Choklat - Southern Tier Brewing Company

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pure blackness and the creamiest head of any beer around, this truly special brew is a work of art! Tremendous lacing and a thick tan head sits atop the darkness for the duration.

The scent is one dimensional but that's not a bad thing. Pure milk chocolate in a glass of milk the aroma is sweet and wonderful.

The taste is chocolatey, slightly metallic but creamy at the end. Touch of alcohol ruins what could be an intense sweet chocolate finish. I don't get a lot of malt but there is a dry chocolate malt taste within the body of the beer. It very well constructed, very tasty and smooth to drink.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 22:05:04 | More by KYGunner

McNealc31

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Darker than expected with a tight, light brown head. As expected, however, the aroma is full of chocolate. Bitter chocolate is indeed the most pronounced flavor, but there is so much more going on. Vanilla, some coffee, and oak. Wouldn't be surprised if this were barrel aged (but not bourbon barrel aged). Long, dry, chalky finish with hints of marshmallow. The 10% ABV really warms on the way down, too.

To recap, huge flavors, well balanced, great texture, and a heaping helping of booze. What else would you expect from Southern Tier? It's excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:19:24 | More by McNealc31

brureview

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The beer poured a very deep dark chocolate color with some lacing.

I could smell the aroma with the glass on the table in front of me- strong waftings of milk chocolate.

The mouth feel is very smooth and transitions well into the taste. One of the most important tasting aspects of a stout or porter is that there should be some continuity between aroma, mouth feel, and taste.
Sometimes I have been disappointed in a stout with a great aroma, and a finish without similar aromatics.

In this beer the taste is deep chocolate, cocoa with some bitterness. Slight alcohol in the finish. I prefer less or no alcohol in a stout finish, but it wasn't very emphasized in this beer.

Overall an excellent chocolate bomb, with alcohol added. I didn't like the bitterness or the slight alcoholic finish, otherwise an excellent beer.

Serve at 48F in a snifter.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 22:45:11 | More by brureview

hustlesworth

Ohio

4.95/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A- at first, the dark, tan cappuccino colored head is hesitant to form but as the snifter fills up, foam cascades to the surface of this this viscous brew. Sadly, it hastily diminishes to a thin soapy ring. Lace is spotty and minimal. The body is so think and black that it looks like a bowl of melted dark chocolate.

S- insane and powerful dark chocolate aroma. Cocoa, chocolate ice cream, chocolate syrup, everything chcocolate. And quality chocolate at that. There's a black roasted coffee smokiness nestled in the background. Hops are hidden, or slightly earthy at most. This one solely focuses on the chcocolate. Awesome.

T- this is just freakin bonkers. Up front it's chocolate ice cream. 80% cacao. Hot fudge sundae. Devils food cake. However it can be described as a wholly holy chocolate elixir would be appropriate. The flavor transition is easily broken down into 3 parts. First is just a mouthful of melted chocolate and nothing else. Just high quality chocolate. Abruptly, it shifts gears to huge roasted malt character with espresso and bittersweet cocoa, damp wood, stone, soil, mild smoke, and peppery spice. As the malt fades, hops move in and mesh with the roasted bitterness to form an herbal, rustic, earthy and lasting bittersweet finish.

MF- smoothly grainy particle chocolate feel. Like its big and rich and smooth and creamy but it's not totally liquid. You can feel the molecules and shit. Coating coffee cocoa feel on the cheeks. Some hop oil feel too. Carbonation? Who even cares about that now?? It's understated and modest, quiet and only preset as a tiny little tickle. Exactly as it should be.

