Chocolate Stout - Fort Collins Brewing

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The roast aroma on this beer is beyond good. It doesn't smell bitter, or astringent, or tannic, but rather just a nice clean roast coffee with just a touch of chocolate.

This beer looks quite good! It is black in color with deep red highlights where the light penetrates it. The head formed as a nice thick mocha-colored whip.

Tasting the beer, I can tell it's well-balanced. The bitterness is assertive, but not overly such. After the bitterness fades, the chocolate comes through in the mid palate and lasts through the end where there is a subtle roast. Quite the opposite of the smell.

Interesting mouthfeel on this one, it's carbonation level is low, and full-bodied.

Overall I would say this beer is better than average, it is quite drinkable with some subtle enjoyable qualities.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 02:46:19 | More by tlazaroff

hopfacebrew

Colorado

3.05/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from 12oz brom bottle to pint glass.

A - A deep dark brown with a tiny 1/4 inch tan colored bubbly head with no retention or lacing. I mean zero lacing.

S - A pretty average weak aroma of chocolate and raosted barley. Not much to report here.

T/M - Similar to the nose I found the flavor lacking and subdued. The beer starts rather thin and slowly develops with a slight chocolate flavor that melds with a mild bitterness and roasted grains. Not a lot of after taste. The beer finishes clean and crisp though leaves you wanting more. It is medium bodied and adequately carbonated. In my opinion the mouthfeel is the beer's best attribute.

D - Drinkable, but average.

Overall this is a pretty average representation of a chocolate stout and left me wanting more roast, more chocolate, more nose, and a different beer.

Note: This review was a re-post from my former account, jmkratt, which was hacked and I lost all my reviews...sorry for the redundancy.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 02-13-2011 21:46:09

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 15:06:31 | More by hopfacebrew

blackcompg

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from their 12oz bottle...

Appearance - Poured nearly 2 fingers of medium brown head, color of the beer is a transparent deep mahogany. I'm getting some fairly decent lacing here, nice.

Smell - Roasted grains with sweet chocolate.

Taste - Hmmm, there are some slight roasted and char flavors, slight black coffee and a touch of chocolate, but all of these flavors are light and watered down.

Mouthfeel - This feels like a light beer, medium+ carb. It nearly has the look of a stout, but the mouthfeel is lacking on this one. There is some slight sweetness at the center and some drying at the finish which is nice, but all seems too muted for a stout. *let the last half warm to room temp, actually added a creaminess to the mouthfeel, raising this to a 3.5.

Overall - I'm a bit dissapointed with this one - there are some decent flavors here, but its all watered down. The light mouthfeel and higher carb accentuate this, cleaning the palate of any flavors that may have tried to linger. Better than a macro, but not by very much.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2012 05:31:14 | More by blackcompg

adkrogue

New York

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Black, mocha head. B+ lacing, really thin head.
S: chocolate malts.
T: Slightly bitter aftertaste. not overly chocolate. Not horrible but really not a lot to say about it.
M: If you care, its a medium body for a stout, not at alltoo heavy.

Mediocre. Sorry FCB. Pains me to say it.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 04:12:01 | More by adkrogue

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-11-16 in Columbia, PA

A - Opaque brown with a 2-finger mocha head that fades to 1-finger quickly with light-moderate lace.

S - Nutty, milk chocolate and light roasted grain. Not very strong.

T - Initially nutty then a darker chocolate and more bitter roast than the smell. Mild earthy spice and hop bitterness. Aftertaste is a touch metallic, then roasted astringent bitterness. Not bad at all.

M - Medium body and carbonation. Smooth, not thick/creamy, fairly bubbly.

O - A pleasant chocolate stout.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 11:33:46 | More by Tucquan

zachary80

Indiana

2.73/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

No visible date on the bottle. Label indicates the chocolate is from chocolate malt; doesn't seem that there is any actual chocolate added.

Pours black with a very minimal beige head. Nice lacing.

Aroma is primarily chocolate, very enticing.

Flavor is weak for a stout. Hardly anything to note.

