Chocarrubica
Grado Plato
- From:
- Grado Plato
- Italy
- Style:
- Oatmeal Stout
Ranked #338 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 80
Ranked #36,670 - Avg:
- 3.48 | pDev: 25.29%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 64
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 15, 2025
- Added:
- Jan 09, 2008
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 3
SCORE
80
Good
80
Good
With its unusual brewing process and ingredients - malted barley, oats, cocoa beans, carob beans, hops and yeast- this beer is not easy to categorise. Despite many doubts about how best to create a beer with cocoa, this beer was finally developed with the idea coming to the brewer having watching a documentary about the American landing in Sicily in World War Two. The documentary showed american soldiers handing out bars of chocolate to children who had
only ever known carob beans and this gave rise to the concept of a marriage between the “poor” sweetness of carob and the “rich” sweetness of cocoa.
This marriage also influenced the name of the beer, as you might have guessed. The significant challenges associated with the fine-tuning of the recipe and with production itself, given the nature of the raw materials chosen, were only overcome after long hours of hard work This is a beer with a powerful body and relatively high alcohol content (7% a/v) which imparts a velvety texture in the mouth. Its licorice tones are well balanced with flavors of cocoa and carob intermingling pleasantly depending on the serving temperature.
Well matched with chocolate- or coffee-based deserts, Chocarrubica has received numerous awards: first prize in its category the 2007 Italian Craft Beer competition; 5 stars in the Slow Food “Guide to Italian Beers”; Platinum Medal at Mondial del la Bière, Strasbourg (France) in 2010.
only ever known carob beans and this gave rise to the concept of a marriage between the “poor” sweetness of carob and the “rich” sweetness of cocoa.
This marriage also influenced the name of the beer, as you might have guessed. The significant challenges associated with the fine-tuning of the recipe and with production itself, given the nature of the raw materials chosen, were only overcome after long hours of hard work This is a beer with a powerful body and relatively high alcohol content (7% a/v) which imparts a velvety texture in the mouth. Its licorice tones are well balanced with flavors of cocoa and carob intermingling pleasantly depending on the serving temperature.
Well matched with chocolate- or coffee-based deserts, Chocarrubica has received numerous awards: first prize in its category the 2007 Italian Craft Beer competition; 5 stars in the Slow Food “Guide to Italian Beers”; Platinum Medal at Mondial del la Bière, Strasbourg (France) in 2010.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania
4.01/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.01/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Two 11.2 fluid ounce brown bottles were emptied entirely into a clear glass liter mug. The pours went nicely, as only a modest tightly knit head of tan was produced. The liquid beneath is almost black coffee brown, almost imperceptibly more brownish. Surprisingly, there's not much aroma, nothing that would predict this is a chocolate stout. Even the roasted malt is subdued. There's more to taste and it's pleasant. In particular, it's not too sweet and the added carob actually mellows the chocolate character in a good way, providing another taste level. The roasted barley malt comes through, adding just the right amount of bitterness, especially at the finish. Oats provide additional body, without making it heavy, nor sticky. Overall, it's easy to overlook the nearly non-existent glass lacing. The body is nonetheless fine. The taste is much more of dark chocolate than milk chocolate, the 7% ABV is nicely incorporated into the taste and it's not candybar sweet. Probably not a beer to make a night of, but quite a nice treat.
Dec 15, 2025Reviewed by Sinfull from New York
3.75/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown, almost black color. Nice, tan head. Caramel malt, chocolate, and a hint of dark fruits in aroma. Sweet taste with cocoa flavor. Light, alcohol notes
Jan 16, 2025
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York
3.38/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.38/5 rDev -2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
This one pours a fairly dark brown color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like dark chocolate, roasted malt, and some caramel.
This is decent enough, but a little boring, as the finish is quite watery, with no real roasty bite on the finish. It’s kind of just watery chocolate.
This is light bodied, a little underattenuated, but drinkable enough.
This was alright but definitely a bit messy and flawed.
Mar 30, 2023This smells like dark chocolate, roasted malt, and some caramel.
This is decent enough, but a little boring, as the finish is quite watery, with no real roasty bite on the finish. It’s kind of just watery chocolate.
This is light bodied, a little underattenuated, but drinkable enough.
This was alright but definitely a bit messy and flawed.
Reviewed by Lembeh from New York
4.66/5 rDev +33.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.66/5 rDev +33.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this at Sottocasa -Harlem. The owner brought it out as a pairing with the tiramisu we ordered. It was very good. A little surprised to see this categorized as a Stout. It was more of a Brown Ale-Porter hybrid. Really nice roasted malts and caramel on the nose and taste. Paired perfectly with the Tiramisu. Would get this again for sure.
