Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

Dakotablue

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Wow! I have had Brooklyn's offerings for the past 4 years available down here in Chapel Hill, but I had to sneak this one over the state border because of our 6% cap.

(2004-2005 offering) One of the strongest initial hits of aroma that I have ever encountered with any beer - heavy chocolate and burnt malt smell. Enough to make my mouth salivate. It is a very dark black color, no chance of seeing through this one. The head retention is about a 1/2 inch for a minute or two before slowly dissolving (dark brown head). The taste is a heavy espresso chocolate taste with undertones of noticable hops. The alcohol is well hidden for the first few seconds, but then rears its head on your palate. Leaves a bit of a dry mouthfeel, due what I believe largely the carbonation and the amount of tannins in the beer. Would LOVE to see this as a NITRO. I could drink this all night - definitely a top ten to 20 beer. Cheers to Brooklyn Brewery.

Now if I could actually get this at the store down here instead of making a 6 hour round trip to Virginia. You would think that NC would be a bit more lenient...

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2005 02:18:07 | More by Dakotablue

orfeu

New Mexico

4.95/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Winter '05-'06 bottling. Black sludge with burnt sugar tan froth, rocky and thick. Phenomenal webbed sheets of lacing. Aroma of chocolate mousse spiked with bourbon, sugared espresso with vanilla whipped cream. Oil slick texture with medium body. Incredible alcohol-infused mocha flavor, all chocolate and coffee ice cream booziness. It's nearly impossible to believe that there is no actual chocolate in this stuff. Tongue-numbing buzz. Shocking drinkability for the sheer size of the flavor profile and showy alcohol presence. The paradigm of class -- I'm in awe.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2006 05:27:07 | More by orfeu

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.95/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Winter 2009-2010 bottling, sampled on a rainy 2012-04-13
A three year aged version of Brooklyn BCS.
Poured into a standard US pint glass.

At three years of age, this still looks great: a tall brown head of very fine bubbles that descends to a thick cap atop the beer, leaving generous lacing all the way down. (5.0)

The aroma, however, has lost nearly everything and is a mix of sweetness and slight roasted character with obvious ethanol. (2.0)

Taste is primarily sweet and nondescript, with mild roasted malt character and some acridity. Perhaps a bit of vanilla around the sides of the tongue. Ethanol has mellowed, but still present and surprisingly strong. Sweetness persists through each sip; not sure where this is from, but it is cloying. Only the lingering aftertaste presents a bit of interesting roasted flavor. (2.0)

Mouthfeel is still good: medium-heavy with carbonation that makes this foam up quite nicely on the palate. Slight bit of ethanol burn on the tongue and in the nostrils. Would be easily drinkable if it tasted good. (4.5)

---

Winter 2010-2011 bottling, sampled on a cold 2012-04-12

Fresh, I thought highly of this beer. Now, aged two years, it's rather average or even below average. This was cellared since purchase, so I don't think any spoilage has occurred. I have many older bottles to test, but going forward, I beginning to think I'll only purchase enough for the winter season.

Pours a tall (>2cm) head of small dark tan to brown bubbles, which descent in a minute or two to a medium-sized ring around the beer and a few islands of foam atop the body. Some lacing and spots linger around the sides of the glass. Body is an opaque dark brown to black, with brown-amber highlights. Carbonation is visible, rather active, and can be seen rising across all sides of the glass (4.0)

Aroma is of mild chocolate, a bit of plum-like esters, and a bit of organic solvent (light acetone). No trace of alcohol, but two years in, this has not held up that well. (3.0)

Taste offers some roasted malt bitterness, residual sweetness, and very mild chocolate flavors. Gone are the washes of chocolate syrup and coffee that this beer had fresh. No ethanol is present, though the loss of other flavors seems like an unjustifiable trade-off. Mid-palate offers some roasted barley, residual sweetness, and mild chocolate. Lingering aftertaste of roasted malt, slight chocolate, slight coffee grounds, and a bit of a "wood aged" component.

