72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout - Breckenridge Brewery

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Surprisingly good chocolate beer from Steve in Warren. He added this one in July 2012 and I received in December. Really nice chocolate pudding flavour, that went well with my chocolate brunch. Dark chocolate bodied with a nice head. Very drinkable. One of the better ones I have had from them.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 03:10:32 | More by northyorksammy

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

11 ounce pour - $6.00 at Taco Mac in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Appearance: Dispensed a black body with a small, yellow-beige head deposited thin lace sheets on the way down.

Smell: Moderately roasty maltiness in the nose with notes of black licorice twists, soft Hershey's Kisses, and a sniff of an individually-wrapped California prune.

Taste: It says "chocolate," it says "cream," but it starts off with licorice, then gaining some traction with semi-sweet chocolate, light vanilla, and a restrained, hesitant roastiness. Splash of prune juice, a bit stark, akin to the quality of a stout aged two or so years, though, as it warms, it kinda settles down with the chocolate coming forward more. Very, very low hop character, essentially nil bitterness. A Reader's Digest of the various tastes clumped into the smooth finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. Slick, silken mouthfeel.

Overall: Breckenridge is a brewery that, well, often fails to satisfy, but this 72 is pretty good.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2012 16:12:01 | More by ChainGangGuy

UCLABrewN84

California

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Breckenridge in Denver, CO.

Pours an opaque black with a 1/2 inch khaki colored head that fades to a thin film on the top of the beer. Nice distinct rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, dark bread/biscuits, and chocolate chip cookie dough. Taste is of the dark roasted malt, coffee beans, and dark cocoa powder. This beer has a good level of carbonation and is very crisp yet smooth in the mouth. Overall, this is a great stout that I would drink a lot of if it were offered in CA. One of the best beers I was able to try in CO.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2011 18:51:24 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Heavy anticipations follow the recent release of Breckenridge's new beer that showcases chocolate and heavy cream that's supported with a heafty roasty stout base.

72 pours with a very dark brown, nearly black color and with an opaque mirror-like gloss. A dainty light tan head caps the beer with solid staying power and light lacing. If poured into a coffee cup, it would be indistinguishable from espresso.

Sharper roasted grains give a distinct strong coffee scent of roasted cocoa beans, walnuts, and wood embers. Chocolate scents are somewhat prominent along with the underlying notes of heavy cream. The balance almost reminds me of brownie batter that's dominated by espresso.

Flavors jumble the order of characteristics, but all are portrayed in moderately strong balance to the point where no single flavor stands out over others. Strong roast coffees, toffee-ish underpinning, bittersweet chocolate, and heavy whipping cream take turns sharing the stage. With immediate comparisons drawn to Southern Tier's Choklat and Rogue's Double Chocolate Stout, this beer results in a much tamer taste and balance that's not so chocoholic.

Moderately textured, the beer starts with a mouth-coating lushness that buffers the palate from the strong roast bitterness and mild grain astringency, thanks to the unresolved lactose sweetness that seems to round out the rougher edges of roast. Finishing with a semi-sweet, semi-dry choco-roast combination, a long linger of coffee, chocolate, and vanilla persists well into the next sip.

As with many of the earlier examples of chocolate stouts and porters, the chocolaty flavors seem to come from the use of darker roast grains and not from actual chocolate additions themselves (newer examples typically use actual chocolate extracts for dominant chocolate flavor). This beer favorably competes with Young's Double Chocolate Stout and Rogue's Mocha Porter.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2012 17:14:04 | More by BEERchitect

Mora2000

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Flying Saucer in Fort Worth.

The beer pours a dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma is full of chocolate and roasted malt. One of the heaviest chocolate aromas I have found in a beer.

The flavor is also very nice. I get a lot of milk chocolate and roasted malt notes, with some vanilla and cream notes mixed in. There is also a hint of coffee/espresso in the flavor which I really enjoy.

Medium, creamy mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A very nice chocolate beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-13-2011 03:13:31 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a one-finger, tan head of foam. It left sudsy lace on the glass.

