Boatswain Chocolate Stout - Minhas Craft Brewery

chinchill

South Carolina

3.84/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle with a Boatswain label from TJ’s served in a De Koninck snifter at about 55F.
Pours a very dark brown, clear but looks black in the glass excepting the brown edges. The dark tan head has decent retention and the glass is nicely coated with lacing after each tip. Plenty of dark and medium chocolate in both the aroma and the flavor [near 4]. Excellent sweet/bitter balance, if a tad more hoppy and bitter than usual for a chocolate stout. A hint of licorice lingers into the slightly smoky aftertaste. Creamy smooth medium-full body with excellent carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 00:42:28 | More by chinchill

brewcore

South Carolina

3.36/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass.

A: Yields a two finger tan head that dissipates into a thin long lasting sheet of foam. Opaque dark brown in color, no light passes through. Excellent lacing.

S: Faint dark roasted malts, chocolate notes. Alcohol punches through surprisingly strong for a low alcohol stout.

T: The expected flavors from the roasted malts. Coffee and dark chocolate. Nice toastiness comes through. Gets better as the temp rises.

M: Slightly high carbonation for the style but not overpowering. Thin to medium body.

O: Definitely not bad for a three dollar bomber, but I don't think I'll be buying another.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:17:44 | More by brewcore

BigH75

Massachusetts

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

Remarkably unremarkable beer. Poured out of a 22oz bomber into an Imperial Pint glass. Dark black with mocha colored head. Not much head and no lacing to speak of. First taste is non complex but decent. Mediocre flavor. A tad bit bitter for the style but not overly. Overall it is kind of boring but is perfect if I feel like an American non-imperial stout and don't feel like spending much money. 1.99 at Trader Joes.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 20:55:41 | More by BigH75

barczar

Kentucky

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

Pours an opaque deep brown with ruby highlights and a fleeitng half inch burnt caramel head that leaves no lacing.

Roast malt, caramel, brown sugar, and chocolate open the aroma, with underlying dark fruit and coffee adding complexity.

Flavor is fairly sweet, with roasty malt kicking in a slightly bitter finish. Chocolate and dark cherries, and coffee are present, with chocolate definitely dominating. There's just a touch of acrid flavor.

Body is a tad syrupy, with low carbonation and slight alcohol warmth.

Overall, on the sweet and syrupy side, but decent roast character...and chocolate...lots of chocolate. Definitely a dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 05:35:19 | More by barczar

LXIXME

New Mexico

3.63/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A big light brown head takes its time falling into a nice lacing above a clear really dark brown to black colored stout.

Dark roasted malts with some chocolate and coffee, and it seems to almost have the added aroma fresh mashed barley malt.

Coffee and light chocolate within a dark roasted malt grains taste.

A dryish aftertaste without much of the darker roasted grains hanging around on this medium to full bodied beer.

An alright stout, the aroma seems to be better than the taste, but still very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 22:51:59 | More by LXIXME

MadScientist

New York

2.65/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Jet black with a creamy, medium-tan head that settles into a ring after about 30 seconds.

S: Moderate aromas of coffee, cocoa, roasted grains and little else. No hops, faint alcohol.

T: Roasty with some of that dark grain bitterness and a husky malt flavor. There is a moderate hops bitterness as well with little flavor hops. There isn't any malt sweetness giving a bitter balance to the beer. The finish is dry and the aftertaste is of a lingering biterness and dark roasted grains.

M: It comes across kind of thin with medium bodied with a moderately-strong carbonation.

O: An average American Stout without much character.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 01:16:58 | More by MadScientist

Aaron_Ramson

California

3.73/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: dark roasted color, almost black. Head did not retain well at all as it flattened almost immediately but left a nice lasting lace on the side of the glass.
S: smells like a coffee truffle with whiskey in it! Very boozy and warm smelling for a 5.4% beer, cocoa and roasted coffee are prevalent, some burnt toast.
T: taste follows the nose with burnt coffee and dark chocolate favors at the forefront. There is a boozy, hard alcohol bite that is peculiar for a beer that is only 5.4%.
M: Medium-heavy mouthfeel, slightly syrupy. Carbonation is good for the style.
O: Not a big fan of the style but surprisingly good and more complex than a $1.99 beer deserves to be.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 05:14:25 | More by Aaron_Ramson

