Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout - Brooklyn Brewery

avylover

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

One look at this brew is enough to get you drooling. Pours solid black with a huge deep tan/red (yes, red) head. Smells of burnt coffee & floral hops. The taste is alcohol & chocolate, with some bitter hops in the aftertaste...mmmmmm...but the chocolate is definitely there.Not quite as thick as it looks but still pretty thick. Great brew!!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2003 16:26:25 | More by avylover

beerluvr

New Jersey

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

'02-'03: Poured with a deep mocha colored head atop opaque black liquid. Nose is dark fruits, roasted barley...rich and deep. Taste is powerfully malty and roasty, roasty, roasty! Espresso-like tones mingle with notes of alcohol and a healthy hopping that almost balances things out. Finishes long and bittersweet and powerfully tasty...not as good as last years' rendition, but still a bold Imperial Stout.

'01-'02: This beauty pours black as can be. The tan head settles into a fine bubbled lace. Nose is heavily roasted malts, chocolate (true to it's name), and slight yeast fruitiness. First taste is a bit tangy followed by more roasted malt, alcohol, bittersweet chocolate, fruitiness and a long dry finish. Hops are there, but I think the malt profile elbows it's way to the front. This beer is amazing..due to it's ever-changing, long-lasting finish. an American classic! Others may not agree, but IMHO this is the best vintage to date.
--
'00-'01: Oh man, put on the seat belt for this one! It's one helluva roasty, toasty, hoppy, strong roller-coaster ride. Black as night, strong as hell! A man's beer for sure! Coronas' drinker's worst nightmare!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2003 21:40:24 | More by beerluvr

JISurfer

South Carolina

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

This is the best Imperial Stout I've ever had. It's appearance is stupendous. Dark black, with a dark red head, that was huge, but after a while it died down. It has a little of a alcohol after taste, but it's hardly noticeable with the chocolatey taste. It's soooo smooth! I couldn't believe how it just ran down my tounge and coated my throat. The fact that it's pretty darn cheap helps too!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2003 16:37:43 | More by JISurfer

jward

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewing the 01-02 edition, which has been sitting for about ten months. I believe that this beer is better now than it was in early March when the six-pack was purchased.

Black with a dark tan, mocha-colored head that is decorated with an array of swirling browns and peppered with differently sized bubbles. A beautiful beer. The aroma suggests sweet molasses and raisin, with only a hint of chocolate. Alcohol is also present in the nose. The initial flavor displays roasted malt, with what I would describe as dark, even burnt, coffee. The chocolate flavors are at first rather faint, but more noticeable as the beer warms, especially at the back of the palate and in the nasal passages. At no point, however, would I describe this glass of beer as especially chocolately. There is a slight sourness at the finish.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2003 16:28:11 | More by jward

Admiraldinty

Massachusetts

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

Inky black with a dark tan head. I found this far tastier than the Luxury Double Chocolate Stought (probably because the Brooklyn is an imperial stout while the latter is not). The chocolate was also far more apparent in this beer. Of course other flavors were present: coffee, etc. The mouthfeel was not quite as good as the Young's, although it was certainly quite good. This is definitely a beer that must be respected, and too much of it at once is not a good idea.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2003 13:47:14 | More by Admiraldinty

Wildman

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer fooled me with it's name. I didn't know it was one of my beloved Imperial Stouts I hadn't tried. Well, it poured like a Guiness, black as night and a rolling foaming dark tan head that left circular lace as it subsided. An aroma of burnt malt, coffee and chocolate, which seems to be the most powerful aspect. Might account for the name. The flavor was of malt, coffee and chocolate. It had a medium body and a bit of sourness to the finish. This is one that may do better with some cellaring. A good imperial, but not up there with Expedition or Stone.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2003 20:00:09 | More by Wildman

goz

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Jet black pour, with small hot chocolate looking head. Aroma had roasted malt and an alcohol kick to it. Taste was initially roasted coffe, bitter chocolate - quickly turning to a tongue coating dark chocolate sweetness that lasts and lasts and lasts. Although the alcohol is in the aroma it sneaks up on you in the brew.
My second tasting of this wasn't quite as enjoyable as the first. The aroma was more astringent, and the alcohol aroma and feel in the mouth was much stronger and less pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2003 11:00:21 | More by goz

francisweizen

Australia

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

2002-2003: An Excellent Russian Imperial Stout! This beer pours a thick, motor-oil black into my stout chalice. This smells of chocolate, malts, and smoke and roasted barley. This tastes chocolaty, boozy, and narcotic...absolutely wonderful. This has a very thick and rich mouthfeel, and I feel that this beer should be drabk at 50degrees or so to fully experience this luscious mouthfeel. This beer also has a nice good drinkability, and it is a classic of this style IMO.

2000-2001: This aged version of the BBCS poured a dark black colour with a gigantic dark brown head. The aromas were of ALCOHOL, CHOCOLATE, roasted malts, and hops. The taste was a wonderful mix of booze and chocolate. This stout had a very roasted flavor and the mouthfeel was exceptionally creamy, full and excellent. The drinkability? Excellent as well. This brew ages very well!