Body is medium-heavy with moderate carbonation. This leads the beer to foam up initially on the palate, but when the carbonation fades out, this is smoothly felt across the tongue. Ethanol burn is still felt in the back of the throat and slightly in the nostrils.

---

Winter 2005-2006 bottling, sampled in 2005
A: I note a pleasant viscosity as the beer pours from the bottle into a pint glass. Primeval midnight black in body color (forget about attempting to discover this one's carbonation level through visual inspection), a 2cm dark tan rises from the depths, settling into a thin film of foam for the entire drinking session. The deflating head and sipping lead to sticky, excellent lacing wherever the beer touches.

S: Beautifully crisp nose with massive amounts of chocolate, roasted, and caramel malt scents. Plums and dried figs are the fruits being expressed here, quite rich and full in their presentation. Some alcohol burn is detected in the back of the nose as the scent fades away in the nostrils.

T: An intensely complex beer, pulling major influences from roasted and smoked malts, black coffee, dark/bitter chocolate, caramel, molasses, and even some nuttiness. The richness of all these pulls together into a near-brownie-dense (a bit of a hyperbole, but not by much) concoction with emphasis on the roasted malt and chocolate flavors. The alcohol presence in the finish is pleasant and well-placed towards the back of the throat. Aftertaste of bitter chocolate and black coffee, somewhat acidic.

M: Medium to full bodied with a modest amount carbonation that allows for some foaming in the mouth, which results in a pleasantly soft, yet full effect on the palate. Dry finish with the bitterness of the coffee-chocolate combination.

D: An exceptionally well-crafted imperial stout that I wish was available from fall through spring. All the aspects of the beer come together in a fashion so near perfection that it may be as close as I'll ever get to a manifestation of the concept. Highly drinkable as a sipping dessert or after-dinner beer, something to close out the last few hours of a day with.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2006 03:10:33 | More by falloutsnow

generallee

New York

4.95/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a Snifter glass. The bottle reads "Limited Bottling - Winter 09-10" and I sampled it on 11-4-2009.

Appearance: The color is jet black and definitely opaque. It raises a tall tan head that is thick, creamy and hangs on very well. It slowly fades down to a tight cap of foam that makes lots of splotchy lacing on the glass.

Smell: For a big 10% beer there is very little suggestion of its alcoholic strength. I get more roasted barley and grain brown sugar and molasses. Light notes of alcohol just seek into the background.

Taste/Palate: I'm hit with a big rich sweetness up front with notes caramel, brown sugar and molasses. Next comes gooey dark bitter chocolate brownies and deep roasted barley and grain notes. Solid herbal/leafy hops finishes thing of along with a gentle warming alcohol. The palate has a good full body with a slick texture and just enough carbonation to keep things from getting cloying or to syrupy.

Notes: This is a truly outstanding BIG beer. I wish I had some really good plain New York cheese cake with fresh red raspberries to pair with this wonderful beer. Well, for tonight this beer is its own dessert.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 00:42:34 | More by generallee

MNishCT77

District of Columbia

4.94/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 oz. bottle 12-13 vintage purchased in the greater Washington D.C. area (Cleveland Park Wines and Liquors representin'!) several months ago, poured into a Weyerbacher tulip glass, drank 2/15/13 over ~one hour.

A: 4.75- inky-black coloration, unfiltered haziness swallowing the light; slight lacing around the glass, imperceptible alcohol legs

S: 4.75 - roasted almost burnt coffee, bitter chocolate, slight toffee and caramel undertones, moderate alcohol on the nose

T: 5 - coffee bitterness on the anterior tongue opens the taste buds for a surprising bite of Cascade hop grapefruit, lots of chocolate and caramel in the swallow with lingering aftertaste; hidden alcohol with warming notes throughout the chest

M: 5 - full chewy body, feels like a mouthful of dark chocolate with roasted coffee!