Oct 03, 2016
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois
2.85/5 rDev -18.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
2.85/5 rDev -18.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Reviewed in the "1001 Beers to Taste Before You Die," this was one of the beers that frustrated my bear-hunting endeavors in America. But I finally cornered it in Milano's Eataly and this bottle was the last of the dozen beers I schlepped; dragging my wife through the central stations of northern Italy and Switzerland, along the western part of Germany and all the way to Amsterdam (where I finally poured into the drain half the bottle in disgust of my entirely too-strict adherence to the admonition of Respect Beer.)
I believe I opened this Chocarrubica between Cologne and Amsterdam. At least 3 of 4 passengers were German whom I offered to share this large bottle with. Their response to this obnoxious American was frank: "Italians should not make beer." And for those who might know different styles well, their response was "and certainly not stout."
Majority rules and is correct. If you make the mistake of seeking out this beer, don't double the mistake by buying this beer.
Jun 16, 2016I believe I opened this Chocarrubica between Cologne and Amsterdam. At least 3 of 4 passengers were German whom I offered to share this large bottle with. Their response to this obnoxious American was frank: "Italians should not make beer." And for those who might know different styles well, their response was "and certainly not stout."
Majority rules and is correct. If you make the mistake of seeking out this beer, don't double the mistake by buying this beer.
Reviewed by BethanyB from New York
3.61/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
A deep mahogany with bubbles that cling to the side. The tan head starts out strong ,then fizzles away. Despite the high carbonation, the mouthfeel is quite thin for the style, calling more attention to the equally weak flavor profile. A mild, blasé taste of cacao nibs and medium roast coffee mostly come into play in the finish. And yet, a bit of black pepper keeps this from being a total snoozer.
May 19, 2016
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado
3.77/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.77/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
a really cool and unique beer, just not worth the absurd price i paid for it. really gnarly dark in color, nice radiant luster on it, and a minimal head that doesnt last more than a few minutes. it looks less viscous than anticipated, and almost watery for how dark the color is. it smells like raw cocoa thats for sure, bitter and intense, coffee notes coming from it as well. the taste is a lot more well integrated than the nose, which sort of comes in waves of flavor. i am surprised how much grain flavor there is in this for how light the body is and how bold the additives come through. roasty but not acidic or bitter in that regard, bitter from the cocoa only it seems. none of the caramel malt middle we sometimes see in the style, especially lately. it reminds me weirdly of the st. ambroise oatmeal stout made up in quebec, it has an appreciable yeast character and roast level to that one, although it is far less interesting in the yeast department than i have come expect all italian beers to be. well done brew on the whole, i could absolutely stand more carbonation, but the flavors are dialed in and very unique. id love to try more stuff from these guys, but this is the only one i have seen in colorado.
May 07, 2015
Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.73/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is close to being jet black in color—slight traces of reddish brown are visible near the edge of the glass when it is held up to a bright light. It poured with a quarter finger high light tan head that died down, leaving thick wispy lacing on the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: The smell is slightly sweet and has light notes of lactose and chocolate.
T: Like the smell, the taste is chocolaty, but the carob beans lighten up the chocolate flavors so that they don't seem as rich as pure cacao beans.
M: It feels a bit under medium-bodied on the palate and is slightly smooth with a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and has a unique blend of carob and cacao flavors.
Jun 30, 2014S: The smell is slightly sweet and has light notes of lactose and chocolate.
T: Like the smell, the taste is chocolaty, but the carob beans lighten up the chocolate flavors so that they don't seem as rich as pure cacao beans.
M: It feels a bit under medium-bodied on the palate and is slightly smooth with a low to moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and has a unique blend of carob and cacao flavors.
Reviewed by tippiecanoes from Kentucky
5/5 rDev +43.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +43.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
If there is a beer that I will keep firmly planted in my memory it's the Chocarrubica. I have the bottle sitting on my desk to remind me of how delicious it was. I ordered this beer at a very expensive Italian restaurant and paired it with a top notch handmade gnocci. The body was thick, but not so much that it was like a Guiness; it was well balanced. The Carob and Cacao Beans were not muted, but not overdone either; again it was well balanced and absolutely out of this world delicious. Anyone who gave this beer a 1 has a rotten palate and shouldn't be drinking any beer whatsoever. I'd say I'm a real beer drinker, not a snob that can't taste amazingness.
May 14, 2014
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