S - It smelled a little like milk chocolate. Some slight floral notes.

T - Nice chocolate flavor with an overall sweet milk chocolate taste. There was a subtle roastiness.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a creamy finish.

O - This is a really good milk stout. Not my favorite style but this one I would go back to.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 03:09:37 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an effervescent ebony with a thumb of mocha head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Charred grain, a bit of coffee, faint dark fruittyness

T: Slight chocolate flavors, roasty malt, a touch of woody hops & mocha up front. More mocha & a bit of lactic twang as this warms, some hints vanilla & hazelnut linger at the edges, plus dryness, some charred malt bitterness as well. Finishes sweet, maybe a little twangy with a serious mocha edge & just a bit of coffee

MF: Medium bodied, fairly firm carbonation, thins out a bit as this warms

A nice milk stout, this is easily one of the better beers from these guys I've had in a long time , fairly good drinakability for the style & ABV

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:18:57 | More by russpowell

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12oz bottle, thanks be to doktorzee for bringing this back for me from his tour of Colorado breweries last week.

This beer pours a solid black abyss, with ever so slight cola basal edges, and one skinny finger of tightly foamy, sort of creamy tan head, which leaves some nice spider web lace around the glass as things sink away.

It smells of medium-dry musty cocoa, lightly soured mild solids, a bit of caramelized malt, slightly burnt brown sugar, a touch of cafe au lait, and earthy, mildly bitter hops. The taste is creamy milk chocolate, soft caramel malt, tame gritty coffee notes, and an earthy, leafy astringency, with a teeny weenie booze warming.

The carbonation is present, but typically welcome in its softness, the body a decent medium weight, and quite smooth, with a veritable creaminess. It finishes on the sweet side, the lactose - both milk and chocolate borne - filling the bill, with little else breaking through.

An agreeable enough milk stout, the alcohol well sublimated, and thus a certain balanced attained. However, there just doesn't seem to be that certain complexity that might carry this higher and farther into one's good graces.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:24:52 | More by biboergosum

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pitch black body smooth creamy light beige khaki head, forms thick with fine bubbles. Even speckled lacing left behind, aroma comes off a bit muted with shades of dark chocolate and cream. A bit of toffee and caramel with dark roasted malt base this smells balanced not too dessert like. Sharp sweetness cream based, with roasted malts bringing dark chocolate and hints of mild coffee. Smooth balanced and drinkable flavors are well coordinated, it's a very nice beer especially as it warms up a bit even more flavor bursts. A hint of sourdough tartness or yogurt like quality is in there, and it actually works with the sweet and lactic notes that come with a good cream/milk stout. Impressive beer from Breckenridge, I'm glad I didn't give up on them their imperial series typically doesn't disappoint. Mouthfeel even flowing carbonation creamy textured, medium to full bodied. Not a harsh bone in it's body, smooth all day very nice impy cream stout. Overall a beer I would recommend to friends and dedicated beer drinkers alike, excellent quality from first to last sip.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 16:45:26 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.91/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Love the screen printed style bottle. I wish more breweries were doing it.

This is a fairly direct stout with constant sweet tones that work pretty well. Not blowing me away or anything, but what's there is nice enough. The beer nerd in me would certainly like more complexity, but it is what it is. A pretty easy drinker.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 04:19:33 | More by RblWthACoz

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I had this beer at their BBQ place at the brewery.

Beige starting head that leaves some stringy ring lace. Near black color where no light passes through.

Mild darker malt aromas.

Lots of darkened toast flavors up front, bordering on burnt. Slightly sweet, but there is no real chocolate flavor here. Well-balanced presence of hops--they take the back seat, but prevent the beer from being to coy. Think porter with a higher level of hop. Smooth aftertaste of toasty, darker malts. Rich body with a spritzy level of carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 16:23:37 | More by smcolw

Jason

Massachusetts

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz sample bottle.

LOOK: Black as night, thick creamy tan head.

SMELL: Burnt sugar, hot fudge, cocoa powder, confections, sweet, hint of alcohol.

