Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

"Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock combines our carefully roasted malts with the robust flavor of premium dark nibs from Ecuador. We slowly age the brew on a bed of cocoa to impart bold flavors of rich chocolate and a smooth velvety finish. Cheers!" Brewed in the style of a Bock, although it varies a good deal from this style. Available exclusively as part of the Winter Classics Collection for several years now.

Poured from a 12oz. bottle to a snifter. Served north of 54º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a semi fizzy creamy foam head of a mocha cream tone. Retention is below average, head thickens to a shallow cream but doesn't linger long. Body color is deep dark brown with ruby highlights and high clarity. Carbonation is spritely and plentiful. Head quality is shallow for this otherwise decent looking beer. It's obviously much darker in color than the average bock. 3.25

(Smell) As a bock, it stands that this beer has a similar bready malt character but also a semi-sweet cocoa nib backbone. Lager characteristics are still noticeable, but a sweetness with a coffee and mild earthy hop contribution does make things more complex. Potency is above average- the beer shows a lot more than it hides. It's a very inviting aroma overall. 3.75

(Taste) This is much farther from a bock than it smelled, but is rather enjoyable on it's own merits. Moist chocolate brownie malts pair with a lightly toasted caramel bread and a touch of lactose sweetness. Bitterness comes from cocoa nibs and a mild earthy hop bitterness. Still notable in the background is a mild lager cleanliness, although it doesn't contribute much to the flavor of this beer, it adds some slickness to the texture and adds focus to the chocolate. It's most certainly chocolate-heavy, no doubt about that. Sweetness is not over-the-top, but might come close to cloying for a few. Very easy to drink for a dark beer. It flows very smoothly, and as it warms, the chocolate becomes even more noticeable. Perhaps sailing too far on the cocoa boat for some, but the taste is spot-on in my opinion. I personally enjoy the flavor, it really comes out in the upper 50's, and whether it's regarded as a stout, porter, or roasty bock, it holds a unique, enjoyable identity for itself. It's quite the filling beer. 4.25

(Mouthfeel) Texture is creamy and smooth with a smack of sticky milk-chocolate lactose sweetness on the finish and a mild bready chewiness. Body is heavy for a bock and medium/heavy overall. Alcohol presence is low, well overshadowed by the bread and chocolate. A very filling beer- certainly comes off as deep and heavy for a lager style but the textures are next to ideal for the flavors involved. 4

(Overall) This beer has received as much disdain as it has praise. Even for style purists, I can hardly see what the fuss is about. Make no bock about it, chocolate bock is a dessert in itself- chocolate hardly does the name justice. The balance, however is remedied by the lager strain and a moderate cocoa nib bitterness and earthy hop blend, so drinkability is still high, despite being a filling drink. This would make an excellent complementary dessert beer with something equally bold in chocolate flavor and depth. 3.75

Boston Beer Company's
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock
3.98/5.00

Vertical Reviews:

Winter 2011 (1 year, 6 months aged)

Head has thinned out a touch to a crispier froth, yet the same retention quality marks and colors remain. Aroma is a lot sharper and still maintains a bready chocolate malt tone for a mild sweetness, although the hop and coffee characteristics have faded and a mild tartness has set in. Flavor reveals a closer balance between chocolate and biscuity lager notes. Texture is slick and less creamy, a touch thinner and slightly drier although it still balances sweet over bitter.Some of the depth of the original beer is lost but it's far from the worst aging I've tried. Try saving one bottle at most for yourself, if you thought the fresh batch was too intensely flavored, this might be a bit more to your liking. I personally recommend a fresh batch of this beer.

Recommended age: Fresh

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:36:09 | More by Jadjunk

jmendels

Michigan

4.31/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I took one sip of this and I was blown away. It's a perfect marriage of flavors - the richness of the doppelbock and and the semi-sweetness of chocolate. While some Samuel Adams offerings have a bit more novelty, this one has more substance. They show respect to the style while adding some new takes on it.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 02:24:27 | More by jmendels

camillo13

Maryland

4.71/5  rDev +29%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I had this in two different forms. The first serving (750ml 2006?) was among the best beers I've ever had. I wish the second time (2011, 12oz) was as good. The numbers I've awarded are based on the first dosage.
The mouthfeel was smooth and almost silky, the second time was in 12oz bottle form and more watery.
The chocolate was was balanced with bitterness from the dark malts and chocolate nibs inclusion. The 12oz form was less balanced and frankly less good.
Wish Sam would release the 'big bottle' version again.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 04:00:38 | More by camillo13

Grohnke

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours very dark brown to black, with a light, short lasted, cola colored head.

