Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

HattedClassic

Virginia

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance:
The beer is a pitch black color with a dark tan head. Leaves a lot of lacing.

Smell:
A hoppy smell with roasted malts and hints of sweet dark chocolate.

Taste:
Bitter and roasted. The main flavors seem to be dark chocolate and heavily roasted malts with a strong hop flavor. A slight alcohol taste is also there.

Mouthfeel:
Heavy bodied with very light (almost none) carbonation.

Overall:
A pretty decent imperial stout and worth drinking at least once year.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2013 03:15:53 | More by HattedClassic

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

brewtus

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours dark black duh, with a great dark beige head. Smell is milky, some chocolate, hops, leaves a little to be desired on the nose . Tastes hoppier than I expected, a little dark coffee flavor, nice lactic chocolate taste that isn't too sweet. It's very smooth and leaves a delicious chocolate aftertaste in your mouth, great after dinner beer

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 02:16:35 | More by brewtus

BGDrock

Ontario (Canada)

3.49/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pitch black, even held up to the light; minimal, mocha head disappears quickly

Aroma: anise; espresso oils; dark chocolate; acidic; motor oil

Taste & Mouthfeel: coffee, roasted malt chocolate, but wouldn't say it's the dominant flavour; creamy, slightly oily texture, silken - at least partially due to light carbonation; getting more chocolate in the lingering finish, and some mild hops provide balance; burnt malt; alcohol is well hidden; the bitter roast flavour often present in this type (particularly in finish) is minimal here, instead the roast coffee and chocolate stays rich and full

Overall: maybe this was over-hyped, or it needs some aging, because it's not blowing my mind - given the name I was expecting huge chocolate flavours and it didn't deliver; still a well made beer, could be good for a stew

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 22:41:47 | More by BGDrock

sleuthdog

Illinois

3.79/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Vintage 2010-2011 poured into Bruery tulip

Pour: Poured the color of dark, dark chocolate not allowing any light penetration at all with a scant half finger khaki color head. The head dissipated into nothing but a small ring. This beer appears so still and silent. Even swirling and agitating it really does not create any head.

Smell: Roasted malts, bittersweet chocolate, slight coffee, and some alcohol.

Taste: An over abundance of bittersweet chocolate malts dominate with a bit of char. Fairly sweet for a RIS and interestingly a bitter snap at the back end of the swallow. The bitterness actually does linger after the swallow a little. Alcohol is hidden very well.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. I think I'd want this by the appearance and taste to be more chewy but that's not what you get here. It does work ok but actually I find myself drinking it a little too quickly due to the thin feel.

Overall: A nice RIS with a good balance of roast but the chocolate taste balances this out well making it seem somewhat sweet too.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 02:29:04 | More by sleuthdog

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours black with light tan head in snifter.

Smell is heavy with chocolate. Light alcohol presence. Toasted malts.

Taste follows smell with lots of toasted malt and chocolate. Very light bitter finish and very well balanced.

Mouthfeel is oily and full bodied.

Overall excellent!

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:31:49 | More by TrappistJohnMD

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.01/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Much more carbonated than I like this stout poured a bubbly thin brown head. Deep black coloring the bubbles rose quickly through the darkness and burst loudly at the top.

The scent is subtle but has nice variation. Touch of vanilla and coconut, like many barrel aged stouts, there's evident chocolate malts and a touch of graham cracker.

The taste is of strong roasted malts, slightly burnt. There's a sweet vanilla middle that is fleeting and a hint of tinny alcohol at the end.

The mouthfeel is slightly thick and viscus, with a carbonated finish. This lends to my overall feelings in that I really enjoyed it but found the immense carbonation off-putting. I allowed it to "air out" like a wine and it behaved much better. Very strange.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 01:03:37 | More by KYGunner

KFBR392

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Appearance: Very dark but not as dark as other RIS I've had. A very delicious looking creamy head.

Smell: I little light here. I realize there shouldn't be a ton of aroma here but the subtle undertones were not there like I'd hoped. A little bit of the chocolate is here but overall not great

Taste: There are a few different things going on here but nothing is outstanding. A sweet licorice front lets the creamy aftertaste linger on the palette. The hop dryness comes in at the end and hangs around. The chocolate plays a role but is mainly undetectable. Not a traditional RIS

Mouthfeel: A creamy mouthfeel is here. The alcohol is hidden and the hop dryness is pleasant.

