Hot Cocoa Winter Ale
Buzzards Bay Brewing

Hot Cocoa Winter AleHot Cocoa Winter Ale
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From:
Buzzards Bay Brewing
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Stout
ABV:
5%
Score:
86
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 9.71%
Reviews:
6
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 21, 2017
Added:
Nov 28, 2010
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mikeynas:
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Rated by Mikeynas from Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -1.6%

Oct 21, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.38 by DougsBrother from Massachusetts

Oct 21, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by HawkIPA from Massachusetts

May 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by beertardis from Rhode Island

Mar 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by nmann08 from Virginia

Jun 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jun 04, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by Massbmx from Vermont

Feb 29, 2012
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.15/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Pours a light fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades at a med pace with a light lacing, over super hazy darker brown molasses colored beer with slightest hints of murky brown light coming through the edges.

Nose is plenty chocolaty, a cocoa nib like lushness, and some baker's chocolate, and a light toasted cocoa like malt, hint of caramel and vanilla, then a light bland ale aroma.

Taste starts with creamy malts and a light chocolate flavor, light baker's chocolate and cocoa nibs, but the malt profile is very light almost non-existant, its like chocolate flavored water... then the bitter weird spices kick in, an earthy root like almost root beer, and a light syrupy cola flavor, light nutty like nutmeg and hint of cinnamon, and a hint of a spicy taste. The bitterness is weird, more like from the earthy root taste, fairly unpleasant. A light caramel and vanilla in there, which fades quickly to a light earthy bitter hop taste as well. It finishes fairly sticky and syrupy, a bit sweet still, with light cocoa and syrupy malts, light spices.

Mouth feels a lot lighter than it should, watery a bit, decent carb but that's also a bit lighter than it should.

Overall not very good, another weird beer from Just Beer, like they're trying to just make crazy stuff instead of normal beers, and they're all either way too crazy or too light. But I can at least see how thye are able to keep the prices so low.
Feb 20, 2012
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

3.61/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had on tap at Rose Alley served into a pint glass

Appearance: dark brown in color with minimal head, clear, moderate carbonation

Smell: light cocoa and roasted malt

Taste: cocoa at the beginning and middle, light roasted malt and coffee at the end

Mouthfeel: light bodied, moderate carbonation, sweet with slight bitterness

Overall: An enjoyable porter that when cold, the cocoa jumps..The beer loses some of that as it warms. I would certainly get this again on draft, but would not think of getting more than one at a time.
Jan 15, 2012
Photo of Daktyls
Reviewed by Daktyls from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a dark mahogany color, almost black, with a half finger head that quickly recedes to a fine lacing, small patch in the middle with a slightly thicker ring of bubbles around the outside edge of the glass.

S: Light cocoa and coffee notes followed by a light maltiness.

T: Light coffee notes almost, with some cocoa and malt. Well balanced with not a lot of clashing.

M: Medium light body with a nice amount of carbonation to go along with it.

O: Overall, very good. This is definitely a good find if you can get it. Quite good.
Jan 10, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Lawnboy33 from Massachusetts

Dec 27, 2011
Photo of Jwale73
Reviewed by Jwale73 from Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Thirstybird for cracking this open during the Pats/Dolphins game. Pours one shade shy of black with a quarter inch, loose, cream-colored head that disperses and forms a soapy skim across the surface and a thin, bubbly band around the edges. Nose expresses cocoa and roasted malt. Taste reveals cocoa, bake's chocolate, a nutty character (almost peanuty), as well as a trace of vanilla. Mouthfeel is light-medium with a pleasant, even carbonation that falls just short of lively. An incredibly flavorful and drinkable beer at such a low abv. I just wish I had scored some bottles to nurse over the winter. A great alternative to a high abv RIS.
Jan 02, 2011
Photo of wesleyhighley
Reviewed by wesleyhighley from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Just Beer had a way of making any style of beer go down easy.

It might be a stout, it might be a porter. I honestly don't care what it is, it's delicious.

I don't get much for a smell (maybe it's just my nose) but the taste is very strong cocoa, particularly on the aftertaste. It has a lingering bitterness like good dark chocolate without any residual "thickness" that bitterness often leaves on the tongue.

It's dry and the flavor lingers just long enough to hold you over until the next sip.

I've gone through a lot of this beer with holiday parties lately - even people who "don't like beer" have managed to finish off a glass.
Dec 30, 2010
Photo of anfield86
Reviewed by anfield86 from New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours black in color but not completely opaque with a thick tan head that slowly recedes to a thin lacing.

Smells like lots of chocolate and roasted malts. Not much else to say, but it smells awesome.

Tastes delicious. Rich chocolate flavor without being cloying thanks to the strong presence of roasted chocolate malt. great balance of semi-sweet chocolate and roasted malt.

Smooth mouthfeel; Great drinkability

Fantastic beer! I think this is my favorite brew that Just Beer has put out thus far.
Nov 28, 2010
Hot Cocoa Winter Ale from Buzzards Bay Brewing
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 14 ratings