Boatswain Chocolate Stout - Minhas Craft Brewery

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

Popp24

California

3.3/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I had the version of this beer bottled as Underworld Brewing Chocolate Stout. I researched online that this is the same beer as that one. They carry this beer at Fresh & Easy and sell (2) 22 oz. bottles bundled together for 2.99 so for the price I thought why not try it.

A - Dark brown with about a finger khaki head that thins out quickly.

S - Not much going on here. I get some roasted coffee smells but no chocolate.

T - You definitely can taste the chocolate on this one. You can tell it's cocoa powder they use and not actual chocolate. I get some coffee flavors as well.

M - Very thin for a stout.

O - Not the greatest thing in the world but for the price it's not that bad and I would get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 15:51:32 | More by Popp24

flexabull

California

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

$1.99 at Trader Joes, figured this was worth a shot at that price.

Pours a dark flat black color with a decent light brown head that quickly faded, not much lacing.

Aromas are kind of vegetal, with some pronounced cocoa, coconut, and molasses.

Taste is a bit thin, smoky, almost burnt chocolate malts, cocoa, faint sweetness, and a pine hoppy bite on the finish.

Mouthfeel is ok, but thin for the style.

Overall, a pretty decent beer. It's far from great, but it's worth trying with the price tag it has.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 20:41:15 | More by flexabull

ehammond1

California

3.13/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle

Thanks for opening this with, Chris!

A dark brown body with no clarity. Minimal light brown head without a lot of visible carbonation. This leaves the glass oily without any real cling.

The aroma is a pleasant enough combination of roasted malt, slight coffee, and cocoa powder.

A very average, unexciting flavor. The roast, chocolate, and coffee elements are present, but are all faraway. There's also a chalk-like chocolate presence that takes away from the overall enjoyment.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Simply average.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 19:22:21 | More by ehammond1

DJW

Washington

3.1/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Read all of the other reviews while settling down to a glass. I tried it on the warmer side (ie only slightly chilled), as that's how I've preferred stouts while living in Ireland. With that said...

Appearance: generous dark tan head, vigorous pour not needed, settled down to 1/4" head and good lacing as we progressed. Opaque very dark brown.

Nose: dark roasted malts/barley. milder than expected

Taste: like a stout. nothing inspired, but nothing wrong either. the dark char of the grains was there, I guess I could say reminiscent of a french-roast coffee served black, but that's about it. any chocolate came through as I progressed through the bottle, not within the 1st glass, so very light in my opinion. slight bitterness on finish, but not of the hoppy variety (chew on some patent roasted malt and you'll get what I'm saying).

Mouthfeel: med-light, which suits me fine (preference towards mulitiple pints of this type of stout, rather than a thicker, higher abv version). Carbonation balanced for this lighter style (though again, had it only slightly chilled)

In conclusion: Alright. Not regretting the purchase, and thinking it would be a heck of a lot better than the Guinness/Murphy's cans floating around for St Patty's day. But I won't be calling my friends to recommend it either. For 1.99 a 22oz I'd have hard time making this beer! Good effort at that price point. Will try it chilled tomorrow.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2012 10:16:45 | More by DJW

iSunMonkey

California

4/5  rDev +22%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

For $2 a bottle at Trader Joe's, I feel like this is definitely worth trying at least once. I'm a big fan of chocolate and of stouts. So, when I saw this on the shelf I snatched two bottles.

I really enjoyed the chocolatey, dark bitterness. Definitely will have again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 06:11:02 | More by iSunMonkey

travolta

California

2.63/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

App: I gave this one a vigorous pour. Foamy head with decent retention and lacing.

Nose: Dark, roasted malt, slight hops clarity in the middle, perhaps some vanilla at the end.

Taste: Bitter and toasty with and chalky finish.

Notes: I did not get any chocolate out of this. Great value and true to the style, so i didn't kill it on the rating. It is, to me, entirely average.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 01:53:13 | More by travolta

TheSixthRing

California

3.43/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a near black deep, rich brown. The head is tan and a good finger width before dissipating into a sticky lacing.

Smell - I'm picking up faint traces of roasted chocolate malt, cocoa and a touch of coffee, and that's about it. Not a whole lot going on here.

Taste - More roasty chocolate cocoa and coffee. The layers are fairly simple, but work well enough.

Mouthfeel - Fairly light body for a stout, but the carbonation is right on target.

Overall - Very similar to the Bison Organic Chocolate Stout in many ways, but I'm digging this a lot more.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 03:27:25 | More by TheSixthRing

womencantsail

California

3.2/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks for sharing, Richard.

Pours dark brown in color with a rather sizable tan head. Not a bad aroma, actually. Some chocolate along with roasted malt and a mild toffee sweetness. There might even be a touch of vanilla. The roasted malt is the most dominant flavor, but there is a little bit of toffee and chocolate in there. The vanilla that seemed present on the nose doesn’t really come through at all. The body on this beer is incredibly thin and light.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 17:08:25 | More by womencantsail

augustgarage

California

3.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 22oz bottle into my Samuel Smith nonic.

Opaque seal brown liquid capped by a thin lion head of foam. A light dusting and steady collar are all that remain after a few moments despite a vigorous pour. Thin lacing, no legs.

