Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

Turbohio

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well, it is black alright. Even when I hold it to the light, like you are not supposed to, it is still black. Very good for a moderately priced imperial stout.
The smell is so sticky it coats my nose. Coated with the aroma of coffee, espresso, dried fruits, I do not wonder why this style has remained named Imperial Stout.
Tasted like chewy chocolate coffee but without the tear on the stomach.
Mouthfeel: chewy in the Chewbacca sense.
Drinkability: If you like Imperial Stouts, drink up. This is a great buy, because it is served in a sixer not a 22oz. bomber.
Of all the types of beers I drink, I enjoy Imperial Stouts the most. This is the first Imperial Stout served from a 12oz bottle that compares on the level with the great 22oz bombers. Be it the over the top Avery’s or the dominating Stone and Rogue. Hello Brooklyn!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2004 03:29:15 | More by Turbohio

Porkfist

New York

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

My first Imperial stout and....My God....This was a increadable beer....
03-04
Apprearance: Beautiful, deep brown almost black with a brown head.
Smell: Roasted malts, Chocolate
Taste: Alot of people have claimed this was one extremly bitter beer, and I have no idea where that comes from. Had some nice bite to it, but the roasted/chocolate taste stood out the most for me
Mouthfeel: Nice, thick body, almost velvety
Drinkability:If you haven't guessed it yet, I would kill for this beer. Can't wait to make a trip out to Croxley's and taste it on Tap. I am in love...

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2004 03:37:11 | More by Porkfist

fitzy21

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark black, with a very small head and it retains till the drink is gone. the lace around the glass melts back into the drink and creates a small head

Smell: roasted malts, sweet chocolate smell, very inviting to drink. a hint of coffee.

Taste: at first, alcohol comes on very strong and hard to notice the roasted malt and chocolate. as the beer sits and breathes, the chocolate comes out. very sweet as I first sipped and as it roamed around my mouth, hints of bitterness of the chocolate came through. after taste was bitter with a hint of coffee

Mouth feel: creamy, with a silky touch on the tongue. moves around easily and slightly coats the tongue and cheeks before it moves on

Drinkability: can't see finishing a whole 6 pack of this in one setting. 2-3 would be fine. very enjoyable to drink. this beer gets better as you drink it.

i can't wait to see how it ages, got 3 of them cellaring right now...

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 03:11:24 | More by fitzy21

smcyrone

New York

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

First sampling of the Winter 06-07 edition, noting a whopping 10.6% on the bottle. Fans of this brew know it for it's deep black color, no light's getting through this one. A creamy foam head sticks to this beer all the way down, leaving it's lace on my glass. Don't let it's smell mislead you, smells medicinal, almost chemical...Once it hits your tongue it is a complete sensory overload. What first amazes me is the creamy, rich mouthfeel. This beer is like drinking silk. Up front is a warm, dark chocolaty smooth flavor. The maltiness is what hits you first, and is quickly followed by an incredibly pleasant hop bite and some alcohol as you swallow, leaving a roasted chocolate hop flavor to linger in your mouth. I wouldn't have guessed this was 10.6% by the flavor, but you definitely can taste the alcohol. This doesn't bother me, i feel it adds to the flavor in this case. The complexity of the flavor is almost impossible to describe, you'll have to get your own and make your own judgements. I could probably ponder the flavors of this beer all night but after 2 or 3 it's lights out! Such an amazing accomplishment for American beer, I'm really surprised this isn't top 100 material on BA. Thanks Brooklyn!!

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2006 10:09:55 | More by smcyrone

claytron

Indiana

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

This is my first review inspired by a wonderful beer. I received this one in a seasonal pack from my liquor store. As a lover of dark beer the mere sight of the bottle made me want to try it and the alcohol content intrigued me even further. Pouring it from the bottle into the glass revealed a dark black brew. The head was almost non existent but a nice lacing is present.

The best thing about this beer in my opinion is it's drinkability. Each drink goes down extremely smooth as if it were a 5-7% beer. I would definitely pick this one up again in larger quantities.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2006 04:53:24 | More by claytron

tag0519

New York

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a: Rich very black color. Creamy dark head which has lasting power

s: burnt (in a very good way) coffee, nice roasty malt, fruity and alcohol

t: a lot like the smell, with a little more chocolate. Alcohol noticeable, but again ... in a good way.

m: medium thick creamy. carbonation is about on par with other stouts.

