In a nutshell, I was very surprised at how good this was. My goodness, so much chocolate flavor there was almost no room for bitter hops! Anyone know if this is a new year round beer for them, or a limited release? Anyone else try it?
It made my personal 5 best new beers of 2012. Tried one, went out and bought a case. The flavors really open up if served near room temp.
Good stuff. Would assume that this would now join the fruit beers in the organic series. Best low ABV choc beer there is in my opinion. Only 5% ABV.
Been known to enjoy the occasional Samuel Smith Beer (Taddy Porter, Oatmeal Stout), but this was to much chocolate for me, go through about half and then down the drain it went.
I enjoyed this beer, but did find the chocolate a little artificial. Didnt measure up to their Oatmeal Stout or Imperial Stout, IMO.
I only had a 3 or 4 oz pour of it but I actually had a tough time drinking all of it. While it wasn't as bad and it's been a while since I've had it but something about it reminded me of SA Chocolate Bock, not a pleasant reminder.
It will be year round, but I think it has been doing much better than anyone thought, so (depending on your area) it will be in short supply for awhile.
We've had shortages as well. I'll echo the statements of cloying, artificial, and way too heavy handed. Interesting for a sip or two but I couldn't see actually drinking it.
I was really impressed with this beer as well. We had it at Beervana here in RI a couple of months back. I thought it stole the show (and that's saying a TON considering the stuff we had that night). I was amazed that there are no artificial ingredients in that beer. It is SO chocolatey. Loved the beer.
Tastes like alcoholic YooHoo, and like Young's DC. While I enjoyed it, those beers are ultimately a bit too sweet and fake tasting for me so I pretty much never revisit them.
Samuel Smith brews are like a warm handshake from an old friend. I love spending a long cold winter night at home with some oatmeal stout, or this new gem, reading a good book, or discussing politics with a buddy. Intellectual idulgences go hand in hand with these brews IMO.
I found the chocolate taste in this beer to be extremely artificial tasting to the point that i could not finish the bottle i actually thought it was disgusting .
I was disappointed and unimpressed. Not that is was terrible but I thought mediocre and very overrated. I prefer Youngs.
My God, a chocolate beer that tastes too much like chocolate. They really screwed this one up for sure.
For what it is it's good, I didn't enjoy it much myself, but I agree with the two comments that its very similar to SA Chocolate Bock, and alcoholic yoohoo... something that years ago I may have enjoyed more.
Loved the stuff! I would not recommend the beer to anyone that despises sweet beers. I would love to find a four back but PA only has cases (to my knowledge) and it runs 62 bucks. Might split one with a friend.
I drank a 4 pack of it last Sunday, and as a stout lover, I was blown away at how smooth and delicious it was. Awesome coconut notes in there, it tastes like a liquid mounds bar, only better. I plan on buying more and it will make a great alternative to the other stronger, hop-heavy winter warmers this month.
Glad I took my local beer store guy's advice and picked up 2 the first time I had it. Then I went back for a 4-pack. It tasted better chilled in my opinion.
It is in MA, seen it at a few shops in metro west. I found it to be thin and overly sweet without the dark chocolate depth I expected. Not a drain pour, but a lot less than I had hoped for from the king of Oatmeal Stouts