O: 5: as a full disclosure, Brooklyn's BCS is my favorite RIS on the market; it also holds sentimental value for me as one of the first beers that addicted me to craft beer and sparked an interest in homebrewing (I brew a clone of it each year now); the chocolate and coffee aroma and taste are unparalleled with just enough hop flavor/aroma for balancing, maybe the best use of Cascade hops in a non-American IPA/DIPA; I'll continue to be cellaring and eagerly anticipating my vertical tasting in 5-10 years. Cheers, Garrett Oliver and Co.!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 03:11:43 | More by MNishCT77

GClarkage

California

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

08/11/05- Received bottles in trade from Connecticutpoet and Jetsbeer.

Presentation- 12oz bottle, 2004-05 release. Poured into a random pint glass.

Appearance- Super black pour, chocolate colored dirty brown 1/2 inch head and nice lacing. Pours out like goop.

Smell- Ranks right up there with any double or imperial stout I have had. Huge super dark chocolate and roasted malt nose.

Taste- Damn, this shit is good. Mega roasted malt, nuts and any other malted flavor you can think of. Smooth and I mean smooth dark chocolate flavor. Maybe a touch of coffee as well.

Mouthfeel- Oh so close from being perfect. Just a touch too much carbonation to be as smooth as it could possibly be. Super creamy and goes down with the greatest of ease. Do they have this on cask??

Drinkability- So glad I still have one of these left. Think I will toss it in the cellar and forget about it for a year or two. Can't imagine it getting much better than it already is, but what if it does?

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2005 16:44:07 | More by GClarkage

stumac

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

First off, I must say that this is one of the best stouts ever created...

it pours black as night. no other colors. small creamed coffee color head. very slight lacing. the nose is cocoa beans, roasted chocolate malts, alocohol, toffee. As I took my first sip, I realized that it had a super thick body! I taste notes of roasted coffee beans, very chewy, a little bit too much alcohol taste, roasty roasty malty finish, stickyness is left on your lips for later. This a meal in a bottle, brother!

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2008 22:44:56 | More by stumac

John

New York

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

'01-'02: This is one of the beers that's consistently in my top 20 or better. One of the most complex and delicious brews ever made. I love BBCS as a nightcap or a special treat on it's own.
--
'00-'01: Simply one of the best Imperial stouts.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2001 14:30:55 | More by John

oelergud

Virginia

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

02-03
WoW what a beer!
Like pouring the blackest night into your glass
the head is a creamy brown, doesn't last long but looks great.
The smell is strong and robust, alcohol and chocolate very apparent, I thought I could detect a hint of almond/marzipan which probably isn't there but it's the closest I can get to it.
Sweet and thick, this brew goes down easy, little to no acid or bitterness shows itself until you let the after taste manifest, the alcohol gives the stout a good kick making the beer have a strong presence about it. Good chocolate taste throughout.
Only regret I have about this beers drinkability is the high alcohol % which makes is hard to indulge without getting drunk off your ass

Oelergud - Cheers!

03-04

Been storing this bottle in the fridge for about 6 months.
Beautiful black brew with a chocolate head, doesn't stay long though and almost no lace. Impossible to determine level of carbonation as absolutely no light gets through this beer.
Smell is semisweet chocolate, strong spice, alcohol and earth.
Very apparent alcohol tones in the taste but overpowered by the rich chocolate flavors, swirling earth and dark roasted coffee beans.
Subtle hops underneath the malts struggling to be noticed
Thick and full body, almost syrupy, creamy and leaving a nice sweet coating on the tongue. Each swallow sends waves of warmth through your being. Strong robust and demanding attention and respect, this is still one hell of a beer.

-Oelergud

04-05, 11/12/04

Black tar goodness slowly oozing out of the bottle, beautiful effect on the edge of the beer as bubbles go up and down, tan creamy head decent retention and great lace leaving rings after each draw.
Strong roasted coffee beans, dark chocolate and alcohol makes up the nose. strong malts overwhelm the hops.
Taste is liquid dark chocolate with an alcoholic charge pinning the tongue to the ground. Rich and powerful maltiness and some faint hops dominate the aftertaste which is smooth and lasting quite long.
Mouthfeel is perfect stout thick, chewable indeed.
What can I say I havent said before, great brew, great stout, deliciousness in a bottle!

-Oelergud

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2004 02:53:27 | More by oelergud

Zorro

California

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Sampled through the efforts of Newbie BIF.