This was the first time I tried this stout and it will be in my fridge again and again.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 17:43:00 | More by tag0519

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

i've done areview on this before but i felt the need to sit down and do it properly, pours a beautiful oily black. nice brown head that fades quick but it still gives a good presentation, the smell is of choclate, malts and well more chocolate and some alcohol. anxiously i lift the glass and pour into my mouth, very smooth, very think and velvety. i taste roasted chocolate, i taste sugar, i taste lots of alcohol, and some hairspray??? joking but... theres something potent there. best winter beer out there best stout i've had so far. i recomend for everyone atleast once..

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2007 04:00:52 | More by dalepryor

hatrix

West Virginia

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

08-09 winter bottle out of a 6pack.
Pitch black with a tan head and incredible lacing. Smell has a bit of alcohol in there which I would expect, but I didn't pick up the alcohol in the taste. Very powerful and tastey. I may have to get another 6er to age.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2008 23:25:02 | More by hatrix

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

Bunkles

Massachusetts

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

10-11 vintage, bottle poured into a pint glass.

The bottle pours pitch black with little head. A fairly aggressive pour coaxes out a tan, two finger head which receded quickly and left very little head. The beer gives off a large boozy smell, with definite notes of chocolate and a fainter toasty coffee smell. Some boozy heat comes through immediately upon taste, followed by a mellow chocolate and roasted malts. The beer sits well on the tongue, keeping that faint alcoholic heat at the back of the throat and chocolate sitting on the tongue. It drinks fairly well, though it's high alcohol content definitely is a limiting factor.

Overall a nice beer, though a bit disappointing. It tastes a little boozier and less flavorful than I remember last year's being. Still though, at around $8 a four pack, it remains a nice value for the RIS style.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 02:20:17 | More by Bunkles

spiner

Andorra

4.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

I get this one from cousin in New York.

Black beer like it say on bottle. Smell like chocolate. Taste like good Belgian chocolate and not much like alcohol just like bottle say. I like this very much but big alcohol. Only had two this day. I want cousin to send me more Black Chocolate Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2010 17:56:03 | More by spiner

DPhillips1027

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Dark black reminds me of used motor oil only thinner, nice creamy brown head that fades quickly a little lacy on the glass.

Smell: Strong coffee & molasses with a whiff of alcohol and a hint of something lightly burnt.

Taste: Slightly carbonated with a rush of rich dark roasted coffee with bitter dark chocolate overtones, followed by the slow burn of the alcohol, finishes with the lingering taste of burnt toast.

Mouthfeel: A little to light for the flavor profile. Slightly watery expected a little thicker beer.

Drinkability: Definitely a winner year after year. Have cellared them for a year and seems to mellow a little a great choice after supper on a cold Ohio night.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 00:16:46 | More by DPhillips1027

markrubbo

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured leaving a finger of solid brown head. Chocolatey, coffee, roasted malt. Smooth, and the high 10% ABV is balanced with a hint of spice. Nice lingering finish.

I had this beer the day before christmas eve and paired it with pumpkin spice ice cream. Great holiday combination. Amazing.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2010 03:18:47 | More by markrubbo

Mmmaibock

Wisconsin

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

Appearance: Near-black. Dark brown, creamy head settles, but leaves a nice layer behind.

Smell: Not very aromatic. Hints of dark chocolate and coffee.

Taste: Very dark barley roast, whiskey and coffee. Mid- to low-hop flavor.

Feel: Creamy (oat?). Nice lingering mild warming. Pleasant light hops bite on the tip of the tongue.

Overall: Worthy. Would have been great if aged in oak. No trace of any off notes. Well-brewed and handled.

Serving type: Bottle poured into American Pint

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2011 01:44:14 | More by Mmmaibock

Piliper

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in out of the bottle into a pint glass.

A: The appearance is pitch black. No hints of red or brown around the edges. Absolute motor oil black. It pours thick from the bottle with a generous 3 finger khaki head. Great lacing as well.

S: The smell is intense. Definite banana up front with faint hints of roasted dark coffee. Some caramel and spice as well.

T: The taste... oh, the taste. Other worldly. An incredible stout. An incredible beer... period. You are definitely hit with the coffee that was evident in the smell right up front. It's semi-sweet, but not too much. Very malty and the alcohol is hard to decipher. At 10% ABV, that's a dangerous thing.

M: The mouthfeel is very full and thick. The motor oil like pour is evident here. Sticky and almost chewy.