D- completely imperceptible alcohol makes this one a real monster. I mean, I'm throwin this bottle down like a seventeen year old girl on her first mudslide. As a matter of fact, I think the chocolate hides the booze in the same way ice cream masks the vodka in that mudslide. Now I'm back on the mothership. Such concentrated flavor in this beer you would have to eat it with... Idk probly just strawberries, cream and vanilla. This one without a doubt rewrites the book on imperial chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 07:55:39 | More by hustlesworth

DenverLogan

Colorado

4.81/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

From 22 oz bottle. Poured in long stem St Feuillien glass.
Big brown head with various size bubbles...some lacing beginning early.
Color: Mahogany...dark.
Aroma of molten chocolate cake...rich, sweet, cocoa, figs, plum, dark chocolate, must be ... oh, oh, oh, Madagascan vanilla. Giant aroma from start to finish.
Flavors of dark sweet and bitter chocolates, tropical pepper, subtle touches of various tropical fruits, some noticeable alcohol punch. Oooh...punch me again ~~~
Oh Oh...don't these guys make some great brews, despite a bitter finish or something funky, this is nice.
Sometimes they make the mother lode, trend setter, totally admirable brew, as I might say this and the Pumking are..oh oh...
Where were we? Malt, malt, malt...must be expensive to make these beers...like the big fruity New Glarus, they don't hold off on adding delicious ingredients, in this case, malty, chocolate bodaciousness. Oh yeah....ayieee~!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 06:20:21 | More by DenverLogan

gr0g

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pitch black in color with a small, light khaki-colored head. The fine bubbles produce some sparse, splotchy lacing on my snifter. Big aroma of dark chocolate and cocoa powder, very befitting of the beer's name. Astringent roasted malt provides the underpinnings. Some slight floral and pine notes from American hops.

The flavor, while tasty, can't quite live up to the promise of the aroma. It starts sweet, but the sweetness is restrained by bitterness from roast and hops. Lots of dark chocolate, intertwined with astringent roasted malt. Some grassy Northwest hops show up on the finish. Mouthfeel is a bit thin for a high gravity stout, having a texture that's more akin to a porter. More heft would be appreciated. The carbonation holds up pretty well and is moderately soft.

A rich and flavorful offering from Southern Tier - one that's not cloying. The mouthfeel is a little lacking, but otherwise, Choklat is worthy of the respect it gets.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:59:53 | More by gr0g

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.53/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out at Layne's UFC Velasquez/Dos Santos party, man was I ready for this beer after many long hours watching Aladdin with the kids and dinner taking almost 3 hours. Anyhoo, poured a rich, thick black viscous liquid, thin dark tan head on the top of it. The aroma was decadent dark chocolate, I took the bottle across the room to have my girl check it out, because you know, shockingly, the girl likes her chocolate, and chocolate beers are like romantic I guess, or at least that's the most romantic foot forward I can put out there, chocolate beer.

Taste, yum yum, boatloads of real chocolate added here, its not some bitter chocolate malt as 10% of the grain bill and no chocolate added cheap out kind of beer that calls itself Chocolate something, oh no, this is the real deal. If Creme Brulee caused you to get diabetes and not like the beer because of that, but you still really love chocolate, then check this out. Its still pretty sweet, but its not Creme Brulee sweet (what is?), but jackhammers your mouth with chocolate.

It amazingly covers up the alcohol. This is a high abv beer, but you wouldn't know it (until you stand back up). I just can't imagine a better mouthfeel, it seemed perfect in every way, no bad aftertaste, no intrusive late stage bitterness. It was just like chocolate beer.

Probably my favorite beer, from a brewery I really love. Southern Tier is still King of New York.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 22:04:38 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Joshualvsjenny

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

A: pitch black, nice tan head, hat leaves a decent laceing.

N: Chocolate Chocolate and more Chocolate.

T: WOW amazing, both dark and milk chocolate with hints of roasted malts and coffee.

M: very very smooth and well balance, coats the mouth well, good coffee finish.

O: I loved this, The Alcohol is well hidden and balanced with the beer, which is awsome giving the 10% ABV. If your not a fan of Chocolate beer this one defaninatly isnt for you. But if you love chocolat you will have a winner.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 14:02:04 | More by Joshualvsjenny

TheZoner

4.7/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I generally do not gush about beer, but I feel I have to with this one.