Medium high chocolate, medium toasted malt, with a light caramel note. Light leafy, earthy hop.

High chocolate, medium toasted malt, medium light roast, light caramel. Medium light hop bitterness, and the leafy, earthy hop comes out faintly on the moderately dry finish. The beer finishes long, and unfortunately the aftertaste is strange and muddled, and distracting.

Medium light, oily body with medium high carbonation

Chocolate it is, however the bock characteristics fall a bit short. The mouthfeel is awkward, and the aftertaste is far from pleasing. Average on other accounts.. As with the Vixen, good idea, just missed on execution.

3.3

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 00:28:35 | More by Grohnke

wiscokid920

Wisconsin

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Part of a Winter Sampler I'm finishing up before getting the Spring Thaw

As the name implies, the nose features huge chocolate sweetness. Basically tastes like carbonated chocolate milk. I do not pick up on the malt profile, but perhaps is masked by the loads of chocolate flavors. Way to sweet for my buds. Has some attempts of a spicey hoppiness to balance things out but way overpowered by the chocolate. Highly carbonated and a tad thin compared to Bock's I've had in the past. Could use more of a hoppy backbone to balance things out. Definitely a dessert brew. I nice one to try, but I wont go out of my way to seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 03:25:28 | More by wiscokid920

NilocRellim

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This beer was poured out of a bottle and into a pint glass. It appeared dark brown in colour and seemed to smell more malty than chocolatey, but there was still a chocolate aroma to the nose. It tasted very malty and hoppy upfront, with a lingering chocolate cocoa after taste.

Would I buy this beer again? Probably not.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 20:30:18 | More by NilocRellim

inglebk

South Carolina

3.01/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance. Almost black with a 1 finger tan head that leaves pretty quickly. Not much lacing at all.
Aroma. Chocolate, bready and sweet malts. Dark chocolate and coffee. Something a little funny I can't pick up.
Taste. Definitely chocolate. Coffee and water. Burnt oaky charred aftertaste. No hoppy bitterness that I can tell.
Mouthfeel. After the first sip it feels very thin and watery. Maybe had it too cold. Medium carbonation.
Overall. Not too impressed. Watered down and smelled a little funky. Glad it wad part of a variety pack.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 01:31:40 | More by inglebk

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.46/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Walmart Cicero NY for 2$

Appearance - Dark brown colour with an average size fizzy beige head. I can't make out the amount of carbonation showing and there is almost no lacing. The head lasted for only 2-3 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, chocolate, vanilla

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and I can taste malts, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. There are also some vanilla and a graininess. It ends with a grainy chocolate aftertaste.

Overall - A decent beer but not something that warrants a repeat purchase. It pretty boring and doesn't have a whole lot to it.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 00:58:00 | More by spinrsx

jjchristiano

New Jersey

2.74/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

It looks like a Chocolate Stout, Porter or Bock should, Nice dark malt.
But the flavor is so over-the-top chocolate that it is as if someone put Hersheys chocolate syrup in your beer while you were looking away. So sweet and not any hoppiness.
Maybe if you drank a lot of Yoo Hoo as a kid you'd be a fan of this offfering from Boston Beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 05:40:53 | More by jjchristiano

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very dark mahogany brown with a fine half finger light brown head with good retention and lacing. Sweet aroma of caramel and toasted malt, light chocolate. Flavor is sweet chocolate, similar to cocoa, and lighter toasted malt and vanilla. Finishes with cocoa and a hint of hops. The cocoa flavor lingers for quite a while. Medium body with some light soothing creaminess. Flavor is subdued and the bock qualities are light compared to the toasted malt and chocolate, but well integrated and pleasant. A nice off-beat take on a bock.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 05:04:45 | More by LiquidAmber

karait95

Mexico

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: A very dark beer for the style, medium carbonation that forms a medium head with light brown small bubbles that dissipates not slowly but leaves a permanent layer on top of the beer.