Overall: Decent. A lot of other RIS I would go with before this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2013 06:00:09 | More by KFBR392

joeseppy

Illinois

4.14/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a true RIS.

Aromatics of heavy malt, baking chocolate and burnt sugar. As it warms, some alcohol rising.

Roasted malt flavor and soft bitter cocoa. Some dark fruit especially prune. Some smoke.

Has a dry wooden finish and the bitterness lingers. Not so much sweet as it is roasted.

No chocolate cake batter here or any creaminess, but pretty hot. Will put a few in the cellar. This however paired fantastically with aged gorgonzola and fig jam.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 05:13:41 | More by joeseppy

AnotherImperial

Arizona

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

In my opinion, this is as good as it gets for a "standard" RIS. The chocolate flavor is excellent and very prevalent. I also think this is the best value beer on the market - delicious, 10% ABV in 12 ounce bottles, extremely well-priced and easily obtainable.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 23:35:35 | More by AnotherImperial

portia99

Massachusetts

4.06/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle (Winter 12-13 vintage) poured into a Brooklyn snifter. Had this so many times...can't believe I haven't reviewed this yet.

A - Pours an opaque black color with dark, molasses brown highlights around the edges. A short cap of somewhat fizzy head lingers briefly and dies to a small mocha collar...lacing is sparse around the edge of the glass.

S - Roasty, coffee, a bit boozy, some dark fruits, bakers chocolate and cocoa. The cocoa and dark fruits are the biggest contributors in the aroma here.

T - Quite roasty in character. Tons of black coffee and burnt grains. Some astringency and charcoal and dark fruits. Bitter chocolate and cocoa.

M - Full bodied. Lots of char and a fair amount of astringency. Chocolate is very much part of the profile, but I wouldn't call it the dominant feature. Carbonation is mid-level and a touch tingly. Dry cocoa powder feel in the body comes thru more as the beer warms up a bit.

O - Very good imperial stout...a classic for sure. I've had so many outstanding imperial stouts lately that this doesn't stand out from the crowd that much. Still very good, but perhaps "showing its age" as its been around a while and some of the other IRS's out there seem to appeal a bit more to me. I would never complain about having this, and would gladly have another - just doesn't stand out from the crowd anymore - at least to me.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 01:23:26 | More by portia99

Craigory

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Winter 2012-2013 release, poured from a 12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip glass.

A-- Pours thick and black, with a one-finger mocha head. The head recedes pretty quickly, leaving a thin ring on top of the beer. There's just a wee bit of spotty lacing. Standard appearance for an RIS.

S-- Lots of bittersweet chocolate on the nose, along with some burnt malt and a little alcohol. Pretty sweet-smelling, overall.

T-- Typical roasted malt and slight alcohol astringency that you get with many RIS offerings, but with a good bit of chocolate to boot. Brooklyn does not, I believe, use any actual chocolate sources or flavorings; all the chocolate flavor is coming from the malts. A little bitterness lingers on the tongue when each sip is done.

M-- Medium bodied, moderate carbonation; with a beer this black and chocolate-y, I'd appreciate something a bit more thick and chewy. Still, it feels (as well as tastes) good.

O-- Not the best RIS out there, by far, but a nice winter seasonal. Amongst all the other stouts flooding the market this time of year (a good thing!), Brooklyn Black Chocolate does stand out by getting so much chocolate flavor out of the malts. It's also a great value, and pretty easy to get a hold of in my area.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 23:06:58 | More by Craigory

dgilks

Australia

3.68/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very dark brown that verges on being opaque. Nice big, tan head with fair head retention.

Big alcoholic stout here. Lots of roast and some nice dry cocoa. Interesting.

Lots of malt. A little sweet. Some roast. Plenty of bitter chocolate and coffee. A touch earthy. Alcohol.

Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. Nice.

A solid stout. The chocolate flavours are good but the alcohol is a bit high and doesn't do it for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2013 10:21:28 | More by dgilks

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Into a nonic:

A: pitch black colored body, a one finger foamy yet level dark tan head appeared and lasted for a good two minutes before dieing into the body, some nice foamy and clingy lacing appeared in rings.

S: dark chocolate up front coming forth in a roasty sort of way. Some coffee notes presented themselves as the beer warmed.

