Chocolatized
Pisgah Brewing Co.

ChocolatizedChocolatized
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From:
Pisgah Brewing Co.
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #181
ABV:
10.9%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,521
Avg:
4.21 | pDev: 7.6%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
77
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 26, 2022
Added:
Dec 27, 2013
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  12
The darkest of Pisgah brews, the beer formerly known as Vortex II took a significant transformation when Pisgah brewers added a heavy dose (25lbs in 5bbls) of raw cocoa nibs to the brite tanks, thus creating what will now only be known as "Chocolatized". Congratulations to the brewers, as this Russian Imperial Stout aged on cocoa nibs brought home a coveted Gold Medal at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival for the Chocolate Beer Category.

30 IBU
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Ratings by stakem:
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Thanks Jarad for sharing this one at our little Pisgah throwdown. 22oz bottle poured into a teku. Consumed alongside a bottle of 2009 Vortex 2 and Bourbon Barrel Aged Vortex 2 in the name of science. The brew appears brown in color with a tan cap. Some big bubbly head appears and fades quickly.

The nose encompasses pretty much the most amazing array of chocolate depth ive ever experienced in a beer. Just layers of cocoa like cocoa crispies cereal that has a persistent dominating chocolate aspect on so many layers. This is incredible but it hardly leaves room for there to be any scent of beer left to it.

The flavor has some milk chocolate quality blending with bakers cocoa and a little warming alcohol. Midpalate there is somewhat of a dark fruity raison and molasses flavoring before getting earthen with bitter cocoa into the aftertaste. Whereas the nose is dominated by chocolate, the flavor has pleasant nuance.

This is a medium bodied brew with a light level of carbonation. Really an amazing cocoa aroma here that isnt half as crazy into the taste. I could have smelled this beer all night and was happy that some beer aspects were found in the flavor profile instead of being ravaged by nothing but chocolate. I love to drink this again.
Aug 01, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.58 by Greg_Eans from Kentucky

Jul 26, 2022
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Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Picked up a 12 oz single from Blue Door Bottleshop 1-27-22 for $6.50. No readable can date; consumed 5-10-22.

Beer poured black with a nice tan head that has some good hang time.

Nose is cocoa forward.

Taste is a medium roasted very large malt base infused by tons of cocoa nibs and finishes very nicely balanced and no hint of off flavors and cloying.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and smooth.

Overall an excellent dessert beer so be sure to pick one up if you like the style and come across it!
May 10, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by bendukes86 from South Carolina

Dec 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4.09 by petewheeler from Maryland

Dec 03, 2021
 
Rated: 4.5 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Aug 11, 2019
 
Rated: 4.22 by brentblackwell from Georgia

Jun 07, 2019
Photo of BigGold
Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi

4.19/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had poured from 16.9 oz.-bottle, muled back from North Carolina by my ol’ lady, into snifter.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had the base stout for this beer, but if you are looking for a highly drinkable, not too sweet, but very chocolate imperial stout, this is it.
Apr 16, 2019
 
Rated: 4.47 by Abstractspirit from Rhode Island

Jan 31, 2019
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.42/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Chocolatized pours very dark brown and is nearly black with dark, cola red highlights in a PBGC Malty Glass. A creamy chestnut head stretches to one-quarter inch, then dissipates to a thin ring within two minutes. The ring of lace forms a top to legs after each sip.

The aroma is sweet, filled with dates and bittersweet chocolate. The roasted malt adds a sweet touch as well. Perhaps this is due to lactose. I also noted a light presence of licorice.

The flavor is extremely well balanced between bitterness and sweetness, each keeping the other in check. Chocolate covered coffee beans are followed by notes of cherry and light licorice. Dates become strong and are followed by mild, lingering, chocolate-mousse-like finish. Each sip has a late bitter bite.

The alcohol is as expected within a very full body and creamy texture. While the alcohol is high, it fails to distract from the chewiness. A sticky residual sugar builds through the session.

