Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

TheHoppiest

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at the Winking Lizard in Independence. Poured into a tulip glass and was, as usual for the WL, too cold. After warming the glass in my hands for a few minutes, I swirled and got down the business of reviewing.

Pours a dark brown/black, with a 1/4" tan head that is sloooow to reduce.

Smells of burnt brown sugar, dark chocolate and coffee, with hints of bitter flitting in and around these aromas. Tough to say if it is a dark chocolate bitter, or a coffee bitter.

Has a bitter-sweet start, with decent black coffee bitter and a decent amount of alcohol. Sweetens as you drink more, and remains smooth throughout.

Very full-bodied, and becoming more so as it warms. The alcohol also begins to mellow as it warms.

Easy drinking and smooth, I think this is one of Brooklyn's finest offerings. I would definitely have this again and recommend it if you're looking to enjoy a good stout.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2011 01:31:52 | More by TheHoppiest

greid

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at the Flying Saucer Addison:
The 10% mark is clear from the first sip. It's loaded with coffee and chocolate tastes, but that's only if you can see past the heat of the alcohol. It's a great example of Russian Stouts, but I can see how a couple years set aside could help this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2011 02:44:25 | More by greid

chilly460

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured jet black with a small mocha/tan colored head that quickly dissipates. A bit of a cascading affect is nice. A small ring of lacing is left around the circumference and some sticky lacing is left clinging to the glass.

S - The aroma is full of chocolate with definite notes of coffee, roasted malts and some booze. I also pick on on sweet dark fruits. No hops were picked up.

T = Initial taste is dark powdery chocolate, has a dry cocoa taste. Definitely turns to coffee, and a burnt roast taste. Some toffee malt finish, but the burnt flavor stayed with me. Somewhat one dimensional and borderline on the bitter roast for me.

M - A bit thin and more carbonated then I prefer for a beer of this style.

D - As stated, the bitterness of this brew made it tough to finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2011 01:17:06 | More by chilly460

rowingbrewer

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a dark brown to black color with a think off white to tan colored head that goes away pretty fast. the smell is roasty malts up front followed by some sweet dark fruit notes that linger. the beer was cold form the tap and its strange that alcohol presence was more noticeable when the beer was cold, I think this was because the other flavors were muted. as the beer warmed the hints of chocolate came out, along with dark fruit flavors and a little sweetness from the unfermentable sugars. the mouthfeel felt slightly thinner when it was cold, but again as the beer warmed it was fuller and smoother. this is a very drinkable beer especially when served a cellar temperature.

Serving type: on-tap

02-13-2011 22:04:24 | More by rowingbrewer

SkunkWorks

New York

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I've had this in the bottle before, but this is a review of the tap version. Had on tap at TJ Finleys in Bay Shore, NY. Served in a stemmed pokal glass.

Look: black body and I couldn't discern any highlights, which might've been helped by the darkness of the dark. Thin, less than a finger thick, mocha colored head sits at the top and retains quite well leaving a little lacing, but not a whole lot. Spot on for a Russian Imperial Stout.

Smell: sweet, roasted malt with a bit of coffee and chocolate. Nothing in the way of alcohol or hops in here.

Taste: follows the nose with sweet, chocolate malt and some coffee notes as well. This is probably as chocolatey as you can get without brewing with actual chocolate. There's a bit of alcohol bite in the finish but its not that strong and my mouth is left tasting chocolate after each sip.

Feel: medium to full bodied, lightly carbonated, not much alcohol is obvious except a slight bite in the finish, and a chocolate inspired aftertaste lingers for awhile. Not as thick or chewy as I would like from a Russian Imperial though.

Drink: one of the more drinkable Russian Imperial Stouts out there. One could easily drink several of these in a night and would enjoy the experience, provided they survived it.

Overall, a very good beer. I haven't had it in a long time and have always had the bottled versions. I'm usually skeptical of big stouts on tap but this was quite good. I'm very happy with this beer. I highly recommend. Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

01-22-2011 17:40:50 | More by SkunkWorks

gdrydenc

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

2007 Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout on tap @ Novare Res in Portland, ME on 1.12.11

A - First appeared to be black as night, but as it got lower and I could see the edges more, it was revealed to me that it was a dark burgundy. The head was about 3 fingers off the tap, but the bartender let it go down some, then served it to me with a solid 1.5 fingers of thick dark brown head. It was almost like mousse atop the beer.