TASTE: Creamy, smooth, full bodied, milk chocolate, brown bread, faint molasses, mild roast coffee, sweet finish.

Bold but not pushy, complex but the smoothness makes it sooo drinkable. Damn good.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 05:02:00 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler fill, Green Growler Grocery, Croton-On-Hudson, NY

Darkest of browns to near black, darker mocha head, retentive and leaving all sorts of thick and fine stick.

Earty nose, with some dark malts, vanilla and powdered sugar.

Tasty and smooth, more vanilla, dark malts and moderate chalky dryness in the finish.

Super smooth and easy on the tongue, mouth and back of the throat.

Well crafted and quite enjoyable stuff. Happy to get to try this one on draft and in nice shape.

Serving type: growler

03-03-2012 04:07:15 | More by Billolick

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Max's today.

The beer pours a blackish brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is attractive, showcasing lots of coffee and dark chocolate (what a surprise), along with some underlying light vanilla and leather. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely in this moderately sweet beer, and I appreciate the fact that nothing seems to be overdone in this beer (not too much chocolate or coffee in the flavor profile). The beer is medium bodied, with a fairly long, chocolately finish. Alcohol is nicely integrated into the flavor profile, adn the beer is not at all hot, heavy or tiring on the palate.

Nice enough beer, but Max's happens to have the Youngs Double Chocolate on tap as well, and this beer is no where close to that great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2011 19:09:46 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Capone's, Norristown, PA

Poured into a pint glass, a dark, opaque black, disappointingly with no head at all. Deep aroma of dark malts, dark chocolate and a touch of smooth coffee. Complex, malty taste, with lots of creamy chocolate, as the name would imply, dark malts, a bit of coffee, vanilla bean, a definite essence of plum detected, and just a touch of smoke. Heavy-medium body, and quite nice overall.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2011 03:55:49 | More by Rifugium

Brad007

Vermont

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Almost bought Wachusett's example to compare against this but decided not to. I want something unique instead.

Pours a pitch black with a thin brown head into my glass. Well, it's bog-standard color for the style.

A bit of cream and cocoa pop up in the nose. Carbonation isn't so welcome though. Then again, it could just be acrid?

Slick and delicious. Think cocoa and cream but with less cream. It has the characteristics of the style down pat (slick mouthfeel, etc).

Lingering cocoa and cream in the mouthfeel but otherwise, nothing special to write about. Not sure how it qualifies as an "imperial" as alcohol is still a paltry 7.2%. Export stout perhaps?

Good choice if you like milk stouts, which just aren't that common around here.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 03:33:29 | More by Brad007

mactrail

California

3.73/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

You get your money's worth of flavor from this medium-strength dark ale. A nice foam-up in the tall glass. Very dark, near black. Lots of suds on the tongue. Nice aroma of roast malt and chocolate.

It really tastes like dark chocolate, even to the slick mouthfeel. Modest bitterness, a stew of roasted malt flavors with dark caramel, cocoa, and some burnt sugar. A pleasant concoction with a surprising tart aftertaste. I keep thinking there are pomegranates in here somewhere.

Brewery says it is brewed with chocolate, Fuggles hops, California ale yeast, and several malts: Pale, Munich, Caramel, and Victory. One of the better offerings from Breckenridge, I think. From the 12 oz single bottle bought at Grapevine Liquors in Denver.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 05:12:26 | More by mactrail

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.48/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of the bottle a deep, warm sable with a thick and frothy tan head. Aroma has a strong overtone of sweet chocolate plus notes of licorice and molasses and a hint of quality roast coffee. Flavor has firm chocolate, licorice and molasses notes plus undertones of caramel and coffee, and is rather sweet but not too sweet for a beer. Firm, smooth body has a good amount of fizz. Worth a drive to the package store!

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 02:20:53 | More by Cyberkedi

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout
Breckenridge Brewery
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
ABV: 7.20 %

LOOK: Pours a dark oily blackish brown with a tan foam. Leaves plenty of lace down the glass. Looks like oily sludge.

