Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

355 mL bottle from the LCBO purchased as a single (2012-13 edition); best before Oct. 2015. I wasn't really expecting to find something like this on the shelves around here, but once I discovered it, I quickly grabbed a few bottles - mainly because I've heard nothing but good things about this, but also because the price was right. Served only slightly chilled.

Pours deep black - totally opaque, not even any highlights under the light. At the surface rests somewhat less than a finger's worth of loose, frothy, brown-coloured head that recedes relatively rapidly over the next few minutes, leaving a soapy film at the surface, a modest collar, and some spotty smears of lacing. I get a lot of molasses and raisins in the aroma, alongside dark chocolate, roasted malts, and a whiff of ethanol. Appealing enough, with the aromas intensifying as it warms to room temperature.

Really tasty stuff, with molasses/caramel sweetness and vanilla to start off the sip, followed by some dark cherries and raisins (normally I'd just use the ethereal 'dark fruit' to describe it but I actually do get these specific two notes). The dark chocolate and roasted malts come through in force toward the end of the sip, with some herbal, roasty, vaguely smoky dryness rounding out the finish. There is a solid burn from the alcohol, but in the context of all the other flavours it works nearly as well as could be hoped. On the heavier side of medium-bodied, with mild carbonation that gently prickles the palate. Creamy and satisfying, with good warmth from the ethanol - helping to make this stout a perfect winter sipper.

Final Grade: 4.25, an excellent A-. There can be no doubt - Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout is one of the best imperial stouts I've ever had. At 10%, it's about as hot as you'd expect, so one bottle would probably be enough for me on any given night, as the alcohol and sweetness combine to make something that is clearly better suited to sipping than sessioning. Still, it's a bargain at its LCBO price ($2.65/bottle), so I would suggest stocking up before they run out. Canadian winters are pretty long, after all.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 17:56:20 | More by thehyperduck

TubaManJack

Illinois

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

Fresh Bottle and one for cellering for next year.

Appearance - Wow its quite thick and black as night. A great brown head that is retained. The opaqueness is impressive and ready to suit the style.

Smell - Yes this is delightful. The mocha body and licorice is really impressive. There is not a whiff of the solvent abv which is detected in many of the other RIS.

Taste - The flavor is rounded out and full of chocolate malt and really smooth. Its pretty straight forward but well executed.

Mouthfeel- Mmm light carbonation with a touch of its round body. Its buttery and velvety.

Overall this a great seasonal and an awesome RIS modification.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 03:40:41 | More by TubaManJack

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

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

355ml bottle poured into a Stella Artois goblet. ABV 10%.

A - Poured a nearly black opaque dark brown with a 2cm milk chocolate head. Head slowly reduces and there's good lacing.

S - Lots of dark chocolate, some toasted bread, some dark fruit, and some alcohol.

T - Brown sugar, dark chocolate, some toast, hint of fruit, bitter hops and some booze.

M - Medium carbonation, medium-heavy body, creamy, syrupy, some heat in the finish.

O - A bit boozy but it's pretty well balanced. Easy to drink for sure.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 02:52:04 | More by decimator

AmitC

Indiana

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

My second out of 4-pack of 2011 Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.

One year on it. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my large snifter.

Very thick, dark brown colored pour. Pitch black inside the glass. Dark and opaque. A shining brown colored fluffy one finger thick head that slowly dissipates into a thin shining ring. Awesome lacing. Bubbles not to be seen.

Aroma: Toned down alcohol, i would assume. Well mixed with dark roasted malts and chocolate aroma. Very slight caramel. Some hop-alcohol mixed nose that is typical of Russian Imperial Stouts.

Taste: Roasted malts and dark chocolate taste. Some slight bitterness, that i would assume is subdued due to age on this one. Sweet-bitter dry finish. Alcohol is not felt as much as it contains. Less of burnt up malt flavor.

Mouth feel: Full bodied yet very drinkable thinness feel. Moderate carbonation. Slight alcohol derived astringency.

One more brew that makes Russian Imperial Stouts so reputable and likable.

Style Rate: 4.5
Personal Rate: 4.5

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 18:31:37 | More by AmitC

cjoc83

Pennsylvania

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

Bottle from a 4-pack purchased at Wegmans for $9.50. Pours like motor oil into a chalice, opaque black with a 2 finger slightly billowy milk chocolate head that sticks around for a few minutes before receding to a ring around the glass that leaves some pretty nice, albeit spotty, lacing.

Obviously big chocolate notes in the nose, along with the typical dark fruit notes of a RIS, some sweetness, a little alcohol.