2003-2004: Not as strong as previous years offerings. A light chocolate aroma with a bit of booze, and some hops. The taste is of chocolate, cocoa, caramel, and booze. The mouthfeel is thick, and the drinkability is nice. Stick with the 02-03 if you an still get some....

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2003 07:24:23 | More by francisweizen

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer poured into the glass black, no light penetrated the glass. Well carbonated and had to wait a few minutes until the head settled to the top. The head was a thick creamy dark beige brown color and lasted quite a long time. The aroma was of chocolate, chocolate, coffee, raisins, alcohol and some roasted chocolate. The taste was nice and creamy. Flavors of chocolate and coffee seemed to dance together throughout the mouthful, but I did notice that chocolate seemed to lead. I also noticed that during the ballet in my mouth the raisins and alcohol would try to cut in on the other two dancing and seemed to get in a step or two, first raisins, then alcohol, then raisins again before the other would ask for there partner back. At the end alcohol seemed to get the last dance with the chocolate. I personally loved this limited edition 02-03 beer. I am on the hunt for a few more to keep and cellar can I can imagine that this beer can only get better with time.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2003 07:18:50 | More by Jarod

TXHops

Texas

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

From www.brooklynbrewery.com:
"Malts: two-row English Malt, Wheat Malt, Chocolate Malt, Black Malt, Black Barley, Roasted Barley
Hops: East Kent Goldings, Cascade, Willamette
Alcohol: 8.5% by volume
Original Gravity: 21.7 degrees Plato; 1087
Bitterness: 70 IBUs"

The best Imperial I've had to date. After I've tried a few more that I can't currently get my hands on (like Stone), I'll revisit this review and make sure I didn't get overwhelmed. For a full account of my opinions of the beer, check out my article on the mini-Imperial Stout Challenge...

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2003 21:16:19 | More by TXHops

inebrius

Michigan

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

Bittersweet chocolate, ripened pears and alcohol nose. A draught flows soft and roasted to finish slightly astringent in an envelope of warm fuzz. Shady and sleek, but a little jagged on the edges. An ample brew I wouldn't pass on, but probably not one I'd keep a huge stock of either.

Gracias Frank!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2003 18:24:58 | More by inebrius

ElGuapo

New Jersey

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

boy oh boy is this black. dark as midnight with a good brown foam atop this one. lots of hops in the aroma to accompany the chocolate, dark malts, and coffee.

very rich and smooth with very little carbonation, this is just great to drink. there is not a lot of chocolate in the flavor, but there is a great presence of hops that makes it very interesting. coffee and burnt malts dominate the flavor. this is one fine stout.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2002 07:03:28 | More by ElGuapo

kelticblood

Massachusetts

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

Well first off let me wait until this giant head 3 inch chocolate colored head dies down a bit before I taste it.Let me talk about the pour while I'm waiting.If I had a regular pint glass instead of 20oz it would of spilled all over the place.It looked and sounding like motor oil being poured.Looked similar to chocolate milk and then turned black as night.I've waited 6 minutes and the head has just died down to about an inch so I can taste it.Whheeew thats strong..Its creamy and smooth like drinking pure butter.The head looks like ice cream floating in a milk shake.It tastes strong of coffee and the darkest richest chocolate there is.This is the winter 02-03 edition..Extremely malty and thick..Left a brown lace all the way up my glass.Has a bite on the finish of alcohol.The strongest stout I've ever had! Has kind of a Sam Adams triple bock smell and taste.Very syrupy with almost a wine style taste and extremely high in alcohol.This is not a beer you can drink all night.One of these and you'll be ready to switch.Save for aging or special occasions.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2002 20:08:50 | More by kelticblood

comat0se

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

'02-'03 Edition
You open this bottle up and you pour out a thick, pitch black liquid, and you wonder if you are going to be consuming used motor oil. The cascade of tan bubbles (ala Guinness) lets you know that you have a treat ahead of you. A substantial head builds up, creamy on top, course underneath. It'll eventually die down to a quarter inch leaving rememberances of lace along the glass. The aroma is one of my favorite parts of this beer. Chocolately, fruity, winey, with some alcohol presence... makes you just want to take a taste. Initially thin feeling, this beer thickens and becomes creamy as it moves to the back of your mouth. Sweet, dark fruits, and rich dark chocolate bathe the mouth, followed by a roasted grain and wisps of alcohol finish as you swallow. Simply an amazing beer. What would this beer be like in a year?

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2002 23:29:45 | More by comat0se

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

'98-'99 bottling, sampled 11.15.04 (ratings reflect this)
OK...this is so much better than the fresh sampled I've had. Oily, thick, viscous black liquid. 1/4in tan head retains for just a moment. Dark chocolate in the nose, along with a nice dark fruit aroma - plum & grape - that doesn't seem as noticeable in fresher samples. Hops and alcohol detectable as well.