I reserve Choklat for special occassions; a beer to enjoy right before dessert or to cap off a sampling session. The last one I had was from the collection and was two years old (bottled in 2010)

The pour was slightly heady but a dark, rich head appeared which released not an up front hop note (which is there- if you search for it) but a strong dark chocolate smell. (Which I love) . The chocolate flavor and profile is promounced, but the aging had a calming effect. More malt flavors came through and the hop character was ever so slightly evident. A great stout to have to finish any beer sampling evening or to compliment a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 22:40:20 | More by TheZoner

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – Opaque super dark blackish brown, with a creamy, chocolaty brown head. Spotted lacing that sticks to the glass nicely.

Smell – Dark chocolate, heavy malt, sweet vanilla, and caramel!

Taste – Very similar to the smell. Delicious!

Mouthfeel – Lightly carbonated, silky, with a slightly bitter chocolate aftertaste.

Drinkability – Very easy drinking for 10%abv. Tastes somewhat similar to Rogue chocolate stout, but adds vanilla and a touch of caramel.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:50:20 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

RichD

Rhode Island

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured this into a snifter.

A: Now I know why Southern Tier has this part of the BlackWater Series. This is exactly what this looks like. The deepest depths of black in my snifter.

S: Delicious dark and milk chocolate dominate my nose. I feel like I'm sniffing a Yoohoo. Good stuff here.

T: The taste follows the nose right out the gate. Once again the dark chocolate and milk chocolate are the stars of the show. The chocolate of course, gives off the coffee/espresso taste which is expected. Not really too complex of a brew but what I do taste is fantasticness.

M: A medium mouthfeel is what I get out of this beer. I also feel some mild chewiness which makes me want another sip.

Overall: This is a pretty solid brew. I know why this is in the top 100 and I would definitely grab another one if the time is right. The beer is called Choklat and if that's what you want, that's what you'll get with this beer. Many beers state that they are chocolate flavored, but they taste more like coffee than chocolate. This beer has both. You taste the dark chocolate and the milk chocolate/ coffee. Once again, solid brew and Southern Tier did a great job with this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 04:47:26 | More by RichD

BurgeoningBrewhead

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 22oz bottle into a 34oz mug. Solid oily black that lets no light through. Smell is pure chocolate, with some hints of roasted and coffee and malt. After drinking, some hops are detectable in the smell as well. Taste is bitter and roasted at first, but smooths out to chocolatey deliciousness afterwards. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Overall, this is exactly what a great stout, especially an imperial stout, should be. Awesome beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 00:49:58 | More by BurgeoningBrewhead

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Challenging, supremely bitter, but exceptionally rewarding, this beer is outstanding. It pours black and thick with a brown-tan head. The smell is heavy on real chocolate, backed by a little booze. It is reminiscent of great Belgian chocolates. The taste is initially a creamy, complex chocolate and malt flavor. A serious, high octane bitterness comes out in the mid-taste. The finish is bitter, chocolatey, and full of charcoal, roasted, and mildly smokey flavors that, curiously, doesn't show up in the front. Full, creamy, and thick mouthfeel. The alcohol stays hidden, only showing up in my feeling after half a glass. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 03:39:25 | More by Suds

circus_cat

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a deep oil-black body with a khaki head. The head is initially rocky but as it dissipates it becomes more creamy with moderate lacing.

S: Coffee, bittersweet chocolate morsels, dark fruits such as plums in the background

T: Greeted by lactose smoothness and sweetness followed by whole coffee beans and bitter chocolates through the middle. A nutty pecan ending. Glorious.

M: Rich, creamy, everything I would want in a stout. Bravo.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:05:25 | More by circus_cat

Jacobob10

New Jersey

4.4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My last beer of 2012. I waited til dessert to crack this open and it turned out to be a wise decision.

Pitch black pour with a soft tan head. Head retention was poor and it suffered from a lack of carbonation. Fortunately, that's the last bad thing I have to say about this beer. The aroma is incredible. Loads of chocolate with a hint of roasted malts. Not much complexity but I couldn't care less.