Milk chocolate sweetness and brown sugar hit the tongue first, segueing nicely into rum soaked figs and raisins, molasses, and an earthy, floral hope note. Finishes with some bitter bakers chocolate and a small hop bite and slight heat, but for the abv, the alcohol is pretty well hidden.

Rich and chewy, low carbonation. Spot on for the style.

I picked up a 4-pack of this for the first time in a couple years, and I'm picking all types of things I wouldn't have noticed 2 years ago. Just goes to show how ever changing our palettes are when it comes to this thing of ours. A super solid RIS, very rich and creamy, great flavors all around. Next time I won't wait 2 years to buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 23:17:28 | More by cjoc83

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Ba Review #243
Served On: 12/12/2012
Glassware: DFH Chalice
Labeled ABV: 10.0%
Date/ Code: Winter 2012-2013

This was a 4-pack I was lucky enough to find at Giant in York, PA.

Look: This beer was black as night and very viscous. A nice creamy brown head formed to my surprise. Lacing was everywhere.

Smell: Smooth chocolate and coffee notes. Toasty character with some toffee notes that came through.

Taste: First was creamy mocha with an earthy roasted malt kicking in around the middle. Than things were switched up with a short lived bitterness that lead into a smokey finish. The coffee returned in the aftertaste. Mouth feel was very full and smooth. No alcohol warmth to be found.

I found this to be a wonderful RIS. I’ve heard a few different people say this is actually contract brewed by Saranac. Regardless, it’s a nice winter treat.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2012 16:17:35 | More by CraftBeerTastic

johnso98

3.45/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Winter '12-'13. Not the best chocolate stout I've ever had, or even chocolate beer for that matter. When the chocolate taste does come through, it is enjoyable. But this stout doesn't exactly match up to Guinness Draught.

A - A great black color with a dark brown head.
S - Initially smelled of chocolate, then turned nasty
T - Initially of chocolate once again, then became muddled with all kinds of flavors that I can't really discern, but was not enjoyable. Ultimately finished with some more warm dark chocolate.
M - It's drinkable. The taste is very inconsistent though, which does sort of affect mouthfeel. The alcohol is not noticeable until the finish, but that's normal.
O - Brooklyn makes some other beers that I like a lot, so I had higher expectations for this one. At this price, I probably would not get this again. A 22oz bottle of Rogue's chocolate stout would've been a much better investment even if it meant half as much beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 06:49:28 | More by johnso98

suspect

New York

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

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Bruery Tulip.

A: Deep dark black pour. Aggressive pour leads to a monster 3 finger cocoa whipped cream head that fades ever so slowly leaving the thickest lacing trail I've ever seen.

S: Cocoa, coffee, molasses, some hop bitterness.

T: Nice chocolate and coffee mix. Almost like a strong mocha. ABV finds it's way to the way back of the throat in the flavor.

M: Perfectly carbonated, nice mostly big body.

O: Nice sipping winter beer. One of my all time favorite beers from one of my all time favorite breweries.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2012 03:23:32 | More by suspect

Callaghan

Georgia

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Bottle is from the 2012-2013 winter brew. A hard pour into a chalice gives a nice two finger head, which is straight up brown. The beer itself is black as could be. Watching the head settle looks almost like a nitro pour. Beautiful.

S: Dried plums, alcohol, and chocolate of the baker's variety. Not much sweetness here. It promises to be quite tasty, as there are a bunch of underlying notes, but I can't can't pick them out. I did notice some roasted malts as it warms up.

T: Balanced and the alcohol matches well to the other flavors. Obviously, chocolate is the main flavor, but it's hard for me to discern the other flavors. it kinda just hits all at once, and I can't separate them. But, I like the way it tastes. I would give a higher score if I didn't feel like the flavors were mauling my tongue.

M: Smooth as any stout I've had, like a good oatmeal. Light carbonation, silky and full-bodied. Afterwards, though, it hangs around a bit longer than I like. Otherwise, It's about perfect.

O: A very good beer, and one that I have come to really enjoy. I will save a 4-pak in hopes that in about a year, maybe some sweetness will come through, or the subtle flavors will pull through a little stronger. And at 10%, it hides it extremely well.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 03:27:12 | More by Callaghan

TheSixthRing

California

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

Appearance - Pours jet black with dark, ruby brown edging where light can penetrate. The head is a deep tan, 2 fingers thick and with great retention. Fair lacing, though a more or less spotty.

Smell - Notes of sweet chocolate, hints of smoke, earth and a faint hint of sweet berry.

Taste - Follows the nose for much of the way. Starts with sweet chocolate and subtle hints of berry. Earth and anise flavor creep in mid-way, before it finishes with light bitter bakers chocolate and some heat from the alcohol.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, though the carbonation comes across with a light, creamy fluffiness.