The mouthfeel in this 6 year old beer is exceptional. Still subtle carbonation but wonderfully full and rich. This really has aged quite well. Maple syrup notes compliment the mild chocolate and dark fruits. Finishes sweeter than I'm used to - an enjoyable milk chocolate candy-like sweetness that subsides into alcohol warmth.

Excellent @ 6 years old. Thanks to yen157 for this...glad I waited another year after receiving it. Superb stuff.


'02-'03 bottling, sampled 12.22.03 - Not so chocolatey as it is hoppy! One of the blackest, if not the blackest beers I have ever poured, with a nice brown head atop. Aroma has some hops and coffee, with a bit of the dark chocolate.

Has a very hoppy flavor which is quite enjoyable, and a mild chocolate flavor follows with a bit of alcohol as well. This is an excellent stout!

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2002 19:10:57 | More by IrishRedRock

doerickson

Virginia

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

Pours a syrupy onyx with a thick, coarse-bubbled brown head. Aromas of rich ripe fruit and mocha sweetness. Light carbonation, and a sort of chewy mouthfeel. Tangy on the tongue to start, then you get a wave of baker's chocolate and roasted coffee flavors, with some caramel malty sweetness. Pleasantly astringent and raw, without being too harsh. More roasted flavors punctuate a medium-length finish. A heck of a winter seasonal--warms you right up.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2002 19:31:02 | More by doerickson

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Winter 03-04 update.. the scores don't change still solid and comforting. A little more nose with a slightly sweeter carmel backbone. The rest remains the same. One of the best beers for the $ I have ever found... a steal at $25.99 a case.


Slight smell of roast cocoa and hops along with a slight tingle of ABV in the sinus. Big black opeque brew with a thick lasting creamy brown head. This head is sticky and lasting. Big expresso, bitter chocolate, and bitter hops taste. Big, full, smooth mouth with a dry finish. Complex bold taste in layers on the tongue. If you have not noticed in this review the key term here is BIG. It almost overwhelmes but does not. Great tasting, great looking, great beer! I will cellar one if these Winter 02-03...

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2002 13:34:21 | More by frank4sail

Mick

New Jersey

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

Black as midnight fluid that pours a head that laces spiderweb patterns from top to bottom. Cocoa aroma fills the nose. Big chocolate taste accompanied by a thick malt presence carry nicely through the hot alcohol flavor.

Thick body and great presentation, overall, helps you to remember why you look forward to winters. A great finish that leaves the right combination of alcohol and chocolate flavor trickling to the back of your tongue.

A memorable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2002 10:51:02 | More by Mick

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

OatmattStout

Connecticut

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

The head was great and the smell let you know exactly what you were getting. This beer was full bodied with chocolate espresso flavors and ripe prunes. The hop component was evident but lingered briefly as the maltyness took over as it should. The mouth feel was thick and silky and you could feel the 8.5% ABV on your touge after each sip. The flavors were not subtle and hung around nicely long after each sip.

This beer was great and will buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2002 14:21:54 | More by OatmattStout

Dogbrick

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted at the Barrelhouse Brewing Company Microbrew Fest on November 9. One of the top 5 beers I tried at the festival. Pours how you would expect liquid dark chocolate to pour. Surprisingly lively tongue with chocolate (duh), clover and well-masked alcohol flavor. This is great stuff!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2002 09:58:50 | More by Dogbrick

RBorsato

Virginia

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

Jet Black ! As black as black can be with a dark brown chocolate head that persists with decent lace. Fruity strong aroma with lots of different characteristics: Roasty, chocolately, alcohol. Burnt malt character with big chocolate/cocoa flavor. Very chocolately considering there is none added. Rich and roasty with a bittersweet chocolate finish. Very full bodied with noticeable alcohol presence.

Note: I did a linear tasting of 4 years (98-99, 99-00, 00-01, and 01-02). I found that the beer is best between 2-3 years old and the alcohol presence mellows as it gets older.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2002 08:30:22 | More by RBorsato

Lupe

New York

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

Pours an ink black color, deep coffee colored head, and lots of lace that clings to the glass. Rich malt aroma with chocolate and espresso. Full bodied with creamy mouthfeel--this is a big stout. Starts malt sweet with chocolate, cocoa, perhaps bitter sweet chocolate is a better description, and umm..chocolate. The middle is full, creamy, rich, thick, and hearty. Finishes dry, spicy and has some notes of espresso. The bitterness in this brew comes from the roasted malt, hop presence is not noticeable. Alcohol makes itself known as it warms you on the way down. Pretty damn drinkable for such a big and potent beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2002 17:55:46 | More by Lupe

boblinneman

Pennsylvania

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

Pours very thick, dark black with a brown creamy head. Smells and taste of rich roasted malt with hints of cocoa and coffee. If this brew contained a stronger hop presence it would rival Storm King.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2002 15:46:31 | More by boblinneman

Kwak

New Jersey

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

Verry good chocolate stout.
Nice head good taste.
Exccelent body good color nice and thick.
Taste was very chocolate deep darkand filling.
After taste was all mocha.
Cremy and warming.

Serving type: on-tap

11-06-2002 08:27:05 | More by Kwak