ZÖET Chocolate Porter
Baraboo Brewing Company

ZÖET Chocolate PorterZÖET Chocolate Porter
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From:
Baraboo Brewing Company
 
Nebraska, United States
Style:
American Porter
ABV:
6%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.39 | pDev: 10.32%
Reviews:
7
Ratings:
14
Status:
Active
Rated:
Aug 27, 2017
Added:
Dec 22, 2015
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
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Ratings by Chaz:
Photo of Chaz
Reviewed by Chaz from Minnesota

3.53/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Out of the bottle and into the totally-inappropriate glassware (Chimay!) this is an average looking American Porter: Dark brown in color, a darker tan head, and very good lacing as the head falls.

On second thought, I poured a solid head on that glass (convex, doncha know?) and it looked great in the glass; If I were served an "average" American Porter like this at an "average" American Taproom circa 2016 (5,000 breweries, now?) I'd be impressed. But nevermind that!

The nose is definitely better than average, and everything about the grain bill tells me they got out of this exactly what they wanted, based upon what they put into it: Chocolate malt, dark chocolate wheat malt, caramel malt... so the notes of cocoa and dark chocolate are plentiful. Lighter espresso and roast character as well, and a bit of dark fruit, anise... and a lighter sharpness/tang.

Confession time. I grabbed this bottle straight out a case of beer labeled "Mystery Box O' Beer", and since I'd never seen the crown (bottlecap) and I collect breweriana, well, I'm a sucker for tying anything once. And the bottle was ice-cold! It was sitting out on the veranda at the local watering hole (which ain't a bar -- long story right there) and I was about to b.s. with the gang and I grabbed it and proceeded to drink straight from the bottle... and it wasn't bad!

What the hell was this 'oddball microbrew' which ends up tasting much, much better than ya think it should, eh? Well, I (being me) busted-out my magnifying glass --I ain't no spring chicken-- and checked the label and sure as shit, the brewery over in Stevens Point is very good at what they do -- even when it comes to co-packaged (contract-brewed) beer. :)

So here I am the next morning, drinking it at near room temperature and yep, it's good.

Sweet and rather thin mouthfeel on the first sip, but with nice lingering bittersweet character and a dry-ish finish. Excellent roasted malt notes which linger as well.

The sweetness is reminiscent of a milk stout (sweet stout), but a bit less coating on the palate. The 'sharp / tang' from the nose helps to cut the sweetness (think: the acidity of sour cherry) and this is notable because this isn't a well-hopped/bitter beer, at all.

The focus on this is definitely on chocolate notes and character, and it works -- even better for me because while it is chocolatey and evocative of chocolate, it isn't brewed on cocoa nibs or anything like that, so it doesn't go over the top. I am not the biggest chocolate fan in the world, and that sort of thing is more often than not wasted on me, anyway.

Very good drinkability and the body (although some feel that porters should be very heavy and 'thick like a stout') is appropriate for what they're going for with this particular beer. To my mind it's at least as your average 'chocolate' beer (chocolate stouts, chocolate porters, and -- UGH!-- chocolate bocks) and better than quite a few that I've tried.
Jan 09, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

3.41/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Zoet pours an almost black color, with almost no head. Light hints of dark chocolate, and some metallic notes. Taste is light, crisp malt, with hints of chocolate. A bit weak, but not too watery. Overall, its a decent beer, easy to drink, not overpowering.
Aug 27, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Dum3z from Missouri

Apr 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.6 by Bear1964 from Nebraska

Feb 05, 2017
 
Rated: 2.91 by dcotom from Iowa

Jul 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

May 08, 2016
Photo of BeerWithMike
Reviewed by BeerWithMike from Nebraska

3.79/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Sampled back on 2/28/16. Comes in a 12-ounce bottle from the Baraboo Brewing Company in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and poured in to a "Wild Salmon Pale Ale" pint glass.

Brew pours close to a pitch-black in color with a good 1-finger dark beige cap that stayed around for a bit. Streaky lacing was seen with each sip. Aroma is of roasted malts and cocoa powder. Taste pretty much follows the nose with a hint of caramel malts also. Slight bitterness for the finish which might be the 'bakers cocoa/chocolate" but still a decent brew. Lighter-side of medium-bodied with decent carbonation.
Mar 28, 2016
Photo of zeff80
Reviewed by zeff80 from Missouri

3.34/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
12oz bottle. Poured out an opaque, jet-black color with a small, light brown head of foam. It smelled of roasted coffee, chocolate and caramel. Subtle coffee flavor with sweet chocolate and roasted malt flavors.
Feb 03, 2016
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

3.62/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours black with a medium-thin creme foamy head. No lacing. Chocolate and roasted malts in the aroma. The first thing I notice upon taking a sip are good, solid chocolate notes, followed by a roasted malt background. Mouth feel is a little bit watery, but it is still a pretty smooth and bold porter. Overall, a fairly good one here. Not the best, but it is a good chocolate porter to try.

Served in a 12oz snifter.
Feb 01, 2016
 
Rated: 2.58 by Miami66 from Nebraska

Jan 24, 2016
 
Rated: 3.37 by scratch69 from Missouri

Jan 16, 2016
Photo of Jelitikasez
Reviewed by Jelitikasez from Missouri

3.54/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
A bit watery and bitter for something I thought was going to be rich, full and sweet. Very thin mouth feel. Disappointing, but certainly not bad for all that. Will probably be better when paired with something off the grill.
Jan 06, 2016
Photo of hoptheology
Reviewed by hoptheology from California

2.87/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75
Hot off the shelf for winter '15.

Pours a chocolate cocoa colored body @ 100% opacity, and a rapidly diminishing 1 finger head.

Aroma of coffee beans and 6 hour cold coffee, nothing much else.

Taste is of bitter stale chocolate, stale coffee bean, vinegar, and antiseptic band-aid. Not impressive in the least. Finishing breaths are of cocoa and bean.

Feel is thin and overly carbonated, with a crisp lager-like finish but with slight roast.

Overall impressions are that this porter blows. I'm so happy I didn't invest in a six pack for this crap. It's drinkable but a horrible representation of the style and way more subpar than the title leads on.
Jan 06, 2016
 
Rated: 3.34 by TheHopsman from Nebraska

Jan 05, 2016
ZÖET Chocolate Porter from Baraboo Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 14 ratings