Overall - Not overly impressed with this beer. It's a good, solid brew, but there's not much complexity, and the flavors don't quite hit the mark the way other chocolatey Imperials do. It certainly didn't live up to expectations, and maybe that's part of the problem. If it made it out to the West Coast, I'd probably buy it again, but it's definitely not a beer I'm going out of my way to get again.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 05:59:50 | More by TheSixthRing

thlayli87

New Jersey

3/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a deep opaque black with a razor-thin head. No lacing. Smells of dark chocolate. Tastes very boozy. Smokey with some chocolate notes. Mouthfeel dominated by searing alcohol. Overall the flavor just gets completely overwhelmed by alcohol. Not terrible by any means but I wouldn't get this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 23:12:19 | More by thlayli87

twiz1

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

I may be crazy but I swear they have changed the recipe on this beer since I first tried it several years ago. I find this beer relatively hard to find, strangely most New Yorkers that I know (even some beer lovers) have never ever even heard of it.

Anyway, I know this has always been an RIS but I feel like it had more chocolate in it in years gone past. I honestly wish I had one from last year to compare. That being said, still a great beer, lovely on the tongue, a crisp stout finish and really not much to complain about (unless you hate stouts). All in this is one of my favorite high gravity stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 17:44:54 | More by twiz1

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

genitempo

Texas

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours ink-black with a tan, mildly lumpy head. Lace retains.

S - Heavy on the milk chocolate and roasted sugars. Subtle booze and prunes on the nose, as well.

T - Very well-rounded IS. Strong and complex pushing bitters and chocolate to the forefront. Alcohol warms the palate.

MF - Medium/Heavy bodied, medium carbonation. Very silky, so it coats the mouth very well.

O - What a great RIS for a beer enthusiast to enter the subclass. I would choose either Old Rasputin or Brooklyn BCS to represent the category (Not as the best, but as a well-rounded representative of what the group has to show). Many thanks to Brooklyn Brewery for offering the RIS in 4-packs, allowing the flavors and scents to evolve over time.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 08:56:28 | More by genitempo

HopHeadRyan

Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A - Small tan head...quickly fades...black with ruby edges.

S - Dark-bitter-cocoa, sweet toasted caramel, and a sweet sherry-like booziness

T - It definitely tastes chocolatey, almost reminds of drinking something like a burnt dark chocolate fudge brownie.

M - Definitely full-bodied with a syrupy tongue coating viscosity...light carbonation...smooth. Would love to try this on nitro or cask...it would be so creamy.

O - This is a great RIS that is perfectly balanced...I'd like to do a vertical of this to see how they mature...but I don't think I could stand to save any.

Really happy I scored a case this year. Delicious!! GET SOME!!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:22:13 | More by HopHeadRyan

ghengisflan

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Among the darkest, most opaque black colored beers around.

Smell: Not much of an aroma. There's an underwhelming hint of cocoa bitterness, but nothing beyond that.

Taste: It lives up to its name; there is plenty of chocolate and plenty of variety in that chocolate taste, along, of course, with lots of roasted flavors.

Mouthfeel: Very rich but not too heavy or thick.

Overall: Probably my favorite chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 19:39:02 | More by ghengisflan

BrownNut

Florida

3.74/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - 3.5 - Black with a moderate tan head

S - 3.75 - Chocolate, but almost subordinate to some kind of baked good, blending into roasty. Also something metallic.

T - 3.75 - Not particularly sweet, surprisingly. Cacao nibs. Ends with something coppery and bittersweet chocolate. I'd like for it to be more complex.

M - 3.75 - Thinner than expected and thinner than it looks when pouring. Short of medium bodied.

O - 3.75 - This is a mature stout in the sense that it doesn't try to be sweet and syrupy and isn't afraid to be bitter in that darkest chocolate sort of way. I think it could actually use a bit more body and silkiness. The thinness combined with the metallic note give me something I don't quite want, which distracts from an otherwise interesting beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 02:23:14 | More by BrownNut

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into snifter. Bottle is one year old.

A - Black as night with a small tan head.

S - Rich milk chocolate, roasted malt, a hint of vanilla, lactose and a touch of booze.

T - Roasted burnt malts blended with delicious dark and sweet milk chocolate. Hints of dark fruit, vanilla and earthy hops, which lend a light bitterness and balance to the beer. Alcohol is slightly evident.

M - Silky smooth and creamy, medium-full body. Warming alcohol.