SMELL: Milk and dark chocolates, coffee, dark fruits, wood, and alcohol make for a pretty enticing aroma.

TASTE: Roasted malts are used for a espresso taste, along with sweet cream, lactose, date and a twang of astringent flavor. The alcohol presence is strong for a beer that is 7.2%, it drinks like a much stronger beer. Dark chocolate is there more as it warms, leaving a nice aftertaste.

FEEL: Full bodied, smooth and creamy.

OVERALL: A solid brew from Breckenridge. Boozy, but not without some nice chocolate and cream notes. Maybe it was an aged keg? Still was quite drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

08-01-2012 03:14:08 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a jet black color and a thick consistency. There was an inch of tan-colored, foamy, fairly long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: An interesting aroma of chocolate, malt, and sugar.

T: Tasted of coffee (a light amount), chocolate, malt, milk, and a slightly burnt quality. A very focused, robust (for the style), tasty beer.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a creamy, smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: On the whole, this is an enjoyable, well done beer. I'm not the biggest fan of milk stouts, but this was a winner.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 22:40:47 | More by avalon07

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.86/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I picked this up at Shady McGRady's, poured chilled in a tulip fromt he 12 oz bottle.

The color is the darkest opaque brown verging on black with thick medium brown head that falls to a ring of beads. The smell is very much like iced hot cocoa -creamy and sweet aroma with cocoa powder and vanilla in the nose. The moutfeel is pretty full with a lot of sweetness coating the mouth as a sweet stout feel should be, yet it adds a dryness with the alcohol leaving the palate a little more dry after each sip with moderately high carbonation.

The flavor is good with nice chocolate notes and some caramel malt backing with a mild hint of spice or the impression after the carbonation washess over the tongue. This is a pretty decent flavor of stout with mild creamy sweetness from lactose I am assuming. The finish is semi-dry from the sugary almost syrupy aspect. Overall this is a good beer, not the best, but it has nice flavor and it hides the 7% + abv well.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 14:02:23 | More by Slatetank

Tone

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black color. 1/4 inch head of a tan color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of roasted malt, sweet malt, slight chocolate, hint of oatmeal, hint of hop, and hint of bread. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial Stout. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight alcohol, roasted malt, sweet malt, chocolate, hint of oatmeal, and a hint of hops. Overall, good appearance, aroma, body, and blend.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2011 20:16:23 | More by Tone

kylehay2004

Florida

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A; no head to speak of on a jet black body.

S: cream, vanilla, milk chocolate, light coffee and roasted malts. some oak

T: cream and vanilla dominate with coffee and roasted malts taking a back seat yet this one isnt too sweet which is nice. milk chocolate throughout. perfect degree of sweetness.

M: moderate carbonation and medium to thick body.

Overall: just the right amount of sweetness. nice amount of coffee and cream although the coffee is mild and not too bitter. certainly a nice combination of drinkability and flavor for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 04:38:30 | More by kylehay2004

nickfl

Florida

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of off white foam on top of an opaque, black body. The foam settles rapidly and leaves little lace on the glass.

S - Earthy chocolate with some musty coffee notes and a bit of caramel.

T - Lots of caramel and toffee up front. Some smoky coffee in the middle and a finish of earthy chocolate and light toffee.

M - Medium body moderately low carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Not bad, the elaborate, compound named description implies something a bit more complex than what you get, but it is still an enjoyable beer. Really just a slightly smoky chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 04:38:48 | More by nickfl

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours dark brown/black with about a half inch tan head that doesn't stay around for too long. There's a decent amount of lacing. Aroma is roasted malt, milk chocolate, and some dark fruit and coffee. The taste is pretty much just like the aroma, but there's also the addition of some molasses. However, for a chocolate stout I was expecting more chocolate in the flavor. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's creamy and goes down easy. It's a decent enough brew overall, I think it's worth trying. Single bottle purchased from Liquor Barn.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 00:09:26 | More by bluejacket74