Mouthfeel on this stout is way too thin. Watery, low carbonation.

Overall a slightly below average beer. Aroma is good but everything else is lacking. Wouldn't recommend

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2012 01:14:58 | More by zachary80

cvm4

Mississippi

3.25/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Black brown with a one finger head that doesn't waste any time disappearing. Thin lacing once drank down some.

S - Chocolate with a malty character to it.

T - Roasted malts with some smokeyness in the front. Afterwards, hints of coffee appears along with a burst of chocolate.

M - On the lighter side of medium. It's not a heavy bodied stout.

O - It's a well balance stout that I'd consider this a session stout. Just a no frills good drink. One that won't fill ya up because it's so heavy but also won't knock you on the ground with a high abv.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 23:56:16 | More by cvm4

mastodonj

Colorado

3.6/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

This was a pleasant surprise altogether.

Solidly dark brown with good lacing.

Chocolate with a smokeyness and oaky flavors.
Backed up with good bitterness and some malt.

The best feature is the full creamy mouthfeel.

Definitely worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 03:13:06 | More by mastodonj

Luigi

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours out almost pitch black with a fluffy two to three finger tan head. The retention is good as it keeps lacing sticking to the glass. As well as, a blanket of foamy/creamy head still the last drop.

The aroma is sure enough semi-sweet chocolate and mild roasted malt up front. I can even pick some leafy bitter hops. The only problem for some people is the aroma is not in your face. I like the balance.

The flavor is full of deep roasted malt, hints of coffee, and of course semi sweet chocolate. There is a bitter hop presence. But, with bitterness of the roasted malt.... they seem balance out well.

This ale is rather lighter bodied than I expected this stout to be. Most chocolate stouts are creamy and thick. This one is medium bodied. Finished dry and mildly bitter. This is a very easy stout to drink and could make a great session beer.

Overall, I would drink this stout again.. and again.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 04:32:51 | More by Luigi

DarthKostrizer

California

3.98/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Look: Black and totally opaque with a 1/2 inch tan head and very good retention that settles a nice collar and some spiderweb lacing

Smell: Cocoa nibs upfront with some sweet vanilla hiding behind the cocoa

Taste: Not at all like the nose. The beer is roasted malt forward with a slight ash note some slight licorice notes mid palate and come coffee picks up the back end

Mouthfeel: Medium body and mild carbonation

Overall: This is a very drinkable and affordable chocolate stout. Definitely recommended and probably my favorite Fort Collins beer

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 04:00:19 | More by DarthKostrizer

iBeer16

New York

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a pint glass

A: pours a very dark black with a 2" chocolatey head that leaves a lot of lacing when it settles.

S: the smell is of very sting chocolate obviously due to style. Furthermore, it has a sweet, roasty malt aroma

T: most strong taste is cocoa, also has a strong roasted flavor. Malls are very sweet and the roast flavor adds to a great overall flavor. The body is not too light but not too heavy.

M: consistency is very smooth flavor, solid and similar throughout. The roasted flavor really wakes up the palate and is very enjoyable.

Overall, I enjoy this beer. I liked the combination of the sweet chocolatey malts and the roasted malts make for a great overall flavor. Easy to drink and full of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 05:39:02 | More by iBeer16

gatorbreath

Fiji

4.1/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle -> pint glass

opaque dark brown pour with a mocha head getting live and leaving a good trace of lacing, milky chocolatey mocha and cocoa notes hitting the nose with the same on the palate, some malty grain offsetting some full bodied chocolate flavor very well carbonated and solid go-to if you dig stouts...actually enjoy it better than the older brother..2x chocolate

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 05:47:45 | More by gatorbreath

Dodo2step

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

P- AOH

From notes:

A- quite black and a brown head that disspiates rather quickly for a stout. Opaque and no light filters through.

S- light chocolate malts and cocoa powder hints.

T- cocoa, coffee and grain. Not bad for a complement.

M- heavy and creamy. not as smooth though as i would like. rough on the palate and down the throat.

O- a decent chocolate stout. an average stout though.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 21:57:40 | More by Dodo2step

Dmart1223

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Gotta be quick about this one.

