RateBeer
Score
9870
OVERALLStyle
Serve in Snifter

bottled
common

on tap
available

Regional Distribution

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RATINGS: 211   WEIGHTED AVG: 3.72   SEASONAL: Special   IBU: 60   EST. CALORIES: 345   ABV: 11.5%
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COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION
Inspired by the epic skyline of Chicago, Goose Island’s brewers set out to craft Big John; a tall, bold slugger of a stout that stands out vividly against the little soft beers out there. Epic amounts of roasted malt and an addition of cacao nibs give Big John a massive chocolate flavor and aroma. With a body as substantial and black as the building to which it pays homage, Big John is sure to inspire a sense of awe with every sip.


3.7
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
JohnnyJ (3044) - San Diego, USA - MAY 27, 2011
Bottle at tasting. Black pour, with a medium sized tan head. Dark roasted malt, cocoa, notes of dark fruit, molasses, and licorice. Good, but not great, there are better options easily available.

3.8
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
Westmeister (590) - Atlanta, Georgia, USA - MAY 27, 2012
Bottle shared by Donnie. Pours super thick black with brown head. Smell and taste are both super rich, strong malts, chocolate, coffee, blackstrap molasses. Not as much hops as its brother, Night Stalker, but very nice. I actually think I like the intensity of this one a bit better. Still well balance.

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
Matts_Property (672) - Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA - MAY 21, 2012
Bottle split with mcberko. Pours solid black with virtually no head. Aroma of treacle, dark fruits, roasted malts, candy. Flavour of all of the above, especially treacle. Also vanilla in there too. Finishes very roasty afterall that well worked in sweetness. Possibly would become cloying if consumed in a larger quantity! Very nice.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
mcberko (2475) - Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA - MAY 21, 2012
22 oz. bottle, sent from BigTomz (thanks!), pours jet black with a small, quickly-dissipating brown head. Aroma of rich treacle toffee, rich chocolate cake, liqueur-coated dark fruits and some roasted malt - not very similar to BCS. Flavour of liqueur-coated dark fruits (prunes) upfront, treacle toffee, chocolate cake and vanilla - high sweetness - a little cloying after a while. Palate is quite viscous and oily, with a liqueur-like feel and vanilla aftertaste. Too sweet, which becomes more and more apparent with each subsequent sip.

3.4
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 14/20
watson1977 (1260) - The dub c, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 17, 2012
Pours dark brown with a medium mocha head. Aroma has dark fruit...plum...and some burnt roastiness...bit of dark chocolate. Flavor is sweet...fig and raisin...a bit of coffee and dark chocolate...lots of dark fruit. Mouthfeel is full and creamy with a sweet dark fruity finish that hints at dark chocolate.

3.3
   AROMA 7/10   APPEARANCE 3/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 3/5   OVERALL 13/20
Beerman6686 (2551) - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA - MAY 14, 2012
This poured a lighter brown color with a small beige head. Aroma was basicall all chocolate, almost hersheys like with caramel too,smelled a lot like a tootsie roll. Flavor was much the same, reminded me of a more toned down ST Choklat, but in a bad way.

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
Niko100 (1181) - New York, USA - MAY 12, 2012
Dark brown/black color; Heavy creamy body; Aroma of toasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee, & some vanilla; Flavor of roasted sweet malt, caramel/molasses, coffee, rich chocolate, and some dark fruit; Warm booze finish; Nicely balanced; Overall, very smooth - great chocolate stout.

4
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
faroeviking (8805) - HAITI - APR 17, 2012
Botella. Pitch black colour, light brown foam, ok lacing. Pleasant dark fruity and roasted malty aroma with plenty of chocolate. Good mouthfeel indeed, thick. Flavour is lovely, smooth and with chocolate, dark fruit, roasted malt and with a nice well lasting sweet dark fruity well roasted maltiness and chocolate finish.

4.1
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 5/5   TASTE 8/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 16/20
decaturstevo (3668) - decatur, Tennessee, USA - APR 17, 2012
Black pour with tan head and lace. Aroma is chocolate syrup and some abv. Sweet chocolate, light coffee, and a nice abv warmth. Medium body with smooth carbonation.

3.8
   AROMA 8/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 7/10   PALATE 4/5   OVERALL 15/20
smith4498 (2306) - Miami, Florida, USA - APR 14, 2012
Bottle from a trade with drfabulous. Pours dark brown with brown head. Aromas of roasted malts, lots of chocolate, and licorice. Bittersweet chocolate, roasted malt and licorice flavors with some alcohol. Full body with moderate carbonation. Thanks Jeff.

4.2
   AROMA 5/10   APPEARANCE 4/5   TASTE 9/10   PALATE 5/5   OVERALL 19/20
dEnk (1841) - Den Haag, NETHERLANDS - APR 13, 2012
Bottle @ home. Aroma is roast, liquorice, chocolate, vanilla. Flavour is deep and roasty chocolate, vanilla, mocca, liquorice and endless more, lingering on and on.


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