O - An all around excellent chocolate stout. Very complex and flavorful. This is probably my favorite Brooklyn Brewery offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 21:17:39 | More by mooseo

Beerandboards

New Mexico

3.73/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a standard pint

Appearance is black black black. Tiny crown of tan foam on top. Not sure what else you could ask for.

Smell is a little muted. Mostly dark chocolate, toast, some nutty notes.

Taste, lead is heavy bitter to bitter sweet chocolate. Then it fades into, well, sort of a mess. Not bad by any means but I really can't pick anything out. It's a soup of stout flavors fighting each other. I had no problem drinking it, actually quite easy drinking, but it seemed a bit messy.

Mouthfeel is top notch. Thick, rich, optimal carbonation. This aspect really manage to make up for the messy palate and makes it very easy to drink.

Overall - although it's not really complex stout, it seems that this one would benefit from some age to let the flavors figure themselves out. I liked it, I would even recommend people try it, just didn't love it. I'll revisit this in a year or two.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:55:16 | More by Beerandboards

shanemcp

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Let me first start by saying that I love dark chocolate. Let me also say that I love stouts.

I've had many a stout that claim to taste chocolatey or mocha-ish, but this is by far the most authentic "chocolate" stout I have ever had (dark chocolate to be precise).

I first drank this beer by sampling it from the glass of a friend who, knowing I like a good chocolate stout, offered it to me hesitantly knowing I would be floored after drinking it. And they were right.

It starts out smooth but the rush of flavor doesn't wait long to hit you. The chocolate flavor is perfectly balanced by the bitter taste from the alcohol (enhanced by the high level of alcohol I think) as it simmers on your pallate it gives you just enough time to ask yourself if you just drank the perfect chocolate stout or ate the perfect piece of dark chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 01:36:44 | More by shanemcp

pistola

Ohio

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

Ok the first one I tried was right out of the bottle. I expected a strong tasting stout (which it is) but this beer is much more than that. first sip a bit bitter but with much character. after that, it was love at second pull. I savored each sip really looking for good or not so good. Well, this stout does not disappoint. Rich Chocolate mixed with barley and malt. A serious treat of a stout. Alcohol taste to me was not overbearing at all. Goes down very smooth but beware!! This brew packs a wallop. I had 4 bottles in about 2 hours or so and you will feel it. Have to many and your not going anywhere!! At least not me. A great cold weather brew. At $7.99 a 4 pack, it is well worth it. I wont drink it all the time, but treat myself now and then. I like it!!

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 17:25:47 | More by pistola

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a tulip.

Appearance
Pitch black, motor oil pour. 1-2 fingers of brown head. The retention is pretty impressive for the 10% abv. Extra tight lacing is left on the side of the glass.

Nose
Espresso, fudge, dark chocolate, French vanilla, roasted barley and chocolate truffle.

Taste
Follows the nose without any disappointments. Rich espresso, fudge and dark chocolate. Chocolate truffles, French vanilla and tons of roasted barley. Some lighter notes of dates and overripe plum as well as a the tiniest touch of smoke.

Mouthfeel
Full bodied, silky, oily, sticky and warming.

Overall
Big, rich and supremely decadent Imperial Stout. This still remains one of my favorite Imperial Stouts after many, many years.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 23:58:56 | More by justintcoons

mcintire78

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a: Black, black as darkest night. Very little head or lacing, but the little head there is persists.

s: Slightly burned chocolate?

m: Lighter than I would have expected, but still substantial. A very light carbonation bite on the backend.

t: Delicious. The lack of heavy carbonation lets you enjoy the rich, slightly chocolaty taste.

d: Easy drinking beer for 10%, although too many'll put you under the table. Way under.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 03:13:10 | More by mcintire78

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

KKB

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Looks like syrup as I pour it. Just about as close to being black as you can get without actually getting there. A nice tall...basically brown head. Looks tasty.

S - Delightful smell. Chocolate and coffee, charred malt, a little bit of licorice that could be brought on by the high ABV and thus the alcohol might be coming through in the nose a bit. Overall, very nice though.

T - I read a couple of my more respected reviewers before I set in on this beer, and one said that he thought the alcohol was too noticeable. I actually disagree, I think that the alcohol contributes to the flavor. The flavor is rather robust, even for a RIS. Coffee and chocolate dominate the palate. With chocolate definitely being the most prominent. Not much in the way of complexity, but sometimes simple is what you want. Tastes good brotha.

M - Mouthfeel is spot on, very rich, low carbonation, just the way that mama made it.

O - Overall this is good. I enjoy this and am not at all disappointed. Hooray for the Brooklyn Chocolate stout!

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 05:01:34 | More by KKB