S - For a beer apparently brewed without chocolate, this beer smells like chocolate. Bittersweet, like a nice 85% cacao chocolate bar.

T - If you melted dark chocolate and put alcohol in it, this is what it would taste like, I think. I am a huge chocolate lover, especially the dark variety, so this was unreal. I spent about 45 minutes with this one tulip, enjoying every sip.

M - Perfect. Light carbonation that perfectly accented the flavor.

D - Yikes, I was feeling just one of these. Afraid that if I had a couple, I couldn't even walk. That's the only qualm I have with this phenomenal beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-13-2011 17:37:08 | More by gdrydenc

thagr81us

South Carolina

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

Served from tap into a sampler tumbler. Poured pitch black with a minimal tan head. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, brown sugar, and dark chocolate. The flavor was of sweet malt, roasted malt, sugar, caramel, and dark chocolate. It had a heavy feel on the palate with low-mild carbonation. Overall this was quite the excellent brew. There were no sharp intrusive flavors present at all which made this one very easy drinking. Had a very nicely well balanced flavor and good aroma as well. This one is a definite must try.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 13:54:03 | More by thagr81us

cmq103

New Jersey

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Freshly tapped 1/6th keg at home from 2010 batch poured into a New Castle Brown Ale Schooner beer glass.

A: Wow this beer is syrupy thick and pitch black. There is no light getting through this one. A small medium brown head formed during the pour, spreading to a thin light caramel color ring around the inside of the glass.

S: This has an immediate boozy aroma, followed by dark bitter chocolate/expresso scent. This is one great smelling RIS.

T: It does taste like it smells, dark bitter chocolate, roasted expresso coffee, with a hint of caramel.

M: Very creamy, lightly sweet backbone, light carbonation. Truly fantastic RIS from start to finish.

D: I could have one or two of these every night. Certainly not a session beer but one to truly enjoy by sipping every so slowly. There is no hiding the alcohol, but Brooklyn does a great job by attacking the palate from all angles to make you forget, even if for a brief moment, that you're drinking a bold full-bodied RIS. Top notch in my book!!

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2011 03:15:26 | More by cmq103

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Live Review #2. Still from Timmy O'Tooles on Ontario and Fairbanks in Chicago, IL.

APPEARANCE: Deep black with a very thin off-white head resting on top. Interesting lacing, a ring around the top was left where the initial head was and then very little remained stuck to the glass below that.

SMELL: Smells very smoky with a hint of coffee. Surprisingly, I don't smell much chocolate.

TASTE: The smokiness is almost non-existant in the taste - just a hint. The chocolate, however, does arrive with the first sip and is the highlight of this beer, although it is a bitter, dark chocolate-like flavor. A smoky flavor returns with for the aftertaste, which seems to be much more full and complex than the actual taste.

FEEL: Smooth and mouthcoating like a good stout should be. Warms as it goes down, there is certainly some alcohal in the Chocolate Stout.

OVERALL: A very nice, easy to drink stout. I tend to like a little smoke flavor in my stouts, but not to have it overpower the beer, and this one delivered on that front. I don't often drink stouts, but when I do, I will consider this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2011 01:16:35 | More by StoneTSR

BeerImmediately

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Recently picked up a sixtel of this bad boy... THIS, is their story:

Pours with a healthy 2-3F of rich, tan head over a black body. Nice level of lacing.

Unique for a RIS aromas - takes on plenty of deep vinous, almost Belgian Strong Dark characteristics. Alcohol burn is apparent.

Fairly creamy up front on the palate. Flavors of dark chocolate, black licorice root, roasted coffee, and a nice level of hops create a lightly bitter finish.

Mouthfeel is thick and creamy - as expected for the style - but also carries a wine like finish that gives it a distinguished character.

Drinkability is solid - may not be to the level of best-in-category RISs, but I haven't minded pulling a couple pints back to back.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2011 18:22:41 | More by BeerImmediately

thegodfather2701

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Served in a pint glass with no head to speak of, only a small ring of mocha colored foam. The beer is black with some auburn hues. No lacing.

S-Espresso, chocolate, alcohol, and roasted malt.

T-Espresso, dark chocolate, roasted malt, and alcohol stand out the most in the beginning. As it warms it becomes more chocolaty, but the alcohol sweetness remains present.

M-Pretty thick.

D-The alcohol seemed to be more noticeable than in bottle form, which cut into its drinkability. For the style however it isn't that complex, which makes it easy drinking.