The chocolate is just as pronounced in the flavor but is not overly sweet. As you could probably guess, this is a full-bodied beer. However, the 10% ABV is hidden excellently behind the chocolatey goodness.

This was a perfect compliment to a chocolate nutella loaf that my fiancee baked for dessert. A great way to ring in the new year. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 03:37:52 | More by Jacobob10

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Black with a thin mocha colored head. No light penetration and no lacing.

S - Lots of chocolate in the forefront, nice little roasted malt going on as well. More chocolate in the finish. Pretty spot on for what it is.

T - A lot of chocolate up front, followed by some lactose induced coffee. Quite sweet in the middle as well. The chocolate coats your tongue, mouth, and palate.

M - Light creamy body that allows a lot of coffee to come through with a small to moderate amount of carbonation.

O - Overall, this was a great chocolate stout. It was not overwhelmingly milky like Young's Double Chocolate Stout which tasted like an alcoholic nesquik. I'd have again. Just don't smoke weed while drinking it.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 23:08:06 | More by SometimesIfart

CloudStrife

New York

4.43/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle split and poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a dark black with a 1 finger khaki head. It takes a few minutes to dissipate and leaves some nice head.

S: Very sweet milk chocolate up front. Sugary smelling, hints of vanilla as well, slight hazelnut. Smells a just like a real good candy bar.

T: As with the smell this is one chocolaty brew. Very sweet with a milk stout like quality. Alcohol makes an appearance at the end.

M: Full bodied with medium carbonation. A little hot but not too bad, quite warming. Smooth and velvety its a good sipper.

Overall a beer I always enjoy from Southern Tier. Some may argue its too sweet but I think thats the idea. Sweet milk chocolate liquefied and boozified.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 00:51:03 | More by CloudStrife

SierraDeuce

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on Christmas eve in the brewer's tulip-shaped glass at Parklane Tavern in Virginia as part of their Monday Steal the Glass promotion. Paired with their bread pudding dessert.

A: Very dark brown/ black, with tall, cream-colored head that lasted for 10-15 minutes. Beautiful Belgian lace lined inside of glass for the entire 30 minute session.

S: Warm, bittersweet chocolate aroma, coffee notes

T: Amazing chocolate taste-- sweet at first, with hints of nougat (like a 3 Musketeers or Milky Way), then finishing bittersweet, with familiar coffee roastiness characteristic of Imperial Stouts. Some warming from the alcohol, but not overly pronounced like some stouts and strong ales. Very balanced.

M: Balanced-- not too thin, but not too chewy. Perfect!

O: Excellent sipping beer to accompany a chocolate / caramel type dessert. The bread pudding I had brought out more of the beer's bitterness. Wonderful!

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 03:10:18 | More by SierraDeuce

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.48/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: 2012 bomber bottle poured it to Grand Snifter Glass. Pours thick and Creamy with a nice brown head that dissipates slowly. It is dark almost pitch black.

S: Right of the bat, from pouring, getting a strong vanilla and dark Cocoa aroma mixed in with sweet caramel aroma. I am also getting a good dose of milk chocolate aroma. The Aroma is amazing...!!!

T: This is what a Chocolate Stout is suppose to taste like. WOW!!!!. Dark and Milk Chocolate blended so perfectly. This 2012 Batch is amazing. As you finish drinking you do notice that it a bit too sweet, but still taste great.

