangy cherry warmth which is full on the tongue and hits the taste buds even before the carbonation does. Acidic and tart, but not quite sour, it fades slowly into malty smoothness, nut, and chocolate notes. Aftertaste is balanced with the lingering tart as well as mellow sweetness. Carbonation is low which smooths the entire experience.

The best cherry beer I’ve had, but I haven’t exactly been excited about the previous ones.

TheBeerAlmanac.com

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 23:49:09 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

oline73

Maryland

2.88/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours an opaque dark brown with a finger of tan head that fades away to hardly anything.

Smell: Some roasty malt and a slight sweetness. The problem with cherry beers is that they can remind you of cough syrup, and the smell of this beer has that problem.

Taste: At least the cherry is more natural here than it was in the smell. There are some dark chocolate notes with a strong roast presence that grows towards the finish of the sip and ends up being quite bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with carbonation that is aggressive with rather large bubbles. The finish is quite dry.

Overall: This is a tough concept to perfect and I don't think that happened here. Not a big fan of the smell and the bitterness took over the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 01:53:52 | More by oline73

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.8/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark red brown, appearing black. Half finger medium brown head that dissipates leaving slight lacing. Aroma of dark and roasted malt, light cherry and chocolate. Flavor follows aroma, dark malt, cocoa, vanilla with a somewhat sour cherry finish. Medium bodied. Not very intense or complex, but well balanced and enjoyable. The cherry is at the right level, not overpowering the taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 03:50:46 | More by LiquidAmber

afksports

New York

4.13/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sorry, haters! This is a great beer.

Troegs nailed the chocolate scratch series beers, and I was happy to see this collab come out with Stone. I saved a bottle for the ladyfriend, but she just let me know how she's "over" stouts. Her loss!

Appearance is pretty - deep black with a rich tannish red head that sticks around. Thinner body than other stouts, and that comes through with a proper swirl. The smell isn't overwhelming, but has a subdued mix of chocolate, cherry, milk and sugar.

The taste is bangin' like a stereo system. It leads with cherry tartness, meanders to chocolate, and finishes with a mix of the two that warms the palate and cleans it at the same time. My tongue tingles and the thin to medium body doesn't work against it. None of the medicinal character that you usually see with cherry beers comes through.

Ultimately, this brew nails the chocolate component, and hopefully they will re-release this beer, because it would be perfect for future Valentine's Days.

Assuming the ladyfriend isn't still "over" stouts. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 04:12:46 | More by afksports

brystmar

New York

3.9/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Heard mixed things about this one; thanks to kenatbeerswap for the bottle!

Beautiful black pour with red hues. Tons of thick, creamy, tan head up top; decent retention, but not great. Aroma is chocolate covered cherries with mild phenolic fruitiness and lactose. Interesting; doesn't work perfectly and isn't a strong enough aroma.

Taste sings of dark cherries & chocolate with malty sweetness on rhythm guitar. This is not a bad beer as many have alluded; it's popular in an obscure part of the country you've probably never heard of.

Hipster similes aside, Cherry Chocolate has a nice flavor and feel to it. Love the creamy body. I'd happily drink this one again soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 06:42:10 | More by brystmar

nimrod979

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle into a pint glass. Pours a thick deep black with a somewhat thin caramel brown head. Pretty good retention here though.

Aroma is dominated by sweet chocolate and roasted malts. Some cherry like fruity aromas and vanilla.

Sweet milk chocolate, cocoa nibs, roasted malts and vanilla are all distinct flavors. Just a hint of tart/dark fruit "cherry" flavor.

Thick, full bodied, creamy and even a bit oily. Long sweet roasty finish. Pretty solid flavors although I don't get much cherry still an enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 01:06:32 | More by nimrod979

Florida9

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Glossy black in color with a dark brown rim around the very top of the edges. Forms a dark brown head that eventually reduces to absolutely nothing, not even the faintest hint of a surface coating. No lacing.

S: Smell is of roasted malts, milk chocolate, chocolate nibs, and a faint hint of sweet cherry that becomes more apparent as the beer warms.

T: The taste is similar to the aroma, but it lacks the finesse of the aroma and, for lack of better terms, tastes a bit more artificial. Dark malts, dark fruit, some cherry, but lots more chocolate. Finishes like I've been drinking a Cherry Coke. Dry cocoa powder on the far back side.

M: Full bodied and heavy with lighter carbonation. Dry chalkiness on the finish.

O: A good beer that is surprisingly drinkable. Absolutely full of flavor with a very nice nose on it as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 02:47:30 | More by Florida9