Overall, I prefer this beer in a bottle. I can pour it myself and give it a good head and it the alcohol isn't as strong.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2011 18:16:37 | More by thegodfather2701

rpardon7

Kentucky

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at pazzos, appearance was dark as midnight with a tight tan head that stuck around for a good amount of the beer. Smell was coffee,chocolate, roasted grain, and some toasty smells of malt. Taste was wonderful a good balance of semi bitter chocolate and espresso, warming alcohol but not too much, a nice roasted grain middle and a semi sweet chocolate coffee finish. Mouthfeel....smooth as silk, a nice balance between malt and carbonation. Drinkability is suprisingly high for such a strong stout but if u asked if I wanted another one the answer would be yes!

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2010 21:48:41 | More by rpardon7

ryantaussig

New York

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Absolutely opaque black with a dark tan head in a small tulip. Smells of roasted chocolate malts. Excellent levels of malt to counteract the high ABV. Not as thick as I've normally seen in the style, but it's not necessarily a bad thing. This effectively crosses the RIS style with a Milk/Sweet Stout Style. It is a bit heavy, but not badly so.

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2010 18:59:14 | More by ryantaussig

StormKing47

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on tap at my local establishment, reviewed from my napkin notes since I refuse to carry my book around when I'm out just to hang out with friends, and away we go...

A- Pours a faint black bordering on dark brown. It already looks like its a little thin, but we'll hold judgement on that one for later. It's accompanied with a dark brown head that is full of a steady stream of bubbles, very appealing, but I have seen better looking stouts.

S- Right away I am greeted with the oh so familiar dark chocolate sweetness accompanied with a burnt malt background. The roastiness of the malts are very pleasant and with further warming I am picking up very faint hop smells that add a touch of citrus, reminiscent of a chocolate covered orange slice. Very enjoyable.

T- Damn, a smack of boozy alcohol right away and a great dark chocolate sweetness to cool the booze burn down. I am also picking up a fruity finish along with the sweetness from the hops that is very interesting and surprising from a big stout. Loving the chocolate finish the whole way through the sipping!

M- Extremely warming from the high abv and definitely coating. A bit chewy which is expected from this style and is very palatable. It's a thick, syrupy, chewy blend that I thoroughly enjoyed.

D- It's definitely able to be finished by yourself, but the abv is not hidden well and it could become annoying as it warms because the heat comes out more and more. The chocolatey delight saves this one and makes it very pleasant.

A nice seasonable brew to enjoy that is great for the cold weather and is readily available at most places. Enjoy!

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2010 03:31:27 | More by StormKing47

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from tap at TJs in Paoli into a snifter tasting glass. 2010 batch.

A: A jet black with no light coming through. Nice sticky lacing with a minimal light brown cream colored head.

S: Wow, I get a large pop of chocolate on the nose of this tap version. Also notes of roasted malt, burnt coffee, and some slight earthy hops.

T: The chocolate just jumps out in the tap version, so much more so than the bottle. Roasted malt with darker flavors then come in with the burnt coffee, dark chocolate, some caramel and toffee sweetness and some bitter earthy woody hops. The alcohol is present, but blends with the nice bitter finish. Good beer, I like this better than bottle.

M: Full, creamy at first which turns bitter, alcoholic but welcomed, carbonation is perfect.

Overall I enjoyed this so much more from tap than bottle. Its less alcoholic and much smoother. A very solid RIS for a great price. This beer is growing on me for sure.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2010 20:37:15 | More by Kadonny

BeerCon5

Pennsylvania

2.45/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Pours black in color with a 1 finger coffee brown head with ok retention

The scent is of dark chocolate with dark fruit.

The taste was incredibly sour at first, bad batch? After the sourness passed I tasted some dark chocolate and notes of coffee, the high alcohol was hardly noticeable.

Full bodied, smooth and creamy, low carbonation.

This was not a very good beer due to the incredible sourness, I probably had a bad batch, if I see this somewhere else I will have to retry.

Serving type: on-tap

12-08-2010 19:48:05 | More by BeerCon5

king75

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- is a dark black with an inch of creamy chocolate head.

S-Can make out chocolate, a little coffee and some heavy malt, can smell the booze in this one. Smells great overall.

T-Can make out the chocolate, but has a bit of a bitter bite at the end like a good dark chocolate, can taste some coffee and malts as well. The only reason I gave it this low of a taste rating is because of the sweetness. It is really good, but it is definitely a sipper because of the sweetness.

M- Extremely smooth with a medium body and finishes with a nice little bitter bite. Has a great feel to it.

