Kelso Chocolate Lager - Greenpoint Beerworks / Kelso of Brooklyn

Richardberg

New Jersey

3.43/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - served on tap at The Gate in Brooklyn. Cola colored, slightly reddish, translucent but not see-thru. Decent head at first but didn't last long.

S - caramel malt, cocoa powder

T - like Coke basically. Not as sweet, has a drier finish, but otherwise not what I'd call a "beer drinker's beer.". Probably a good intro to craft brews though.

M - quite thin for a dark, 6.5% beer. Fizzy when first poured but loses its carbonation too quickly for a lager.

D - very accessible, has some nice qualities, but -- like all schwartzbiers to date -- not really for me

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 04:36:19 | More by Richardberg

TheycallmeTim

New York

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from growler into ommegang chalice.
**NB: This is the bourbon-barrel aged version of this brew. Dunno if they're all like that but figured I should mention it.

A--Half-finger creme foamy head subsides quickly without a trace. Body looks like weak diner coffee: almost black with deep brown in it when held up to the light. Good looking dark lager.

S--What a nose on this thing! It's like hot fudge blended with that syrupy maple char you get from good bourbon in the back. Not much alcoholic bite.

T--Lots going on, and sometimes not in a good way. Up front it's chocolate, but more Hershey's or Cadbury than Belgian dark, which is to say more sugar than spice. Rounds out to a more pleasant sour mash mellowed sweetness and around the corners, both front and back of the taste, peers some malt. Flavors seem more competitive than balanced and enmeshed, and the finish isn't clean enough for such a sock up front.

M--It's way too flat for my taste. Other than that the viscosity's fine.

D--Pretty good, would be better with a crisper finish.

Serving type: growler

09-24-2008 21:02:24 | More by TheycallmeTim

caminiti

New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Purchased at Half Time in Poughkeepsie, put into my 16 oz. growler and almost made it into the Holday Inn before drinking it, so yes, it is drinkable. I did not see how it poured, as it never made it to a glass, but it looked light brown, lightly carbonated, odor of chocolate, interesting that its not in a stout, and mellow in taste, not at all overpowering. Mouthfeel was smooth. Worth trying but probably wouldnt try again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2009 01:40:25 | More by caminiti

brystmar

New York

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

On draft at The Gate in Brooklyn.

Pours a light shade of black (if that's possible) with minimal head and zero lace. Aroma is faint with baker's chocolate and maybe some malts.

Malt-heavy taste with hints of bittersweet chocolate peppered in. I'm used to chocolate imperial stouts so take into account my bias for criticizing its lack of super bold flavor. This is a great intro to the interesting world of beer for your average beer drinker.

Medium-bodied & fizzy in the mouth. Goes down nice and easy. Overall, it's a pleasant drink with wide appeal.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2011 04:14:43 | More by brystmar

metter98

New York

3.75/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: The beer is very dark amber and poured with a thin off white head that quickly faded away.
S: There are subtle aromas of chocolate in the nose.
T: The taste has flavors of dark malts and malty sweetness along with some hints of chocolaty flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate with a light amount of carbonation.
D: The beer goes down very smoothly and is quite sessionable. I could easily drink a couple of these beers in one sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2011 13:41:09 | More by metter98

EPICAC

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Kelso's Chocolate Lager is a clear, garnet brown in color. A thick, light brown head fades to a film. Roasty malts on the nose with a strong chocolate component.

Roasted malts and chocolate sweetness are the predominant characters in the beer. The chocolate starts off sweet, but then melds nicely into the roasted malt flavors in the finish. Medium-bodied and nicely carbonated.

The chocolate is very dominant in the beer, and could perhaps be toned down for the sake of balance, but otherwise delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2009 23:27:07 | More by EPICAC

Billolick

New York

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Under $10 Growler pours are good. This one from DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Pours a nice rich shade of dark maple, under a moderate khaki head, that does not impress retention wise but does suprise with its left behind fine, scattered and copious lace. Nose of lightly roasted malt, and then a becoming more prominant as it warms, chocolate glow. Easy drinking lager, with more then moderate chocolate malt tendencies. Tastes nearly like a goey medium chocolate brownie and thats a good thing. Would likely work well with a chocolate or some other sort of dessert. Enjoyable and well crafted. Worth a try.

Serving type: growler

12-20-2009 13:01:44 | More by Billolick

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep amber hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and little lacing.

The smell featured a soft sweet malt, light chocolate and some smoke.

The taste was upfront sweet with a touch of cocoa, a leafy hop and some metal.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a nice representation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2009 21:03:30 | More by plaid75

cilldalua

New York

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bought a Growler at Whole Foods bowery beer room.

Served in a frosted mug which I thought was appropriate as a lager but probably would not have done in hindsight.

The beer had a very appealing chocolate taste which is not translated to the smell which was more reminiscent of a coca cola.

Pours with a good rich head and a dark color which on closer inspection has a lightness to it that is an homage to it's lager roots. This is followed through by its lager mouthfeel which is lighter than expected based on first impressions.

All in all an interesting beer, very enjoyable but a couple in any one sitting is more than enough.

Serving type: growler

11-01-2009 03:25:56 | More by cilldalua

Biggness

New York

4.33/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This was my first ever offering from Kelso and I had it on tap @ Once & For All. It pours a very dark brown with a 2 fingered white head and lacing. The smell was of toasted malts and a hint of chocolate. The taste was very pleasant of a light chocolate stout, it had nice chocolate flavors, it was light and crisp and it had a nice malt base to it. The mouthfeel was nice and the carbonation level seemed good. A highly drinkable brew, and I certainly look forward to more of Kelso's offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2008 11:14:43 | More by Biggness

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a clear dark brown with ruby hues. Head is thin and tannish but falls to nothing. Nose is nice and coffee toned with chocolate as well. Robust in a way, yes. But not overpowering really. Flavor is smooth. At the end there is a bit of a bitter bite, but before that you get a nice hit of chocolate (surprise!) that fades to an earthy overall character. Not bad really. Feel is smooth on liquid and the carbonation is a bit low, but it all still feels nice. This is a pretty easy drinker and a lot better than I was expecting. I assumed it was going to be more of a mess with the chocolate on the label, but it all meshes together well. Nice and smooth and well worth trying.

Serving type: growler

05-21-2008 06:48:44 | More by RblWthACoz