S: Dark toasted malts are present and some alcohol nothing sweet like caramel or brown sugar ingredients are easy to find.

T: The alcohol level is high and the chocolate is present but there is no caramel present instead some toasted malts take over the mouth and the flavor.

M: The beer starts neutral, it is complex and not really balanced at some point there are some bitterness due the toasted malts like with the toasted coffee.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2013 04:16:19 | More by karait95

fx20736

New York

3.18/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, served at cellar temp.

Deep, deep garnet, almost black that shows cherry highlights under light with a thick mocha head. not much lacing.

aroma of rich cocoa and malt.

mouthfeel; nothing special.

taste: lots of chocolate, malt.

notes; it's chocolatey. tastes like hot cocoa. only marginally like beer. not enough hops to balance the sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 22:00:52 | More by fx20736

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

4.89/5  rDev +34%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Very good beer, look forward to seeing it pop up from time to time in the varity cases. Well rounded beer, a knack that the brewmaster at Samuel Adams repeatedly demostrates. As a homebrewer I wish I could make one like this.

Chocholate, black malt, not heavy ....very smooth, similar taste and mouthfeel ...no bitter aftertaste ....very nice!

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 16:44:57 | More by FlatRabbitRed

superspak

Michigan

3.9/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pilsener glass, best before May 2013. Pours crystal clear very dark reddish brown color with a 1 finger fairly dense dark khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings to the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, toffee, cream, vanilla, roasted malt, light pear, toast, light nuttiness, and light herbal hops. Damn nice aromas with good strength and balance of dark maltiness and chocolate flavors. Taste of milk chocolate, cocoa, caramel, toffee, toast, vanilla, cream, roasted malt, dark bread, light pear, light nuttiness, and light herbal hops. Lingering notes of chocolate, cocoa, toffee, caramel, vanilla, toast, roasted malt, light nuttiness, dark bread, and light herbal on the finish for a bit. Damn nice balance and robustness of roasted chocolate flavors and other malts; with minimal cloying sweetness after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a creamy and slick mouthfeel that is good; very thick feeling considering the ABV. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a very nice flavored bock style! Very robust and nicely balanced malty roasted flavors with chocolate; and very smooth to drink. A very enjoyable offering. Definitely a dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 05:23:39 | More by superspak

Dalmanfsu

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I don't really rate by all the specifics but I will say that this thing lived up to its name, but that is part of the problem. Decent beer, but... not really a beer to me.

Really smooth tasting and the chocolate is heavy in the smell and the taste. Not bad, but kind of got old rather quick.

I let mine sit a bit to taste later to see if anything changed and it was pretty much the same.

A nice attempt at something different, but overall just something average really.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 02:34:08 | More by Dalmanfsu

Weston19

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Beer pours a dark brown color. Had a finger head which faded into a thin lace.

S: Toffee, and dark chocolate. The smell is actually pretty good and isn't overpowering.

T: The taste of dark chocolate comes immediately. It's sweet but not too much. Overall the taste is pretty balanced.

O: I thought this was a great beer. It goes really well with a dessert and as it warms up the chocolatey taste comes out more. Not bad at all compared to other similar beers out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:05:10 | More by Weston19

sethcroisant

Nebraska

3.76/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A- dark brown with ruby on the edges. a finger of head that's nice and thick, but dissipates a little quickly.

S- coffee and roasted malts dominate the scent, though chocolate does push its way through.

MF- smooth, thick and velvety, although the carbonation is a tad too low.

T- sweet and chocolatey right away. the sweetness seems to be a bit more from sugar, rather than malt. the roasted malts are more hidden than they were in the scent. they do kick in a little after a few seconds, along with a hint of coffee flavors.

O- seems to be better this year than it has been previously. overall, it's a solid product.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 22:45:33 | More by sethcroisant

grumpygerman

Alabama

1.6/5  rDev -56.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

This beer tastes like somebody stirred cocoa in a lager.

