Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brewed by Brooklyn Brewery
Style: Imperial Stout
Brooklyn, New York USA

Delicious imperial stout with chocolatey tones and a fantastic level of complexity.

I’m reviewing a fresh ’09-’10. Poured an impenetrable black with a thick 2 finger tan head that fades slowly to a chunky covering of the top of the glass. Lacing is pretty thick all the way down the glass. I think this is amazing considering the style. Smell is of sweet dark roasted malts, dates and raisins, slightly smokey. Taste is chocolate and molasses, with a bitter espresso finish. A slight citrus peel finds it’s way through. Alcohol is light and fitting. The flavors come through as it comes to room temperature. Be patient. =) Mouthfeel is slightly oily. Carbonation leaves a slight sting. Drinkability is great for this style. If it wasn’t for the alcohol content, you could drink this all night. Sits relatively light. But, it’s a sipper. This is going to be a great ager. Fresh is decent but I’m guessing a year or three will make this an outstanding beer!

On tap at Monk’s Cafe in Philly, PA. Pours a black body with a two-finger width, creamy, chocolate ice-cream colored head that dissipates slowly and leaves a nice lacing. Aroma of dark roasted malts, chocolate, a light vanilla, and some bittersweet plums and other fruits. Solid aroma with plenty of sweet, dark, and fruity things going on. Flavor is a rich chocolate and plenty of dark roasts up front with a slightly astringent, fruity coffee too. Some licorice and woody vanilla comes in during the middle before it ends with a roasty, bourbon-vanilla, sweet chocolate finish. A light, dry bitterness accompanies the flavorful finish with lots of aftertaste. Medium bodied, smooth, and very rounded. Overall, a really nice impy. Rich in chocolate, plenty of roasts, and an enjoyable licorice-fruitiness. I like the bitterness level and the pleasant vanilla-bourbon underlying. Very nice, character filled beer.

Porterfestival, Göteborg, Bottle, 2009-11-14 AR: chocolate/nougat, cocoa beans AP: dark choclolate coloured body, tiny head F. chocolate/nougat, cocoa beans

Got this from the fellas at State Line Liquors in Elkton,MD as a trade for a few other beers. So happy they did that, and so happy I opened up in celebration of my new job today. Pitch black, opaque, with a large creamy ice cream like froth head. Not sludgey in the least bit just black like oil. The alcohol is noticeable on the nose, but it’s pleasent. HEavily roasted malts, coffee grounds, burnt toast and dark chocolate. On the palate there is some hotness from ABV but it’s very mild, except near the finish. Wonderful tasting beer. Thanks guys!

Pours a nice dark glass with a hefty and creamy half finger of head which sticks around. The aroma has a nice mixture of sweet caramel and burnt malts with a bit of oat thrown in. Carbonation is very soft and very pleasant on the first taste. Speaking of taste this has some very strong dark chocolate right up front, though on the aftertaste the burnt malt flavor comes through. There is also some light licorish thrown it giving it some sweetness on top of all the dark bitterness. Unlike some of the other chocolate stouts (I’m looking your way Southern Tier) this beer is full bodied and complex enough so that it should also age well.

Tasting this next to the Southern Tier Oat Stout. The aroma is a little better and the flavor tastes more of chocolate. It’s a little more bitter but I suppose that’s to be expected from the chocolate aroma. The Southern Tier Oat Stout has a wonderful vanilla aroma and taste but the slight bitterness of the Brooklyn leads me to think that this one will be more drinkable - if such a thing can be said of a 10.6% abv beer. I’m very curious how it changes with age. I’m still exploring the stout category but it looks like this will be a staple while I’m on the east coast.

12oz. Bottle. Jet black in the glass with a minimal layer of tan head that quickly fades. Amazing nose dominated by cocoa beans with hints of roasted grain, overly ripe fruit and wood. Nice bitterness present underneath the flavor which tastes of roasted and chocolate malts, subtle coffee and just a touch of black licorice. Palate is sturdy, but not too viscous. Concludes with a mildly bitter kick. That big ABV is also buried nicely and is largely undetectable throughout. Great beer, with the fantastic nose being the highlight.