Chocolate Ale
Boulevard Brewing Co.

Chocolate AleChocolate Ale
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From:
Boulevard Brewing Co.
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
Ranked #133
ABV:
8.7%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,005
Avg:
3.71 | pDev: 15.9%
Reviews:
332
Ratings:
1,065
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 23, 2023
Added:
Feb 09, 2011
Wants:
  73
Gots:
  282
One of the brightest stars in a city filled with culinary treasures, Christopher Elbow has been handcrafting masterpieces in chocolate for more than ten years. In that time the reputation of his artistic delicacies has spread around the globe. Elbow’s sweets are distinguished by their use of unusual and sometimes surprising flavors and ingredients; in that adventurous spirit we joined forces to bring you a very special Chocolate Ale.

In developing this beer, Elbow and Boulevard brewmaster Steven Pauwels sought to harmonize the interplay of chocolate and malt, with each supporting and enhancing, but not overwhelming, the other. Just the right chocolate was essential. Elbow recommended a rare variety from the Dominican Republic, prized for its robust flavor and aroma, and a personal favorite. More than a mere flavoring, the chocolate — in the form of nibs, or crushed, roasted beans – was incorporated into the brewing process itself.

24 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NStLincoln:
Photo of NStLincoln
Reviewed by NStLincoln from Nebraska

4.27/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a light orange/amber with some sediment settling on the bottom. Off white head.

Smells of Mexican chocolate cake from Open Harvest Grocery in Lincoln. Some fig aromas in there too.

Fig newtons and unsweetened cocoa on the palate. Light hops balance the back end.

Weird to have something chocolatey be in a lighter ale after some many great chocolate stouts but Boulevard makes it work. This is a complex beer that manages to be complex.

I opened this up too cold. Once it warmed a bit the beer really opened up.
Feb 25, 2011
More User Ratings:
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

4.03/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy deep amber (I suspect it would be coppery if not hazed) producing 1+ fingers of foamy, beige, somewhat lasting head that leaves little lacing. Recedes to a thin collar and a small island of surface cap with a lot of suspended particulates in the brew. Aroma is on the thin side but pleasant: slightly sweet, and malt prominent. Caramel, vanilla, bread crust and raisin with thin chocolate almost hiding in the background. Hop presence a very light. Taste is sweetish caramel, raisin and something Belgian candi sugar like fronted. Nuts, bread crust and dried apples in the middle followed by very faint vanilla and chocolate hints. There is also a light diacetyl hint. Finish is toast and fruity dried apple with some hop character in the form of a nice bitterness that's accentuated by the alcohol. Aftertaste is short-lived fruity, metallic, lightly bitter and astringent. Alcohol presence is low for the ABV but is present in the form of bitterness and spice. With all that said it is nicely balanced. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation, slick, with a spicy prickle in the finish and astringency in the aftertaste. Very drinkable for the style and ABV. I am surprised at the low presence of vanilla and chocolate in a beer highlighting vanilla and chocolate has major components on the label.
Dec 23, 2023
Photo of DarkLordScott
Reviewed by DarkLordScott from Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours caramel colored brew with little carbonation and nearly no head. Aroma is non-descript; elements of chocolate and light malt are here. Taste is light and retains much of the aroma elements here -- some light chocolate and malt are present, perhaps with a bit of vanilla.
Nov 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.56 by KC_beerman from Missouri

May 26, 2023
Photo of SpaceCamp
Reviewed by SpaceCamp from Virginia

3.69/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L: Pours an amber brown that forms a thick khaki head, which fades slowly and leaves excellent retention and ton of lacing. Has a nice almond color.

S: Milk chocolate, vanilla.

T: Chocolate. Vanilla and malts. Some hops to add kick. Hints of fruit.

F: Good carbonation. Light- to moderate-feel.