Release 2004 – 2005 making this about 1 year old.

Pours an impenetrable black stout with a thick reddish brown head.

Smells of kahlua, smoke, coffee, chocolate and coffee. Chocolate and fruitiness ride the alcohol scent that makes my brain and nose say coffee liqueur.

Taste is a big hit of chocolate and coffee in the very first sip. Nice chest warming sensation from the alcohol level. Brown sugar makes an appearance as does fruit and toffee. Long lasting bitter after taste from the hops and dark malts but I am unable to identify exactly what this is very smoothly mixed. After 4 mouthfuls this smooths out and becomes just pure ambrosia to drink.

Milkshake thick and creamy probably the best mouthfeel I have experienced to date.

Drinkability is pure peace of heaven here. The only fault here is that the smell could be a bit more complex but it is debatable that it is not possible in a brew this strong. I have found a new favorite beer after drinking this. Now I just have to figure out how to get some more in California!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2005 22:23:03 | More by Zorro

sraimondi

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Finally had this on nitrous draft at Cafe Luna in Simsbury, CT (see seperate review--great job Louis!). WOW!! While I have always enjoyed this one from the bottle, the draft version is almost PERFECT. The coffee and chocolate flavor is very much pronounced, but not overwhelming. While the bottle version "hides" the high ABV; the draft is even more dangerous, as you cannot really feel the alcohol until afterwards. The carbonation is very soft. A really outstanding brew, served at the right temp at Cafe Luna. By the way, the pizza here is VERY, VERY good!! Mangia.

Serving type: nitro-tap

12-04-2005 22:17:42 | More by sraimondi

nriech

Virginia

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

06-07 bottling
Appearance: Obviously completely black, tiny bit of chocolate brown head that almost completely dissolves away. Sticky lacing barely visable.

Smell: Smell is tons of roasted malts, chocolate, dark coffee, a little alcohol.

Taste: Awesome. This is hands down one of the best. Tons of the roasted malts come together to form the chocolate flavor. Its a little sweet with an alcohol kick at the end. A little smoky also. Mouthfeel is excellent, nice and thick. Nice strong aftertaste that wasnt too bitter.

Definately one of my top favorites of all styles.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2007 13:07:23 | More by nriech

MrBen

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

About as good as it gets. I've enjoyed this brew for the past couple of years, and it just keeps impressing.

Pours totally black, somewhat thick, and tosses up a dark tan head. Smell hits hard with a tingle of dark roasted malts -- chocolate -- plus sweetness of raisins and other savory, dried fruits. Some toffee, coffee, nutty delight, and general toastiness. I have to dive in! Smooth mouthfeel, coating the piehole with massive maltiness.

Flavor is enormous. You just have to drink it slowly. Flavor of big malts take over, with a fantastic background of flinty, grainy black patent and choclate malts. Superb. Warmth from alcohol sneaks in once in a while, but the complete riot of tasty treats sits on top of any alcohol flavors and farts on their heads.

This is a giant among stouts and a titan among beers. It's up there in the ABV department, so sip carefully and respect the hell outta this amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2007 01:17:57 | More by MrBen

w5baron

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This dark beer does wonders to the taste pallet. It is a rich malty beer but does not over do it. The time line of the taste is great, starts off strong with a chocolate taste and ends with a smooth after taste of the roasted malt. I aged the beer for a year, did change the beer a little but either way its great just as if it just came right from the brewery yesterday.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2007 20:19:23 | More by w5baron

mashedpotatoes

Ohio

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a pitch black, motor oil tar black to be exact. Head is creamy and active. Leaves a fair amount of thick lacing. Smell is immediately alcoholic/medicinal, I'm sure it will cure what ails me! Taste is heavenly, chocolate malt abounds! Not quite as extreme as say Young's Double Chocolate but still very good. Mouthfeel is creamy and chewy. Sticks to the palate very well to remind you you've just drank a very incredible beer. Drinkability is extremely high. This is a very proper Imperial Stout. These guys know what they are doing for sure. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2008 03:28:20 | More by mashedpotatoes

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Served on-tap at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia, PA.