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.08/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer is a dark brown coloring, thin in appearance, with a ring of light tan film around the surface. Aromas of bittersweet cocoa powder on a rich, roasted backbone. The nose is a bit one-dimensional. Flavors are thin and smooth, with a touch of roast and smoke on the bittersweet chocolate backbone. Slick and light in mouth, the beer has a roasted coffee and mocha aftertaste. Rich, bitter finish...not bad, but lackluster.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 02:00:06 | More by GarthDanielson

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

Yup, a random Trader Joe's-bred bomber. The price was right, honey. This stuff pours a very deep black-brown topped by a finger of light brown foam. The nose comprises chocolate powder, light roasted malts (bordering on the acrid-ish), and a hint of coffee. The taste holds notes of sharply bitter roasted malts, dry and bitter coffee, and a touch of dark chocolate powder. Everything seems burnt, overly-roasted, and too bitter for its own good. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a dry finish. Overall, an average stout at best, one that really doesn't express all that much chocolate character, and one that goes too bitter and roasted for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 03:20:21 | More by TMoney2591

MoreThanWine

Massachusetts

3.4/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a 1.5" mocha head with average life. The body is deep dark as coffee. Smell is milder than I expected and with roasted malt but not really any chocolate. Then the taste was the opposite with a good amount of dark chocolate but not really any coffee or roasted malt coming forward. Medium body and medium finish. I still fully enjoyed it, and it was ultracheap at Trader Joe's.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 12:55:28 | More by MoreThanWine

JMB

2.9/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - dark and thick, what one would expect from a dark stout, head is generous and creamy when poured, dissipates into a minimal ring

S - alcohol prominent with roast and chocolate overtones

T - strong taste - with the alcohol and toast overwhelming the mouth - not subtle or integrated - toasty flavor is more on the burnt side

M - low carbonation - dry in your mouth

Comments: an average stout, slightly too toasty and dry for me, can taste the chocolate and sugar, but it is too subtle and overwhelmed by the roast

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 21:53:03 | More by JMB

Mosstrooper

California

3.78/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 22oz bottle into Duvel tulip glass.

Appearance: Opaque black with a small brown head that dissipates quickly and leaves behind a thick, foamy ring of lace.

Smell: Bittersweet chocolate, coffee, and a slight hint of grassiness.

Taste: Begins with sweet chocolate, which rounds out to more of a dark chcocolate/coffee bitterness before finishing with more sweet chocolate with a faint hop bitterness that balances everything out.

Mouthfeel: Medium in body with balanced carbonation and a watery finish that gets a bit stickier as more sips are taken. Not bad at all, but something might be missing in this category.

Overall: The best of the three Boatswain beers I had. Not outstanding, but a solid all-around stout and well worth a drink, especially for $1.99. This would be a great go-to beer when on a budget.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 07:47:49 | More by Mosstrooper

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.28/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into an Allagash glass on 9/3/12

The beer is a dark, scorched brown that settles near black. A one finger head starts off smooth but has an ending appearance of very fine sand paper. Overall retention is thin but it lasts the whole time. Decent lace, too.

The nose takes a toot toot for the old snoot snoot of powder and melds it with roasted grains and a faint nutty twinge, resulting in a pretty decent smelling, chocolate-forward stout. The taste has a much more tangy roast, especially upfront and the tanginess is pushed to the forefront by a thinnish body and bristly carbonation. Beyond the initial fussiness are more pleasant flavors of dry, roasted chocolate and subtle earthiness. Swirling out the carbonation pulls some of the tangy flavors from up front and shows off a body that is smooth and a slightly more pronounced than originally displayed.

This is the best of the Boatswain Four, hands down. It isn't spectacular, but I find it tastes fairly good and it's easy to drink. Great price, too.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 05:57:06 | More by Ryan011235

brureview

Massachusetts

3.23/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

For the money, it's a decent beer($2 and change).

Dark coffee color, 1 finger head. Mild chocolate smell. Mouth feel is quite smooth. The taste is a bit disappointing. Too
much coffee- burnt dark roast . Perhaps stale dark roasted coffee. The coffee taste should be mellowed. A bit of lemon also in the finish.