I've never had a bad experience with this brew, and I'd definitely rate it as "better than average."

Pours almost completely black with a mocha head that fades to nearly nothing. Smells like dark chocolate and malt, which comes out in the taste as well. Well balanced. It has a good mouthfeel, but not as much as I'd like from a stout, especially if it's chocolate. Finishes clean, but leaves roasted coffee and malt flavors hanging around.

This is a warm, tasty beer for sure. For some reason I think it'd go really great with a mocha-esque dessert, like Tiramisou (is that a mocha dessert?) Also, S'mores, for some reason. Maybe it's the toastyness.

Definitely would buy this again. It might be one of my favorite beers from Fort Collins Brewery.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 02:25:22 | More by Dmart1223

logmacschlog15

Iowa

3.33/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle to pint glass.

A: Pours about one finger of tan, toffee colored head. A dark, burnt black. Looks like a stout.

S: Deep notes of cocoa, milk chocolate, and also some really subtle roastier hints. Overall the aroma is on the sweeter side of things.

T: Cocoa dominates the taste, but the roastier side of the grains comes out near the finish. Hints of coffee and tobacco in the finish. Not much for hops, just enough to balance the sweetness and add a slight bitterness to the finish.

M: The mouthfeel is just a tad bit watery/thin right as the beer hits your tounge, but then it smoothes out, becoming richer and creamier in the finish.

O: Overall this is a good example of a straight forward, no frills, chococlate stout. At 5.3% it would make a good session beer if you wanted something dark and sweet.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 02:23:41 | More by logmacschlog15

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I scored a finger of head on an aggressive pour. Head is tan over a black body. In less than two minutes I am left with a ring that clings strongly to the glass.

Dark chocolate and malt are the first and strongest aromas apparent in this brew. Dark fruit does peek its head in when you look for it.

The first flavor is actually a mineral bite, then it transitions into you roasted malt and chocolate.

Carbonation is high on this guy. It bites the tongue upon sipping and helps the mineral taste make the beginning of the sip less pleasant than it could be. Once the bite from this 1-2 punch passes its a lot more drinkable, but it's too thin.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:55:02 | More by CFHMagnet

LeoPanna

New York

3.63/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Beautiful black liquid with a tan head about two fingers thick... medium lacing as the bubbles evenly diminish... this beer is living, the head dissipates with character..

S: Obvious chocolate, more like raw cocoa, pine, roasty malts mixed w alcohol...more complex than it seems at first.. hints of black currant and grape juice.

T. Pure stout at first, then the malts kick in and the "chocolate" flavor emerges. Lingers off with light alcohol bur on the back of the tongue. For 5.3% you can really taste the alcohol, it's not really masked. After a while the chocolate flavor become more of an aftertaste and it turns into a simple but nice stout. All the flavors combine to make a pretty straight-forward chocolate flavored stout.

MF: Nice smooth carbonation... The beer is thinner than I usually like in a stout. I don't mind this, im just spoiled by imperials.

O: Decent chocolate stout. I prefer a stronger one, like the Souther Tier Choklat or Rogue Double Chocolate. Again, there are so many outrageous ones out there that we tend to downplay the simpler ones. This is to the point.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 03:35:37 | More by LeoPanna

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

tone77 has managed to send me down an unexpected dark road on Thanksgiving. He dropped off a mess of bottles on our last trade and I am just getting caught up before his next anticipated trade.

It all got me to thinking about what is referred to as "getting some strange", but if you have not embraced the dark and split the black oak, then you may be unaware of what you are missing. Take a hint from the bottle: "A velvety smooth mouthfeel and impeccable flavor make this stout positively seductive. Subtle hop bitterness evens out the character of roasted barley and chocolate malt in our proven classic." Plus, the Incan (?) doll proffering said beer on the current label? Read you lima charlie, o&o. Black is beautiful and Tan is grand! Gimme!

