Shokolad Stout
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

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From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Russian Imperial Stout
Ranked #202
ABV:
9.5%
Score:
92
Ranked #5,863
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 10.26%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
25
Status:
Active
Rated:
May 13, 2023
Added:
Nov 14, 2009
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Full-bodied stout that starts with a complex, malty sweet and high-roasted character and is brewed with 44 pounds of chocolate and aged with fresh organic cocoa nibs and whole vanilla beans.

60 IBU
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Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Delivered in a clear pint glass after being drawn from a tap, here in the center city Philadelphia location. It's not quite black coffee brown, but it's almost there. It came without any head whatsoever, but that's the Philly way. The bouquet is really nice, roasted malt with references of coffee and dark chocolate. Sweet, robust, smooth and full tasting, this is just what a Russian Imperial Stout should be. The high ABV gets absorbed into the bitterness of the roasted malt and with the hopping, makes a wonderfully bitter conclusion to follow the initial sweetness. As the glass drains, the chocolate becomes more evident, but it never gets too sweet. This is so good, it's almost a shame that it's so potent. Well, there will be other days.
May 13, 2023
 
Rated: 3.59 by Jhfinn from New York

Feb 19, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by JackNip from Delaware

Oct 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jul 27, 2014
Photo of reebtaerG
Reviewed by reebtaerG from Maryland

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had on draft at IH Wilmington on 5/25/14

A-Pours a dark red brown colour with a one finger beige head, fairly good lacing.

S-Aroma is light heavy malty, caramel, chocolate, dark chocolate, cacao, light vanilla, moderate roasted.

T-Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet with a long duration, chocolate, cacao, dark chocolate, vanilla, moderate roasted.

M-Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is flat to soft.

O-Overall was highly impressed was well worth stopping by.
May 28, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by LehighAce06 from Pennsylvania

May 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Durandal_777 from Pennsylvania

May 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by mikefuski17 from Oregon

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by reyna311 from Delaware

Apr 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by JMFP from Delaware

Apr 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

Apr 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by jwat from Pennsylvania

Mar 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by buzzy from Pennsylvania

Feb 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ROGUE16 from Delaware

Oct 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by TheDarkKnight from Delaware

Mar 11, 2012
Photo of oline73
Reviewed by oline73 from Maryland

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I got a pour of this the other day and enjoyed it so much that I walked away with a whole growler.

Appearance: Pours black as night with a half finger of light tan head that goes away rather quickly.

Smell: Now we're talking. There is some sweetness and roasted malt, but the superstar here is chocolate. Also getting some mild vanilla and dark fruit notes.

Taste: Thank God it mostly follows from the smell. Tons of chocolate, but not overly sweet. Nice levels of roasted malt, vanilla, and dark fruit mix well with the chocolate. I really enjoy the bitterness that sneaks up in the finish and completes the taste wonderfully.

Mouthfeel: The body is on the thick side with tingly carbonation and a slick finish.

Overall: This is a fantastic take on a Russian Imperial Stout. I'm a huge fan. I hardly ever buy growlers on my own, but here I made an exception.
Feb 16, 2012
Photo of JunkYardJake
Reviewed by JunkYardJake from Pennsylvania

4.71/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Growler filled at the brewery.
Had a sample with my lunch and knew a pint of this wouldn't be enough. Enter the growler. Using my tulip, I took on the jug solo. Typically a daunting task when going up against a RIS. First pour reveled a brew darker than the devil's soul. Absolutely no light passed through when held to the light. The creamy tan head formed slowly after a cascading display and sat on top like a kings crown. Retention and lacing were high, as expected. Nose is clearly dark cocoa with a little smoke scent mixed in. Palate is sweet and as rich in dark cocoa as I've encountered. It's like biting into a moist dark chocolate cake. Notes of roasted coffee and charred wood are also present. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Good call on not going nitro on this batch, it's not needed. Good to the last drop, I had no problem killing this half gallon in two sittings. Get it while it lasts!!
Aug 23, 2010
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Q: When does a one-off become rotating?

A: When it is deemed worthy of entry in the upcoming GABF!

As a double-plus bonus, it was offered on a standard CO2 pour, vice Nitro, as it was originally. "[B]rewed with local [Lititz, PA] Wilbur's cocoa nibs and aged on Madagascar vanilla beans", with the former a real coup. Wilbur's factory has been around a long time and is a better tour than up in Hershey, IMHO. Color was a deep dark-brown allowing zero light penetration. Nose was like a whiff of a recently burned building - smoky, burnt, even dark chocolaty (S'mores, anyone?). Mouthfeel was medium-to-full and my initial taste was like peanut butter. P. B. & chocolate?!? Zounds! I have not yet had a Reese's Dark, but this was what I imagined one to be like. Needless to say, much too sweet for my taste, but that is just my hophead self. YMMV. Finish started with a peanut butter taste, including an oiliness, but gave 'way to a dark chocolate bitterness at the extreme finish. I wish them well at GABF and with its unique flavor, it will probably do well, but it just was not my bag, baby. Gimme dem hops!
Aug 23, 2010
Photo of Slatetank
Reviewed by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Nitro pour at the brewpub in a twelve ouncer.

A - A deep walnut brown w/ cascade of light cream to a collar of light tan w/ micro whipped head, tiny bead and smooth surface

S - Hershey bar smell, smooth sweet chocolate odor w/ mild fruity nose and slight bittersweet cocoa aroma

M - A mild smooth creamy malt texture w/ a hint of char and sweet sugary tip w/ mild bitter note in the dry finish

T - A very sweet cocoa start which leads to cereal like toast not e w/ a bittersweet chocolate not w/ mild bitter flavor. The taste of hops w/ light charred malt and coffee-like beany earthy accent. The mild toasted nut flavor lingers w/ cocoa puff taste and the overroasted coffee note w/ slight burnt marshmallow flavor as it finishes. The finish has a pretty strong bitterness to balance the sweet cocoa elements

D - The drinkability is average w/ a basic cocoa stout taste, not really showing its 10% strength. The nitro is accentuating the bitterness and does not really help overall IMO too much bittersweet for me, but worth a try
Nov 26, 2009
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A 12 oz nitro pour at the Lancaster brewpub.

A: The stout is dark, a Guinness knock-off looks-wise with a dense white head that laces in strata in the glass.

S: The nose has bitter chocolate and vanilla with a surprisingly streong citrus hop aroma at the end of each sniff. Intense but pleasant.

T: Bitter chocolate appears in spades, along with vanilla, coffee and ample booze. The hoppiness hidden in the nose isn't as readily apparent here. Over the top? Absolutely. Another good stout from Paul? No doubt.

M: The mouthfeel is rich, heavy with chocolate and booze. Be careful with this monster, it's got a long tail.

D: It's approachable but it is big, a mouthfull that can hit hard if you aren't paying attention. I wouldn't rank this above Oompa Loompa but it works in its own right.
Nov 26, 2009
Shokolad Stout from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 25 ratings