D- Is very drinkable, but you are not going to throw this one back quickly due to the sweetness.

Notes: this would make a great desert beer to finish off a good meal.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2010 17:24:03 | More by king75

ne0m00re

Ohio

3.7/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Had this one earlier tonight at the Yellow Brick Pizza Oven in Columbus.
A: Black with a thin collar and film.
S: Chocolate with rum and molasses, caramel, and wood barrel and vanilla, with slightly bright earthy hops underneath.
T: Sticky sweet and everything you'd expect from the smell with a dry oatmeal finish, strong alcohol with bourbon/rum/sherry characteristics.
M: Sticky with mild carbonation.
D: OK, but one 12 oz is enough, especially with the strong alcohol presence.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2010 04:34:02 | More by ne0m00re

robwestcott

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

poured cold from the tap near black with a nice full finger long lasting tan head with nice retention.

subtle aroma of dark chocolate, coffee and toffee in the wayback.

coffee and dark chocolate up front, mildly bittersweet, a
bit of an acidic tang after - alcohol heat also follows.

mildly bitter, big bodied, smooth.

drinkable - no not really

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2010 19:09:42 | More by robwestcott

jrsully77

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Dark and rich, brown haze covers the thick head.

Roaster Malts and Dark chocolate

Great, this is in the top three of imperial stouts. It is thick but unlike most chocolate stouts this gives you just the dark chocolate taste not the milk chocolate.

Heavy, just like an imperial stout should be.

If you like Imperial Stouts you will love this beer. Since this is an imperial stout it can catch you with the high ABV and weight.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2010 19:30:52 | More by jrsully77

thedoubler55

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a very dark coffee colored stout. The smell was not to strong gave off a bit off dark chocolate smell. The taste was that of dark chocolate and some fresh roasted coffee. This is definitely a beer that I would like to have again. I like this beer because the after taste was like you just finished eating some good chocolate. Great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 15:08:48 | More by thedoubler55

JToad

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Bar Louie last night. One of my favs, I just finally got around to reviewing this.

Came to the bar in a tall thin glass, pitch black with a minimal milk chocolate colored head. Instant roasted coffee aroma.

Tastes of roasted coffee beans, tobacco and an slight hint of chocolate on the finish. Moutfeel is full and creamy, yet with some nice carbonation. Sticky sweet on the tongue. The tobacco becomes more present as the beer warms.

Simply delicious. I look forward to this every year. The alcohol warms your insides as you make your way thru this monster. Very complex and well balanced, one of my favorite stouts of all time.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2010 16:13:27 | More by JToad

paulozanello

Brazil

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pitch black opaque color with small mocha head that recedes fairly quickly leaving good lacing.
Aroma is chocolate, molasses, roasted malts and some alcohol. It could be stronger.
Taste is very malty with chocolate, caramel and molasses upfront. This has a strong alcohol finish and it is very warming as you swallow it. Aftertaste is very mild for an imperial stout.
Mouthfeel is creamy and mooth as far as texture goes. The alcohol is a bit excessive though.
Overall a good beer for the winter but there are better ones out there.

Serving type: on-tap

11-13-2010 19:03:19 | More by paulozanello

danielplainview

Kentucky

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - motor oil pitch black. Nice tan head.

Smell - dark chocolate. a bit of raisin as well. unique and complex as you would want from the style.

Taste - dark chocolate taste and roasted coffee with slight caramel and dark fruit again that might be my favorite part of this beer) . Roasted malt up front then ends with a slight hop bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Very smooth and silky on the palate, with that nice hop bite at the end. Nice hangtime that really lets some of the complex flavors come through on the palate.

Drinkability - Drinkability is far, far too good for a beer of this weight and Alcohol content. I am partial to the style and this is my favorite example. CHEERS!

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2010 22:25:47 | More by danielplainview

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Black as coal! Opaque with a creamy, toffee colored head. NO light is passing through this baby!

S - Bittersweet chocolate, deep roasted malt, molasses, and cream. The aroma is not as bold and aggressive as what I would have thought.

T - Deep roasted bitter chocolate, toasted malts, coffee, and vanilla cream. The flavor is consistent throughout the entire sip with coffee and bitter chocolate dominating. There's a small amount of a booze-like finish.

M - I'm surprised, this has a very thin body for the type of beer. Very smooth on the tongue, a little watery.

D - MORE BODY!!!

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2010 05:23:51 | More by jzeilinger