The beer is better above 50. The coffee taste mellows and there is more lemon.
Nevertheless, a good beer-decent and worth drinking with dinner or when you are not on the mood for a special tasting beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 23:44:25 | More by brureview

rfbenavi80

Missouri

3.48/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle picked up at Trader Joe's. Most of the time they got some pretty solid beers for a great price. Let's see how this one turns out. Bottle poured into a snifter.

A- Pours a pitch black color, letting absolutely no light through except on the edges where it is a deep brown. It has about 1/2 a fingers width of deep brown head that receded to a very thin cap on top and a ring at the edge of the glass. Pretty good start.

S- Rich smells of strong dark roasted coffee and dark roasted malts. A hint of booziness which is surprising because the ABV is not really high. Not as chocolaty as I expected, which is a good thing.

T- Again, pretty standard American Stout flavors here. Dark roasted coffee, dark roasted malts, more dark chocolate than the nose suggests. But the chocolate is not the dominate flavor here it complements the stout quite well.

M- On the low side of medium body. It does seem a tad too thin. Moderate amount of carbonation.

O- Not too bad at all. Totally worth the 2 buck for this bomber.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2012 04:50:55 | More by rfbenavi80

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.48/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

It seems that my tour of Trader Joe's Boatswain series concludes on a high note. Although my impressions of the others were not favorable, this rich ale raises my enthusiasm a little.

The stout pours like most do- dark brown and nearly opaque. A slight sedimented haze is likely due to the additions of fine cocoa powder. While building a formidable sandy-tan head, the beer laces well with intricate patterns left on the glass.

The usual suspects of robust coffee, chocolate, and burnt woods are all represented in good balance- at least to the nose. But complementary notes of walnut, grain, caramel, and ash play a part in their subsidiarity roles.

Playing both roles of malty-dry and semi-sweet, the flavors of malt and grain seem to retain a moderate level of caramel sweetness that's accompanied by grainy-sweet flavors and low-lying malt taste in support. A mid palate of chocolate and wood give a rounded taste to the roasted malt and caramel flavor while developing into a coffee-like bitterness late. Still an elevated bittersweet chocolate flavor hangs over the beer as it marches over the palate. Yet, the cocoa doesn't make as much of an impact on the beer as the label insinuates- I would have easily believed that the entire chocolate flavor would have come from the roast of malt alone if the label hadn't said otherwise.

The malty-sweet character exists just as well in texture as it does taste and it seems to linger indefinately on the palate without developing any efforts toward dry-malt finish or lifting from the tongue. The residual sweetness clings to the mouth with a sugary weight and never achieves dry refreshment nor savory lingering. It's caught in no man's land and gives cola-like impressions as a final impression.

While the Chocoalte Stout certainly lives up to its namesake, it does little to celebrate what's best about its malt, hop, or chocolate makeup. It's content to live in so-so land of beers.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2012 16:51:55 | More by BEERchitect

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

2.95/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A $2 chocolate stout? Long live Trader Joe's of Williamsburg, Virginia! 22 oz bottle poured into a tumbler pint glass.

A: Pours a surprisingly thick looking dark burgundy color with faint hints of light coming through. The head is a rather fizzy one finger tan color with low retention and underwhelming texture. Very little lacing.

S: Actually fairly solid. It has a nice roasted malt and coffee profile, but only a hint of chocolate. I didn't expect Choklat (at all), so it's not really disappointing.

T: It doesn't have a huge chocolate presence...rather, it's strong with coffee and roast. Light fruity tones also exist on the back end, with some light hoppiness. You can kind of tell that the brewers cut corners here and there - it has a bit of an unrefined macro lager-esque grain profile, only roasted - but this isn't nasty or undrinkable. I could see myself easily finishing the bomber, and I think I will.

M: Thin bodied and a little watery, with a bone dry finish and moderately strong carbonation. I hate to use the "it drinks like a porter" spiel...but it drinks like a porter. At least its very drinkable.

O: Not bad at all! If this were a $7 bomber, I'd kvetch and whine about this being a failure of a chocolate stout, but considering it was $2, I'd say this is a shockingly decent dark beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 02:25:46 | More by ThisWangsChung

beerenjoyer1

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A Nice and dark with some foam. There is some lacing also which shows some good involved.

S Not as much aroma of chocolate but some malt, and some hops.

T More malt and hop taste than chocolate. Still a nice coffee flavor quite what I expected in a chocolate stout.