This is another beer that does deliver on its hype. It is unquestionably "dessert in a glass". I enjoyed it indoors on a mild, brilliantly sunny Summer day. I imagine it would sing if paired with marinated pheasant on a cool Autumn evening. Warmth increases the creamy texture and flavors and it is definitely superior in the warmer range.
Oct 20, 2018
Photo of BeerDawgs
Reviewed by BeerDawgs from Georgia

4.39/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L - Pitch black with some nice creamy tan head

S - Sweet, chocolate, and roasted malts

T - Milk chocolate, roasted malts. Tons of chocolate. Very good! ABV totally hidden

F - Full body and medium carbonation

O - An awesome chocolate stout. Chocolate is so dominant and plentiful. Tasty!
Jul 13, 2018
Photo of darktronica
Reviewed by darktronica from Indiana

4.33/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours an opaque dark brown with minimal head and no retention. Smells of malted grains, cacao nibs, walnut, and a tiny hint of butyric acid that is thankfully undetectable on the palate. Flavors are in line with an ice cream sundae, with the nibs and malt providing milk chocolate syrup, and with a bit of banana complementing the rest. Some hopped bitterness on the mid-palate, joining late enough that it stands as its own element instead of pushing the nibs towards dark, bittersweet chocolate territory. Full-bodied and very smooth.
Apr 05, 2018
 
Rated: 4.41 by baklo from North Carolina

Sep 10, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Aug 20, 2017
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Reviewed by jpro from Colorado

4.37/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had this one for a while... finally getting around to cracking the 22oz. Pours near opaque black, with a thin tan head. Aroma is super rich / roasted, with a lot of cocoa. Taste is what I'd consider pretty classic RIS + a bunch of chocolate - almost chocolate syrup-like; also has some light soy sauce notes, which I've noticed in other >10% imperial stouts - but not really a substantial flavor here. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy / sweet. A decadent brew.
Mar 12, 2017
Photo of TonyLema1
Reviewed by TonyLema1 from South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: jet black, thin tan head, minimal lacing
S: coffee and chocolate, some malt sweetness
T: coffee, bitter chocolate, some booze, some roasted grain
F: medium to full body, all of the mouthfeel is upfront, dry finish
O: great, great sipper
Mar 02, 2017
Photo of farrago
Reviewed by farrago from New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Around a finger of dense, dark brown foam, random mix of bubble sizes, retention is good but not incredible, the lacing is a razor thin sheet spread broadly. While the liquid is jet black it leaves you with the impression of cleanliness and that it would be transparent rather than murky if a lighter shade, you can see tiny bubbles break on the surface. The nose has a good deal of roast to it without seeming bitter, chocolate of course plus vanilla fudge, caramel and a hint of mint, not yeasty, very clean, if anything more earthy than sweet, measured dissolve, not short but not striving to be washed out of your nostrils. Medium-bodied, the carbonation fluffs up the mouth entry some but then turns successively drier as it moves across the palate. More bittersweet nature than roast to the chocolate, not puckering nor creamy, squarely in the middle. Hides the alcohol well. A few notes of quinine or mineral water. Here you get scone to pie crust accents but again not any real doughy, yeasty qualities. As it warms you notice an increasing amount of grill smoke and burnt meat fat through the finish. Sneaky complexity masked by high level of drinkability. (Winter 2016 bottling)
Feb 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by JNForsyth from Pennsylvania

Feb 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.17 by jaydoc from Kansas

Dec 30, 2016
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Reviewed by angelmonster from Colorado

4.21/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Not sure the age of this bottle but Im guessing bout a year old.

Pours a pitch black hue, completely opaque. Head is 1/5th of an inch and milk chocolate colored. Lacing and head retention were above average for such a strong beer.

Smell is of hersheys chocolate syrup, whoppers chocolate malt balls, malted barley, roasted oak and a touch of alcohol. Hops are not present, Sweetness is just the right amount, nice balance of chocolate and traditional imperial stout aromas.

Taste is very smooth for an 11 percent abv stout. Rich velvet chocolate mends nicely with roasted barley, burnt malts. Getting a lot of malt powder which is unusual but adds a nice chocolate malt shake characteristic to the beer. Oak and a bit of smoke balance out the sweetness, alcohol is super tame.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and well carbonated. Chocolate creaminess coats the tongue, wish head was a bit fuller.

Overall, this was a very good chocolate stout, on the brink of top five chocolate beers I've had. Just wish head was a bit fuller. Regardless, would buy again if available to me locally.
Jun 14, 2016
Chocolatized from Pisgah Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 77 ratings