Southern Tier Choklat

Brewed by Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Lakewood, New York USA

22 oz bottle. Nearly black pour, brown hints and and dark tannish head. Dark chocolate and roasted malt aromas and more chocolate. Taste is biased towards the variations of chocolate, but it balanced out by hints of coffee and a descent hop presence. Velvety, especially as it warms. Chocolate and coffee lingering through the finish. Pretty full bodied and filling, but I had no problem finishing the 22, though I will not be reaching for another immediately after. Would seek it out again, just not two in a row. Chocolate burps are very interesting. A very good Imperial, in the top 15 to 20. I think I liked the Java and Oat slightly better though.

Man, with one sniff and one sip, this beer would rate a high four, but I would recommend against trying to drink a bomber by yourself in one sitting. this is a dessert beer and should be shared. Poutrs a gourgeos deep black color with a nice dark tan head. Aroma is melted chocolate and nothing else. This is one giant chocolate bar in a glass. Smells amazing. Flavor is more of the same. Chocolate through and through. About halfway through my pint glass, the chocolate novelty wore off a bit and some bitterness started to come through along with a hint of alcohol that hadn’t been there before. This is a great dessert beer, but like all desserts you shouldn’t over indulge.

Bomber. This is the best smelling beer EVER made. Nice thick robust chocolate taste. Extremely sweet smell. Can’t believe how much I like this. I hope I can get more of this.

22oz bottle served in a Duvel tulip. Pours black topped by a half inch tan head that quickly recedes to a small collection of bubbles at one side of the glass. The nose is of both real chocolate and chocolate malt, some vanilla, and an unexpected woodiness. Wow, that is some bittersweet stuff! Tons of chocolate flavor, slightly perfumey. Finishes very bitter and slightly acidic. This is one hell of a strange beer, and normally that is right up my alley, but this one might be a bit too odd for me. Couldn’t finish a whole glass, let alone a whole bottle.

22oz. bottle from Gabe (GMCC). Thanks for this one man! Pours an impressive black, absolutely no light shines through. Aroma of dark chocolate, cocoa, and a hint of alcohol. Flavor is very dark, bitter chocolate..alot of woodiness...that alcohol doesnt come through at all. Super smooth and a little warming. If you like porters and stouts...you will love this beer...For those of you that say this is a "chocolatey mess"...I dont know what your talking about...this is a very well balanced, fantastic stout. I want a keg of this!

22oz bottle. Pours black with a very thin mocha head that dissipates very quickly. The milk chocolate aroma is outstanding and sets the tone for some absolutely amazing chocolate flavors. The initial sip is dominated by milk chocolate with some caramel sweetness. As it goes down, the roasted malts and hops start to come through on the palate. Although it is sweeter than I normally prefer, this is a delightful treat to enjoy during a cold winter night after dinner. Recommended for chocolate lovers only. One of my favorite dessert beers.

THOUGHTS: Really nice on a cold night like the one I had it on. It went down easy for a beer this strong. Hid alcohol well. Nice drink, but I don’t know about it seeming like beer. A little one-sided with the whole chocolate thing. Probably my least favorite Black Water beer. But that’s not to say it was bad. TECHNICAL: Bottle. Poured a dark brown that was an opaque black in the glass with a small, tan head that mostly diminished. The aroma was mostly chocolate milk and syrup and regular chocolate with light pine hops. The flavor started sweet and finished sweet and slightly bitter with an average duration. There was chocolate, chocolate milk, some more chocolate and slight hops. The flavor was a little watered down for something this strong and heavy. The full body was creamy, but slightly oily with tingly carbonation and a ever so slightly metallic and lightly alcoholic finish.

Draught. Black, very little head. Overwhelming aroma of milk chocolate. If my eyes were closed, I would think this was chocolate milk. Very malty and chocolatey, espresso, and milky smoothness. This is a very smooth beer, but not overly sweet. I could probably drink these all night. Too bad I can’t find it in a bottle.