I hate writing those wordy tasting reports. At some point a beer is a beer and yeah you can endlessly dissect the overtones of malts, speculate about the hops, the temperature of the mash and use quirky adjectives but that is not me. About 50 words should be more than enough to describe a beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:54:34 | More by grumpygerman

thegodfather1076

Ohio

3.61/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: Very mediocre presentation. Label is nice but nothing special and not eye-catching at all. Neck ring gives a small description of the beer.

Appearance: Pour out of a 12oz bottle into a 14oz Pokal glass. Pours out a deep dark brown with a 2 finger khaki tan foam head of medium density. Head retention is a very nice 5min 24sec before fading to a thin foam coating and ring.

Smell/Aroma: Smells of dark chocolate with a slightly nutty scent. Lightly roasted malt scents are detectable along with sweet caramel.

Flavor/Taste: Tastes again of dark chocolate with a toasted malt background. Not very complex.

MouthFeel/Drinkability: Light bodied, thin, and watery with minimal carbonation. Average taste and not filling at all. Couldn't drink more than one of these. There is just nothing that would make me want to consume this again.

Overall/Comments: Very let down by this beer. This is an original concept and could have been a very good beer but everything about it screams AVERAGE. Consumed 12-2-12. Classified as a Bock at 5.8% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 09:53:40 | More by thegodfather1076

Rogercardinal

California

3.83/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Got it in a Sam Adams winter 12 pack.

A. It pours a dark brown, almost black with reddish hues when held up to a light. 1" tan head with little lacing

S. Lots of milk chocolate, a little roastiness

T. Even more chocolate, the body seems to thin a bit as it warms up

M. Nice mouthfeel, smooth, good carbonation level

O. A nice beer, very glad I tried it. A little sweet overall, not overdone, but probably wouldn't want more than one or two before switching to something else

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 00:39:33 | More by Rogercardinal

masi3vol

3.91/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I was rather pleased with this beer. A distinct but not overpowering taste of chocolate combined with a tangy wheat flavor. I would have preferred a more full bodied mouth feel with a more delicate carbonation but still a good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 00:12:53 | More by masi3vol

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.78/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “enjoy before month notched” is “MAY.”

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is very dark brown or maybe black; when held to a lamp, ruby-tinted light passed through. Two fingers of light tan head left a thin skim and ring around the edge.

Smell: Lots of chocolate. It definitely lives up to the name. Dark chocolate, roasted malts, toffee, caramel, and perhaps some peanut butter. Very candy-like; another reviewer mentioned Cocoa Puffs and I agree. It reminds me of Millstream’s Imperial Pumpkin Stout.

Taste: Nice mouthfeel and a tame roasted bitterness wakes the taste buds. It mostly mirrors the smell: dark chocolate, roasted malts, toffee, caramel, and maybe a touch of peanut butter (it is definitely not as prominent as it is in the smell). It begins to thin as it warms but remains a decent brew.

Drinkability: It is pretty good stuff. Though unspectacular, it does provide nice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 05:17:25 | More by TheQuietMan22

mwilbur

Minnesota

2.98/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from 12 oz bottle into shaker pint glass.
A: Pours a dark brown (hint of red tint with backlighting). Faint tan head quickly recedes.
S: Roasted chocolate malt, toasted grains, dry caramel malt.
T: Strong sugary caramel pushes the chocolate note to the background...and drowns out anything else that might be there.
M: Thin, watery, and overly sweet.
D: Like drinking an uber-sweet caramel. Not so good.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 04:13:32 | More by mwilbur

Sark

Montana

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance- dark ruby brown pours with a clean head without stones

Smell- sweet toffee maltiness, not a note of hop

Taste- no bite on the front as the rich caramel sweetness takes over, minor notes of chocolate to be given a name

Mouthfeel- smooth on the tounge with big feel, lingers behind

Overall- a mild take even for a bock yet a good one on price and drinkability

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2013 05:20:38 | More by Sark

laria007

3.53/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I'm not a real fan of the chocolate's, but I have to say this one was nice. It was apart of a sampler I picked up and I drank from the bottle. From what I could see the very dark in color and test with hints of Chocolate. The aroma was sweet and the taste not as bitter as I thought it would be I really enjoyed this beer. It was paired with a chocolate chip cookie and it was a nice replacement to a glass of milk.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 19:00:24 | More by laria007