Overall: possibly my favorite stout. I'm a huge fan of Convict Hill's Oatmeal Stout, but the low ABV in that brew makes it difficult to judge in comparison to this. This stout doesn't have the annoying over carbonation that some of the higher ABV stouts have and the smooth nature of the brew is almost too good to be true. I'll be buying another 4 pack and will let it age.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2011 02:58:08 | More by Piliper

InVinoVeritas

Wisconsin

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled winter 2011-2012

A: Black opaque in color as to be expected of the style. Great head for such a high-octane beast! Head is tan in color. Minimal lacing, as expected. This maybe which may be the only visual detriment; at least for me it’s a small minus.

S: Sweet and here comes the Chocolate. There is a tad roasted malts, and toffee flavor. On a deep inhale there is just a hit, infinitesimal heat, perhaps the only hint of the alcoholic.

T: As the smell would indicate. However, there is no boozy taste whatsoever.

M: Is surprisingly creamy, almost milk stout like, but that could just be me.

O: This is a very solid, in fact one of the best RIS I’ve had. It is remarkably balanced, complex and extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 02:52:28 | More by InVinoVeritas

CB_Crowe

Vermont

3.15/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

First Review
2012 vintage
12 oz poured in Lawson's Tulip, slightly under 66 degree room temp.

A - Pours black. No surprise here at it's called "black chocolate stout". Hardly any head on this one. Maybe a quater inch dark tan head, dissapated quickly. Little to no lacing.

S - Burnt chocolate and alcohol. I was more excited to try this before I smelled it.

T - Touch of pitted fruits up front which quickly turns into lingering bitter burnt chocoolate and alcohol. I'm not getting much chocolate if any. I wish I tasted more chocolate. The burnt taste is really heavy to me on this one. I'm wishing I aged this now.

M - really smooth mouthfeel, little carbonation.

O - This one is a sipper. The burnt chocolate taste and strong alcohol finish was a bit much for me. Good beer to age. Maybe I'll pick up another bottle or two to age.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 17:06:47 | More by CB_Crowe

LITTLESTHOBOUK

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Light malty chocolate notes on the nose, very smooth open smokiness and sourness on the tongue. Expected a much stronger chocolate flavour (agree with previous statement that perhaps maturing longer may be of benefit), great smoothness of mouth, notwithstanding the lack of chocolate taste, it very nearly ticks all the boxes!

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 00:02:29 | More by LITTLESTHOBOUK

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

gtlaw

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is one of my favorites. For the price it cannot be touched. Extremely complex maltiness with lots of alcohol, and the most pleasing abundant carbonation I have ever seen in a beverage.. Not joking I can open one, drink half, and put the rest back in the fridge for tomorrow I love this stuff

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2009 06:43:29 | More by gtlaw

Damaged

New Jersey

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

Straight from Bottle.

A-Little to no foam, and as for the foam that was there, it was a warm cocoa color. The beer was a deep black with a nice deep brown on the lip.

S-Goddamn is this appealing, a very attractive aroma.

T-Not as bitter as it is strong, however, the aftertaste is rather odd.

M-Very creamy, it seems to just flow freely throughout your mouth (and then down your throat!)

D-Apart from a strange aftertaste every so often, I could drink this non stop.

Highly Recommended, but I would not go as far to say this is the best beer on the market. ALSO, the bottling is VERY attractive.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2006 06:13:28 | More by Damaged

pez000

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Not much for long reviews. But this years is a lot more drinkable than last years with out having to let it sit for months. really sad that this year it comes in a 4 pack rather than a 6. But this years is with out letting sit is the best. I will be visiting my local bottle shop to pick some more up!

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2009 01:21:27 | More by pez000

misterjeb

South Carolina

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

This was one of the first chocolate stouts I've ever had. Poured into a 24 brandy snifter for the lazy swirl. Jet black with tan head.

Smells of yoohoo thin chocolate. Alcohol fumes - I like it.

Tastes of roasted coffee and bitter chocolate.

Mouthfeel is a creamy malt smooth finish, bitter lingers.

Drinkability good, short session this one and pair with dessert, its beddy bye time.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 00:38:13 | More by misterjeb

PorterJunkie

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours out dark with small light brown head. The smell of hops, chocolate and malt hit your nose almost immediately. Goes down smooth with slight tones of hops, chocolate and weak bitterness at the end. Not to much of a heavy aftertase and alcohol is well hidden. Definitely worth every penny spent.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 18:53:04 | More by PorterJunkie

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