Hefty roast barley aromatics suggest dark roast coffee, black malt, and cocoa powder. Grainy nose overall with a hint of pine as well.

Rustic roast malt base with a faint metallic note on the palate entry. Lots of grain and specialty malt comes through next along with a mild peppery bitterness and a growing chocolate sweetness. Not very well integrated though the balance is decent. Chocolate barely registers until the aftertaste where it lingers on the tongue.

Rather light-bodied with adequate carbonation.

Reminds me of a Foreign Export Stout to some degree - a touch sweet and rough overall, but quite drinkable and almost as good a value as "two buck Chuck."

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 03:46:51 | More by augustgarage

Nugganooch

California

3/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Trader Joe’s purchase
*Bomber to pint nonic

Brewed with Coco powder

A: Pours pitch black with a slight garnet hue during the fill. Yields one finger of turbinado sugar colored head. Low retention and just some splashes of lace upon the glass.

S: Smells of roasted barley mostly. Very similar to your standard Guinness. Has that dry roast earthiness. No real chocolate aroma in the nose though.

T: Tastes of dark roasted grains. Some smoky dry roast coffee notes. Not a whole lot of chocolate in flavor either. Dry and earthy with a bitter acridness. Slight metallic tinge. Not really chocolate at all actually. A bit disappointing.

M: MF is rather thin but with a nice creamy texture. Real smooth overall. Medium-light body. Slight higher carbonation levels. A bit frothy with a drying finish.

D: Missing the chocolate which was a bit of a letdown for me.
Overall a decent American Stout with some dark roast flavors but probably not one I will be revisiting anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 19:02:12 | More by Nugganooch

fezmeister

California

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

A no-frills, uncomplicated, yet very pleasant chocolate stout that is what it says. Deep, dark brown in color, creamy tan head, with a rich, malty scent. The flavor is not complex or original, but the roasty malts and strong chocolates are great, balanced by just enough hops, give a rich but smooth and dry finish. The mouthfeel is somewhat creamy, but very drinkable and not heavy. Overall tasty, very easy to drink, and well worth $2 for 22oz.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 04:26:21 | More by fezmeister

whatthehull

California

3.7/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Tulip

A - Nice deep brown almost black, one finger very tan head and some nice lacing

S - Lots of roasted malts, brown sugar, milk and dark chocolate, earth and wood, nice mellow coffee, some earthy hops and more sugar

T - Tons of earth, crisp and refreshing, nice malts sweet and toasted, mellow chocolate more on the milk than the dark, soil, minerals, brown sugar, cinnamon, wood and a slight floral hop note

M - Medium minus body, low complexity, low acidity, medium balance and medium finish

D - Very drinkable, if you like guiness stout and are looking for something "craft" give this one a whirl. Refreshing, tasty and surprisingly light

Final thought - $2 and very drinkable? Yes please! Add a teaspoon or 2 of bourbon and a pinch of sugar and watch out!!!

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 06:59:34 | More by whatthehull

Drinkerofales

California

3.38/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours black, with hints of red and brown in the pouring. A thick mocha head that flattens out rather quickly and leaves not much lacing.

Smells of coffee and chocolate, with a touch of booze, which is strange considering it's only 5.4%.

Taste is understated, roasted malts, bitter chocolate, hint of coffee and hops somewhere in there.

Feel is smooth and medium bodied. A touch of hop bite gives it some character, but not much.

Too bad we can't rate economics, as this 2 dollar beer has a great value, if not the best of flavors. On flavor as it is, it's better than the DIPA for the 2 bucks, but not on the ABV. Also, it seems that this beer is meant to be enjoyed cold, as all the flavors and smells aren't as good warm.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 11:22:40 | More by Drinkerofales

ManuelHerrera

California

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

Picked this up at Trader Joe's, which is always a crapshoot:

A - Pours a thick, dark brown with very little light penetration and a dark fluffy chocolate head. Lacing is surprisingly thin.

S- Heavy dark cocoa and malt aroma. A bit of coffee on the nose as well, this beer is textbook chocolate stout.

T&M - Flavor is a bit one-note with little in terms of flavor profile. Boatswain hits the points it needs to hit on the profile, no more no less. Malty maltiness and mild cocoa give way to a bitter aftertaste, but not a bitter hop flavor so much as the bitterness one would experience from coffee. The mouthfeel is incredibly thin and carbonated, not what I expected in the slightest!

O- This might be one of the fastest drinks of chocolate stout I've ever had, as it's as thin as a pale ale and hardly a challenge. Best as a sample for someone who doesn't like dark beers too much, or to satisfy a sweet tooth.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 05:04:35 | More by ManuelHerrera

DarthKostrizer

California

3.3/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Look: Black and totally opaqe with a 1/4 inch dark brown head and good retention

Smell: Nice amount of cocoa nibs greets you right away. Some roasted malt is hiding behind the cocoa

Taste: The flavor actually works opposite of the nose with the roasted malt and ash notes being upfront and the beer finishes with some chocolate

Mouthfeel: A bit on the thin side and a tad bit too much carbonation

Overall: This beer is a pretty solid beer nothing spectacular but the simple fact that it is only $1.99 a bomber will keep me purchasing it more often. I can honestly say that this beer might give you the most bang for your buck

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 16:32:37 | More by DarthKostrizer