O: A bit lighter than what I'd hoped for from Boulevard, yet it was satisfying and crisp. Decent ABV. Worth a sampling
Mar 18, 2023
Photo of TurboMon_911
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey

3.87/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
(Please enjoy by 12/02/20). Poured a hazy orange amber color into a standard pint glass with small off white head, very little retention, no lacing or carbonation present; does maintain a ring around the perimeter throughout though and sediment is present towards the end . Aroma is a chocolate earthy conglomeration with vanilla bean, caramel, toffee, chicory and roasted malts present. Flavor is limited to the chocolate realm but has some interesting undertones of plums and coffee to add to its allure. Medium to full bodied with a slight alcohol burn it has a bitter sweet finish that leaves you wanting some more, but not too much more. One of the most unconventional and unique brews I've had in a long time, and that's saying a lot.
Feb 07, 2023
Photo of whynot44
Reviewed by whynot44 from Missouri

4/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Somewhat cloudy, floating sediment, copper/amber color with a modest off white head that settles down to just a ring .
The aroma is caramel malt and chocolate.
The taste is the same with a nice balance between the malt and the cocoa, with some nice vanilla notes, mildly sweet but finishes dry with just a bit of lingering cocoa and nice alcohol warmth.
The body is medium, moderate carbonation, smooth, very drinkable.
Altogether, this is a very nice chocolate ale, different than I expected but very tasty and enjoyable. Sometimes a more subtle approach has merit.
Feb 03, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Best by 12/9/22

Man, I forgot I had this one in my fridge until tonight. Boulevard usually does very well with their big beers, so I’m quite surprised to see a relatively low average score on this one. That honestly makes me even more intrigued to try it, so let’s just get right into it

Pours a cloudy orange brown with a ton of particulate floating around and a finger of light tan head that quickly fades to a ring and leaves minimal lacing

The chocolate in the nose has an odd vibe to it, and it’s definitely not in the forefront as I had expected it to be. I’m picking up on aromas of banana, dark bread, sweet caramel, chocolate syrup, cherry, light herbal hops, and vanilla

It’s similarly strange in taste, but at least it tastes a bit more chocolatey. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting banana bread, sweet toffee, milk chocolate, vanilla, brown sugar, and light caramel. The swallow brings notes of milk chocolate, raisin, banana bread, acrid coffee, burnt sugar, cocoa powder, and light cherry

A medium body pairs with gentle tingling carbonation, resulting in a smooth beer. Finishes a tad wet but goes down easy given the weirdness

Yeah, weird is definitely the word for this one, perplexing even. Still, there’s something enjoyable in here, I just wouldn’t want very much of it
Nov 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.6 by Zylod from West Virginia

Sep 27, 2022
Photo of MadMadMike
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

3.42/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle into a snifter at fridge temperature.
Totally unremarkable throughout. It has a corn syrup element and artificial taste. It’s directionless and boring. Glad I only have one.,.
Aug 17, 2022
Photo of dream
Reviewed by dream from Nevada

3.56/5  rDev -4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Does anyone know what the floaties actually are? I'm hesitant to drink them based on the ingredients listed. They are very off-putting based on the ingredient description, it doesn't make sense. Also is it using artificial vanilla extracts? They get an A+ for marketing, a C for execution.
Jul 26, 2022
 
Rated: 4.2 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Jun 12, 2022
Photo of bubseymour
Reviewed by bubseymour from Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Golden orange color with floaties. Very weird for a chocolate ale. Once you get beyond the weird appearance in relation to the flavors, it’s a nice cholately beer. Enjoyed.
Jun 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by bigpoppa67 from Wisconsin

May 29, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

May 15, 2022
 
Rated: 3.85 by sbuck from New Mexico

Mar 19, 2022
Photo of dr_lager
Reviewed by dr_lager from Washington

3.68/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
For a chocolate beer, this was surprisingly un-chocolatey. But definitely sweet as it warms up, which makes it easy drinking with just a slight bite at the end. It's decent but maybe a bit bland for my taste.
Mar 12, 2022
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

3.78/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
L: Reddish brown, silty, not much of a head.
S: Sweet. Lots of banana, a hint of milk chocolate.
T: Banana bread. Banana and esters at first, becoming milk chocolate and vanilla, and a hint of spicy hops.
F: Smooth, moderate carbonation. The alcohol is noticeable.
O: Pretty good, though it doesn’t have as much chocolate as I’d expect. It’s also a bit too sweet, and the chocolate that is there has a bit of an artificial flavor.
Mar 12, 2022
Photo of jbolger
Reviewed by jbolger from Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
2/28/22 A surprising & unique brew. Expected a dark, sweet ale. Instead, it’s light, not sweet at all & very drinkable. Vanilla with chocolate overtones. Would not seek out but wouldn’t mind having another.
Mar 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by LizT from Texas

Feb 25, 2022
Chocolate Ale from Boulevard Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 1065 ratings