M A nice mouthful for a regular stout but not quite as thick a mouthfeel I expected in a chocolate stout.

O A nice beer but I would to see some more thick taste of chocolate along with the coffee, malts, and hops.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 20:29:04 | More by beerenjoyer1

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Black bodied stout, no detectable light passing through. A light brown head foaming up when poured, but quickly fading to lace and a few mini islands of bubbles.

S - Nose of mineral water, sweet and metallic. Faint notes of roasted grain and sourdough.

T - A light flavor profile, with some sweet and mild chocolate, hints of roasty malts. Light sweet mineral water, some dry grain.

M - Very light bodied for a stout, its clean and crisp with a mildly dry end. Very drinkable.

O - A drinkable stout, with this light feel and subtle flavors.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:09:03 | More by BeerForMuscle

JamesS

Indiana

3.58/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bomber for 2 bucks at Trader Joe's in Indy. Poured a very nice deep dark chocolate brown, with some very nice head and decent initial lacing. Decent roasty aroma with a nice chocolate hit and earthy hoppiness underneath. Nice chocolate flavors, seemingly from powdered cocoa, with some light roastiness underneath and a bit of stout astringency. Goes down well, but the flavors don't merge as well as they could.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 16:30:06 | More by JamesS

TheStig

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another two-buck special from Trader Joe's.

Poured an intense, tarry black with a faint hint of brown. A two finger, brown and creamy head with no lacing foamed up.

On the nose, the first scent to bubble up was dark chocolate, slight bitter malts and a hint of caramel.

Smoky, savory tastes are predominant. Very little sweetness and a light acidity. This isn't entirely what I'd expect from a stout, let alone a chocolate stout, but it's not unpleasant. Mouthfeel is very creamy.

Not bad for two bucks, but then again, it's not something I'd go out of my way to obtain again.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 23:29:42 | More by TheStig

gobseulmuhri

New Jersey

2.43/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

picked this one up at TJ's for 2.29. it comes in a bomber like their other TJ's offerings. got pretty excited as i'm a big fan of chocolate stouts in general.

poured an opaque, dark black with a tan half finger head. little retention and minimal lacing.

the nose is muted but i got hints of malt, slight bit of something medicinal, a bit of chocolate milk mix powder gone bad. not a fan.

taste is malty, hints of dark chocolate, with a somewhat pungent hop finish.

mouthfeel is thin with a fair amount of carbonation.

i'm overall pretty disappointed in this beer. granted it was $2.29, but it's nothing close to a decent stout.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2012 03:04:53 | More by gobseulmuhri

1Adam12

Indiana

2.88/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Bought this today at trader joe's. 1.99 for a bomber. Pours black, but looks over carbonated. Smells, um...a bit dirty actually. Slight malt, maybe the faintest bit of chocolate, earthy. Just smells weak. Taste is actually not terrible. Very thin mouthfeel, but the taste could be good for the right hot day. Small chocolate taste, malty, burnt flavors. However, the finish has this...blood taste to it. Not huge on the blood, but the rest isn't bad, especially for 2 bucks. Might by this again...but might not.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 02:49:19 | More by 1Adam12

Murrhey

Montana

2.83/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 650 ml bottle into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- Poured with half a finger khaki head, no retention. Some floater bubbles on top. Dark brown, almost black color. Some watery, minimal lacing.

S- Chocolate and dark malts. Very subtle.

T- Roasted malts, some tangy hops and chocolate flavor. Average.

M- Thin bodied for the style, but some carbonation gives it texture. Finishes somewhat dry.

O- For two dollars? This beer is a winner. Otherwise? Average at best.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 08:41:46 | More by Murrhey

KingPuuChuu

Arizona

3.43/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Not bad! Poured from bomber into a pint glass. Upon first sniff, there's a heavy sweet cocoa, probably from the cocoa powder. Sometimes, a floral scent comes through.

Flavor is sweet, malty, and the mouthfeel definitely is varying between mouth coating and effervescent. Body is nice. It's not overpowering in any way. I really want a chocolate chip cookie to go with this.

If I see it out on the shelf, I might pick it up again, but if I see Young's Double Chocolate, or Rogue's Chocolate, I'll go for one of those.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2012 03:05:12 | More by KingPuuChuu