Pours a pitch black with a nice creamy brown head. Aroma of dark chocolate and roasted maltiness. Very, very smooth tasting beer in which the malty dark chocolate masks the high abv. This is a dangerously good beer that taste so smooth that you want to drink it down so fast. Highly recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

12-01-2008 08:15:33 | More by corby112

MissLynx

Ontario (Canada)

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is the first review I've posted here - hopefully I'll do it right!

I knew I had to try this beer when I read a rave review of it in the Toronto Star - I'm a big fan of stouts in general, and this one sounded wonderful. But it took some searching to find it. Most of the smaller LCBO stores were either sold out, or didn't have it in the first place, but I finally found it at Summerhill, one of the larger LCBO stores in Toronto, where you can often find things the smaller ones don't have, and bought six bottles.

I'd intended to bring them to a Christmas gathering at a friend's house, but couldn't resist trying one ahead of time, and oh my gods - I think I may have to go back to Summerhill and get more. Like as many as I can carry. Yes, it's THAT good.

It's smoother and sweeter than I'd expected, but still with a rich, complex flavour... There's a smokiness to it like lapsang souchong tea, and I can definitely see why the chocolate reference in the name, even though it doesn't contain chocolate as such - it tastes like the beer equivalent of one of those super-rich 70% cocoa dark chocolate bars. Or maybe the truffle equivalent, because it's got a smooth, almost buttery creaminess to it. There's just a touch of that earthiness you get in things like St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout, but it's just there enough to ground the sweetness.

It is also, as a few other reviewers have commented, scarily drinkable. It doesn't taste like it has nearly as high an alcohol content as it does. If I hadn't noticed the number on the label, I could see myself happily drinking several of these and then wondering why I was suddenly unable to walk.

All in all, this is definitely a top favourite. I'm not sure it could quite unseat my beloved Trois Pistoles or Young's Double Chocolate Stout from being tied for number one, but it's certainly a very close contender. Since it's only here temporarily, I am going to have to try to resist the impulse to visit every large LCBO store and buy up their entire stock of this. Seriously, if you like smooth, sweet stouts, this is the nectar of the gods.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 07:22:15 | More by MissLynx

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

WOW.... Thats one word to describe this stout. It is dark, it has a great aroma. Hints of chocolate and coffee with a touch of cinnamon.

Then the pour.... Dark dark dark through and through. Then slowly the white creamy head rises to the top. Not a lot, just enough to separate the dark from the cream.

The first sip. Its smooth, its delicious, you can taste the coffee more than the chocolate and it is smooothh The beer in your mouth is very full and the after taste lingers for a long time.

For a beer that is 10$ ABV, you would never realize it because it is so easy to drink

I gotta run out and buy several more 4packs.

09/2012
Second major tasting of this stout.. Same as before, loads of chocolate in the noise and in the taste. This years brew seems to be fuller and rounder than the 2011, which to me was even that much more enjoyable. The only negative, and its a very small negative, is that in this batch (2012), I seem to taste/feel more alcohol. Even at 10%, past years brews seem to have less of an alcoholic taste.
But then again, this could be just more beer tasting techniques and skills have been advancing.
Even so, a great STOUT!

11/13/12
Another Tasting: This one is getting better and better every time I taste it.. Its getting close to a 5 for me now

02/02/13
One more time. This time, I could feel the chocolate as well as smell and taste it I was anxious like a little boy in a candy stand waiting to unwrap the chocolate candy bar and bit into it. Well tonight, I was that little boy and boy did I enjoy this even more

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 04:06:07 | More by rdilauro