T: sweet and bitter in different aspects at different times as the chocolate comes and goes and the coffee comes and goes

M: medium with a nice smoothness coating the mouth and tongue. I'd say the drinkability isn't that high, but hey for a RIS, this should be more of a sipper anyways as it shows with a fairly high ABV.

O: this was a nice winter sipper, too bad I don't have anymore.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 04:11:25 | More by kangarooAdam59

barczar

Kentucky

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

12-13 vintage.

Aggressive pour yields an opaque black with garnet highlights and a dense 2" cappuccino head that dissipates very slowly, leaving sticky lacing.

Dark fruits...bruised cherry, plum, and raisin begin the aroma, with alcohol, chocolate, roast malt, chocolate, and toasted nuts adding to the profile. Coffee notes emerge.

Chocolate erupts on the palate, accompanied by dark fruits at the base, and ending slightly roasty and a touch dry. Dark cherry, dates, and figs are fairly pronounced, with light notes of coffee balancing.

Body is thick, almost syrupy, with low carbonation. There's significant alcohol warmth.

Much more dark fruit than I recall. Good, complex flavor profile. A touch hot, but will age well.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 21:58:31 | More by barczar

KingSlayer

Mexico

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: pours jet black full bodied liquid, light wont go trough, thick beige/tan brownish foam with lots of lacing, mild carbonation. permanent foam ring as beer is drank. requieres aggresive pouring.

S: wonderful bouquet, intense roasted sweet malts, coffee, dark chocolate, toffee, dark burnt caramel, cookie dough. cant wait to taste it.

T: same as nose, wonderful taste, sweet, little bit salty end, bitternes is present but well rounded. mild bitter prolonged aftertaste.

M: full body, dense liquid, mild but adequate carbonation, silky, almost like chocolate milk.

O: delicious thick, silky, meal-like beer, excellent chocolate, caramel, coffee palate, 10% alcohol per volume, but masks it perfectly, can sip this all day in a cold winter, excellent brew.
one of my favourite stouts.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 06:55:04 | More by KingSlayer

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

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

Presentation: My first crack at this! Picked it up a couple of years ago (the bottle says "Winter 10-11") in Chicagoland. Classy, clean label, with nice info about the beer on a 12oz brown pop top. Into my Hennepin stemmed goblet.

Appearance: Pitch black, with a touch of ruby highlights in the bottom of the glass when held up to the light. Nice big tan head that shows good retention.

Smell: Lots of chocolatey fudge up front, with a bit of fruity booze. Really pleasant, but surprisingly no real roast; only detractor here is a lack of complexity.

Taste: Largely lacking the deep chocolately notes present in the aromas. Dark, fruity booze (hints of cherries). Dry roast (black malt?) on the finish . Some alcoholic heat, but not particularly hot. A nice imperial stout, though I'd lack a bit more richness and depth of flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full, but not quite what I'd expect for a big RIS.

Overall: For between $9-10 a 4-pack, this isn't a bad RIS. The aromas are nice, as are the flavors, though both could use a bit more depth and definition. Still, a nice, traditional English-style (not as hoppy or overly roasty, and with dark fruity alcohol) RIS. I was just expecting a bit more from such a talked-about and highly-rated beer.

85 = B

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 01:03:29 | More by BedetheVenerable

jmaharaj

Maryland

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

I'm drinking from a bottle that had been in the cellar for one year.
Really do love this beer. It pours pitch black with a foamy brown head that quickly recedes to an elegant lacing. Big dry fuit notes on the nose, cherry in particular. Bitter chocolate in the back. Tastes like a dessert. A rich dark chocoalte with a cherry filling. Not overly long, but well layered. It ends with some surprisingly smoky roast notes, which taste a little out of place but keep the beer from becoming to cloying. Mouthfeel is decently thick and the beer initially stings the tongue, it is 10% after all. Strangely I prefer this beer fresh when its a little less sappy, but even now, a year later its fantastic.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 22:40:44 | More by jmaharaj

nUgZ

North Carolina

4.6/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a snifter.

A: Pours a black color with a slight head and some lacing.

S: Dark chocolate, roasted malts, and espresso. Very inviting.

T: Just like the nose, the flavors are exceptional. The chocolate is subdued, which I very much like. Some chocolate stouts these days just have too much chocolate flavor. Alcohol is not evident in the least.

M: Medium bodied with good carbonation. Easy to drink.