My bartender buddy, Moe, used to say that I took my coffee like my women - hot & black and the sooner the better. Ah, yes. This beer poured fast and back and gave some serious mocha head before moving on to more important things, like the nose. It smelled like Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate and I was thinking of several special treats that I might like from a chocolate stout. Color was a dense deep-brown, not black, but what actually is solid black other than carbon? Mouthfeel was, indeed, velvety smooth, like Marvin Gaye on the turntable. Let's get it on! The lacing was thick and sticky and I was licking my moustache like the flavor saver it had become. The taste was of liquid dark chocolate, no sweet nonsense here. Man, this was cacao being ladled out by one of Montazuma's girls and I was lapping it up like it was going out of style! Finish left me spent and sleepy. Hey, who's going to clean up that mess?!? The sticky lacing left behind in the glass, I mean. I think that I may be compelled to buy a certain young lady a drink come Sunday. Yo, ya feel me?

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 00:10:06 | More by woodychandler

smibroncos

New York

3.65/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A Poured a dark clear reddish brown with a short lasting light brown head some lacing on the glass.

S. Dark malts, coffee, chocolate

T. Bittersweet eatrhy and sdmokey

M. Medium bodied medium carbonation good duration and well balanced.

O. A good brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 23:15:31 | More by smibroncos

tjkinate

Texas

2.55/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This brew just has no character.

A: 1/2 fingered head with some retention topped this black bodied brew and exhibited some lacing.

S: Water, with some bitter chocolate malts.

T: Same as the smell, but with a metallic aftertaste.

M: Light and thin

O: Not a worthy entry into one of my favorite beer styles.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 22:14:07 | More by tjkinate

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.53/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a creamy dark brown color with a subtle tan head. smells bitter like raw unrefined dark chocolate and even some bittering hops (unusual for the style?) taste is more dark malts than chocolate, not sweet in any way. like semisweet chocolate chips in the finish, slightly thin in the body for what i look for in a stout, but one of the better fort collins brews i have tried. very drinkable and has some potentially exciting cullinary applications. worthy of a try if you can get your hands on it, but dont expect a chocolate knockout. this is a sessionable dry type stout with just a touch of the cocoa.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 02:47:25 | More by StonedTrippin

denver10

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Dark brown in color with a bit of a head.

S: Malts prevail with a little chocolate to it. To me, it smelt like a chocolate oatmeal stout. I liked the smell it just wasn't as pronounced as it could have been.

T: Taste matched the nose to a T. Having now read some of the reviews for this next time I try this I will definitely let it warm just a tad in hopes of getting more of the chocolate flavor out of it.

M: Definitely too thin. I don't need a super thick mouth feel from every stout I drink but if you are going for a creamy, velvety texture (as this beer claims to be) the body needs to be of at least a certain fullness, imo, and this one wasn't.

O: A decent beer that I did enjoy, will be happy to have again, but not anything to write home about.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 14:08:14 | More by denver10

Valmor88

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev +24.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Dark brown color with a light brown head. Very little lacing.

S: Roasted malts and coffee/chocolate. Very pleasing.

T: Coffee and dark chocolate with roasted malts. Very expected flavor. As it warms, more sweetness comes out in the flavor, in addition to some fruity citrus tones.

M: Medium body, much lighter than I'd like for the style. Light carbonation. Very creamy texture, especially once warmed.

O: An enjoyable stout. It's not the best, and it's not the most memorable, but I still really enjoyed it. So I can't complain.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 18:57:46 | More by Valmor88

Rhynes2

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured out into a pint glass and was surprised not to see much of a head considering the style. it also didn't have much of an aroma to it. The aroma i did get was like sticking my nose in a fresh bag of toasted malt. Caramel flavor and a hint of dark chocolate are the flavor notes i get from this one. Hops are well balance and stay in the background to provide just a touch of bitterness. I like this beer and might have to pick it up again very soon.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 22:12:00 | More by Rhynes2

Coplains

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Picked up with a pick your own six pack. Poured from bottle into a pint glass. Pours inky black with little head. Notes of roasted malt with little in way of chocolate. A good American stout but not one that I would seek out, there are a lot of other stouts out there that I like better.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 21:28:10 | More by Coplains