Cord018

Massachusetts

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at Surf Restaurant in Portsmouth, NH. Jet black appearance with a nice creamy head. You notice the smell of chocolate right away but also a nice roasty aroma emanates as well. On the first sip you taste the chocolate and maltiness right off the bat. It is just sweet enough. You also get the slight taste of alcohol without it being overpowering. The flavors compliment each other very nicely. Very smooth, velvet like feel in the mouth. I am a big fan of this style of beer and was very pleased with this offering. Was surprised to see it was at 10% alcohol! Very easy beer to drink and throw back a couple which could become dangerous at the alcohol level.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2012 23:10:46 | More by Cord018

doho95fu

California

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

'02-'03

I guess I love imperial stouts, and I really love this one. The color and consistency is like used motor oil - real black, and the head is dark brown and thick. The smell is chocolate, coffee, and red wine and the taste has those aspects as well, with a slight ABV burn that warms you up. Pretty drinkable as far as the style goes. This has to be the best bargain in beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2002 06:13:08 | More by doho95fu

Stubbie1

Connecticut

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

03-04 bottling.
This is one beautiful stout. It pours a dark black color with a dark brown head on top. The head stays for a spell and slowly gives way to a thin sticky lace. The aroma is of burnt coffee, deep roasted malt and a slight sweetness in the air. There is also a faint wisp of alcohol roaming around. The taste is wonderful; Deep roasted malt combined with the coffee and the hints of sweetness (plum, raisin?) attack the tongue. There is a slight warming of the lips with a slight presence of the alcohol. Also present is a smooth creamy feeling in the mouth. It is a very enjoyable and defiantly easy to drink. I need to get more before it is all gone!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2003 19:36:02 | More by Stubbie1

DagFishHead

New York

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2003 edition... if fall has to be here already, at least we get to enjoy all of the great brews that come with it. I must confess that this is the beer that "converted" me to micros...

Appearance is gorgeous. Jet black, luscious, almost viscous looking pour of melted dark chocolate. Impressive, amazingly dark brown head (probably looks better from a tap...can't wait to find out).
Big malt, clearly chocolate and mocha nose. Hop aroma is subdued. Some nose tingle from the alcohol.
Taste is "truly" exceptional. For me the taste and mouthfeel are a single entity with experiencing this brew. I love the simultaneous carbonation/alcohol tingle that carries a creamy, lush, slick, smooth and slightly sweet blend of malt and chocolate. Served at the correct temperature, the interplay of flavors is a near religious experience.
Drinkability: This IS Imperial Stout! To me, you save your "5" ratings for the very, VERY few that are truly stunning... this brew rates.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2003 15:27:46 | More by DagFishHead

kbnooshay

New York

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

well this is my favorite beer at the moment.Mmm soooo chocolately.

Nice tan head. The body is black as hell. Really nice thick creamy and smooth.
What I notice the most is of course the chocolatey burnt coffee flavors. More importantly is the warm tingle it gives you! First sip and BAM!!! Well maybe this is just me, but damn! It is a combination of all the wintery cocoaEY coffeish flavors that are o so delightful.

I happen to think it is very drinkable, especially on its own.
A great chillout beer.

This beer will make you happy in all the ways that matter. ALL!!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2004 03:40:31 | More by kbnooshay

nickg902

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

'05='06 bottling

A: Pours thick, black and creamy with a thick, dark cocoa brown head

S: The smell is of dark chocolate, roasted malts with a hint of mocha and coffee

T: Here is where this wins me over. Amazing dark chocolate flavor that is not too sweet. Hints of mocha and roasted malts comes through and balances this perfectly. Bitter dark chocolate aftertaste persists.

M: Smooth and creamy, perfect feel

D: Very tasty and not too sweet, definitely enjoyed as a desert beer watching the game.

This stout quickly moved towards the top of my list of stouts. I would definitely reccommend this beer, even to the uneducated. Next time I plan on buying a few and aging for a couple of months; I feel it can only get better with time

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2006 01:43:33 | More by nickg902

Manosbeeroffate

Maine

4.88/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

From McKean & Charles in Waldoboro. Pours pitch black with thin brown head. Smells a bit like cocoa. Taste? Holy moly, a really rich taste of dark malt, unsweetend cocoa and some bitter cocoa in the finish. Nice mouthfeel, thicker than normal but really nice, solky smooth. Overall: damn great beer!! I gotta get more this week. This just might edge out Sam Smith's Imperial stout as a favorite!!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2007 01:13:38 | More by Manosbeeroffate