O: I am very pleased with this beer. It's one that could get you in trouble though...easy to drink and no alcohol detectable.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 23:34:36 | More by nUgZ

gcamparone

Rhode Island

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a snifter. Purchase in Wakefield, ri.

A-Pours an opaque black body with a 2" mocha head that reduces fairly quickly but leves some uneven lacing

S- I get an interesting whisky note almost like a bourbon aged beer, with some burnt bread and milk chocolate. Unique

T- starts off with a big milk chocolate flavor, ends very roasty and flavorful. The toasted malt stands out on the finish. Zero alcohol

M- medium body, low carbonation . Silky and smooth.

What an awesome brew. Excellent flavor, the chocolate was not overdone. The roasty character of any good stout stands out while complimenting the subtle chocolate notes. Super smooth and drinkable, and best of all it's decently priced. A must try.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 03:21:22 | More by gcamparone

CFHMagnet

Ohio

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

Thanks goes out to Diddy for the generous gift of four of these.

Upending the bottle rewards me with just under a finger of dark chocolate looking head. Body is the deepest brown, nearing black, but a little light can be seen attempting to pass through on the edges. Leaves a bit of thin lacing.

Aroma is dark chocolate, heavy roasted malt, and a hint of dark fruit.

To get the full flavor, this beer must be allowed to warm a bit. Dark chocolate is the first flavor. This intermingles with dark fruit for a few seconds, than this phases out, allowing the chocolate flavor to take stage again, then plays off the heavy alcohol taste on the end.

Mouthfeel is surprisingly only medium. Carbonation bites the tongue lightly at the beginning. Beer coats the tongue, especially the back.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 02:28:39 | More by CFHMagnet

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

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

Three finger hot chocolate head, creamy, thick sticky lacing, big retention - scent is choclate, floral hops, some dark fruit, taste follows the nose with some fresh dark bread, hint of coffee - full bodied, smoooth, some bitterness, sweet but not cloyingly so, plenty boozy heat - top notch chocolate RIS

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 03:51:07 | More by Stocean1

blackcompg

Illinois

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

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - pours 2 fingers of medium brown foam, body is a nearly opaque black with dark mahogany edges, settles to a firm cap with nice lacing.

Smell - Roasted malts, dark chocolate, slight licorice and whiff of coffee grounds.

Taste - Much like the nose, begins roasted malts, under-ripe dark fruits, plumskins, slight black licorice, black coffee, finishes with roasted coffee grounds, sour dark fruit skins and roasted rye bread crusts, and semi-sweet dark chocolate. Good complexity and balance, slight alcohol presence in the finish.

Mouthfeel - ALmost medium, seems light for a 10% RIS, medium carb, pretty smooth but not quite mouthcoating - flavors are substantial enough to linger long into the finish. Finishes with slight astringency and a touch dry. Good complexity and balance

Overall - This is a pretty good RIS, but I've had much better. HOWEVER, the price point on this actually makes this beer a great value - I would give it a 5 for value. Definitely give this one a try, but is a bit lighter than what I prefer in this style, and imho chocolate plays a very minor role, I would call this one Black Imperial Stout ;o)

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 05:16:32 | More by blackcompg

C20Percent

Virginia

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

A: Pours a super dark brown with a nice fluffy dark tan head. Very clean body. No bubbles. Some complexity in the colors of the head. And, pretty good preliminary lacing.

S: Nice roasty, toasty chocolatetyness --also some hops coming through. More than I smell in most stouts. Nothing too special, but nice -- test will be in the taste.

T: Some crazy roasted malts / toasted grain flavor in the finish. Slighty bitter too. Definitely taste like tobacco. Hoppy. I'm not getting as much chocolate as I had hoped. Not bad or anything, but I don't think it is what it says. I really gotta look hard for the chocolate.

M: Nice carbonation. I'd say a medium body. Creamy and smooth -- more creamy. Little bit of chewiness. Good, but nothing that screams great.

O: I highly doubt this is an infected bottle, but this is called a Black Chocolate Stout and it should be called Black Tobacco Stout. Honestly, this needs more chocolate. I thought I detected it in the smell, but I knew the taste will tell the whole story, and the end wasn't great. I'll have to try it again next year.

**Note -- could be dark chocolate and not tobacco flavor, but definitely putting me off.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 01:11:09 | More by C20Percent

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