M: Creamy and tangy. At 10% ABV you can hardly tell

O: great beer

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 00:21:41 | More by King_KongDCO93

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.33/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

this is downright fantastic, better than maybe any other southern tier beer ive ever tasted. the pour is motor oil black, crazy dense, with an invigorated but short lived mocha colored head over an inch tall. the nose is sweet like a milk stout, same kind of sugars appear to be present. there is a lovely chocolatey waft, really authentic and luxurious. i almost feel guilty for cracking this bomber tonight. the flavor is incredible, so much depth. big dark chocolate flavors abound in the first few seconds, but a bitterness arises from the darkness of the malt toast and perhaps some raw cocoa too. alcohol burns off the bitter when its warm, but when its still cold or even close to room temperature it finishes oddly dry, and the sweetness from the start just totally evaporates. im left with a slightly chalky bitter dry mouth, in a good way, like ive just had dessert and brushed my teeth or something. huge body, but i was happy that this wasnt syrupy or sugary the way the creme brulee was. i was afraid of that sugar content, but its fine. the carbonation is very light, but the high alcohol almost takes its place, making the edges a little sharper in the mouth. overall a magestic glass of stout, inspired and inspiring. a treat to be savored.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 03:02:29 | More by StonedTrippin

kojevergas

California

3.68/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650ml brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Guinness goblet in me gaff in high altitude Castle Rock, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its reputation.

Served refrigerator cold. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger khaki-tan colour head of nice thickness, cream, and good retention. Body colour is a solid jet black. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Smells like pure chocolate. Yes, just literally pure chocolate. A fairly strong aroma.

T: Sweet as hell milk chocolate. Dark malts lurk beneath, but it's just literally milk chocolate. Balanced but one note. Surprisingly chocolatey.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Complements the flavour. Excellent carbonation. Good thickness.

Dr: Very drinkable. I wouldn't want to kill a bottle of it by myself. Hides its ABV well. I like it, but I'm not sure I'd want to have it again.

B

Pairs well with chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 03:19:21 | More by kojevergas

Lemke10

Wisconsin

4.78/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This pours a very dark brown/black color with a brown fizzy head. The scent is rich with robust malts and cocoa. The taste is rich, bold, and delicious. It starts out with a bold stout taste of robust malts and complex flavors but crescendos into a delicious dark chocolate flavor. Quite well made and it’s a beer and a desert in one. With that in mind, what’s not to like?

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 05:06:25 | More by Lemke10

Dope

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Fresh bottle, just released.

A: Pours pitch black with a huge and very dense dark brown head. Head fades impossibly slowly, almost unmoving. Nice island of foam remains behind. Semi-solid walls of lacing to boot.

S: Wow, they weren't kidding about the chocolate for sure. Smells like brownie batter mixed with hershey's syrup. Amazing. Sweet and creamy chocolate everywhere. Swear I get a bit of caramel, giving it a bit of a nougat-like aroma too.

T: Super sweet milk chocolate up front with a bit of nougat. Turns into bitter baker's chocolate in the middle. Brownie batter and a little more charred sugar in the finish. Long lingering bitter chocolate in the aftertaste.

M: Honestly not nearly as heavy or syrupy as I expected for this 10% chocolate stout but it's still quite full bodied at least.

O: A chocolate stout for the chocolate lover. It has sweet and bitter chocolates with a nice transition between the two. Not heavy enough to be cloying or syrupy which is nice. Super sweet in general (like most Blackwater series beers).

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 04:25:22 | More by Dope

Holmes698

Pennsylvania

4.55/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: Milk chocolate, slight malt & more choclate.

Appearance: Dark blackish brown with a light brown almost tan head. Lingers for a while, but then fades to a nice ring that just won't quit.

Taste: Just a choclate bomb. Nice dessert beer. Gives a mild bitterness on the back end, but choclate is the overwhelming flavor....just like the name.

Mouth: Medium with some perfect carbonation for a stout.

Overall: A delicious beer. Perfect to share with a friend after a good meal.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 18:52:49 | More by Holmes698

NWer

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into HotD tulip.
Pours nicely one finger brown head. Dark brown in appearance.
Smell precedes taste with, what else? Chocolate.
The chocolate taste at first is good - I like chocolate. Taste is of real cocoa chocolate slightly burnt.
Nice.
Then I took another sip. And another.
And that was enough. Cloyingly sweet. Enough already.
This is not a beer I enjoyed after the initial couple of sips. Will save the rest to pour over vanilla ice cream.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 22:44:56 | More by NWer