Cocoa Psycho
BrewDog
- From:
- BrewDog
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Imperial Pastry Stout
Ranked #884 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 89
Ranked #14,715 - Avg:
- 3.99 | pDev: 11.78%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 99
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sep 01, 2025
- Added:
- Mar 14, 2013
- Wants:
- 33
- Gots:
- 128
SCORE
89
Very Good
89
Very Good
Welcome to the world of Cocoa Psycho, a liquid dimension where pure indulgence reigns.
Originally brewed some 250 years ago to celebrate the Russian Royal Family, this 10% Imperial Russian stout borrows from the decadence of the time with its extravagantly smooth blend of crushed coffee beans, cocoa nibs and dark malts.
But continue to dig a little deeper, past the infusions of vanilla pods and toasted oak chips, and eventually you'll come face-to-face with the madness required to make this beer; a kind of insanity that would have made Rasputin himself proud.
To fully unleash the aromas and bittersweet luxury of this stout, we recommend drinking it from a stemmed beer glass before taking a sledgehammer to a Faberge Egg.
Originally brewed some 250 years ago to celebrate the Russian Royal Family, this 10% Imperial Russian stout borrows from the decadence of the time with its extravagantly smooth blend of crushed coffee beans, cocoa nibs and dark malts.
But continue to dig a little deeper, past the infusions of vanilla pods and toasted oak chips, and eventually you'll come face-to-face with the madness required to make this beer; a kind of insanity that would have made Rasputin himself proud.
To fully unleash the aromas and bittersweet luxury of this stout, we recommend drinking it from a stemmed beer glass before taking a sledgehammer to a Faberge Egg.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by DraftMonger from Denmark
3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Copenhagen 1/5 2020. 33 cl can from Meny, Østerfælled Torv, Kbh. Ø. Purple and golden version of BrewDogs usual design.
Pours opaque, dark brown with a fairly big, beige head. Settles as 0,3 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer and slowly evaporating. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is fairly intense with a heavy odor of sweet molasses meeting bitter chocolate and coffee. Something a bit burnt (or enthusiatically roasted). Brown sugar and syrup. Bitter dark chocolate and strong coffee.
Light carbonation. Thick, viscous, smooth, fat, slightly sticky, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is intense with a heavy sweetness followed by a medium strong coffee bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet with a lighter bitter undercurrent. Finish has a boozy burn.
Quite rich and sweet but with enough bitterness to avoid being cloying and enough punch to keep me awake (the coffee helps as well).
Sep 01, 2025Pours opaque, dark brown with a fairly big, beige head. Settles as 0,3 cm thick layer of foam covering the surface of the beer and slowly evaporating. Moderate lacing.
Aroma is fairly intense with a heavy odor of sweet molasses meeting bitter chocolate and coffee. Something a bit burnt (or enthusiatically roasted). Brown sugar and syrup. Bitter dark chocolate and strong coffee.
Light carbonation. Thick, viscous, smooth, fat, slightly sticky, lightly tingling texture.
Flavor is intense with a heavy sweetness followed by a medium strong coffee bitterness. Aftertaste is sweet with a lighter bitter undercurrent. Finish has a boozy burn.
Quite rich and sweet but with enough bitterness to avoid being cloying and enough punch to keep me awake (the coffee helps as well).
Reviewed by FLima from Brazil
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.83/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
This being sitting around for over 4 years. Color as black as you can get with the darkest head (by the way, quite thin) I have likely seen.
Aroma with predominant notes of cocoa, coffee, a bit of smoke and licorice.
Flavor with notes of roasted coffee beans, smoke, burnt sugar, cocoa, figs, lots of licorice and dark fruits. Dry aftertaste with a good bitterness.
Medium bordering full body with low carbonation. Alcohol of 10% is well-disguised.
I felt more the coffee, licorice and smoke over the cocoa. I was hoping for something more luscious. This was quite attenuated with no residual sugar.
Jul 30, 2022Aroma with predominant notes of cocoa, coffee, a bit of smoke and licorice.
Flavor with notes of roasted coffee beans, smoke, burnt sugar, cocoa, figs, lots of licorice and dark fruits. Dry aftertaste with a good bitterness.
Medium bordering full body with low carbonation. Alcohol of 10% is well-disguised.
I felt more the coffee, licorice and smoke over the cocoa. I was hoping for something more luscious. This was quite attenuated with no residual sugar.
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sample at BrewDog tasting, Stavanger. Impressive appearance: pitch black colour, large brown head. Lovely roasty aroma with notes of coffee, cocoa and vanilla. The flavour is a tad less impressive but still good - with the same elements as the aroma, and decent hops in the finish.
Jan 23, 2022
Reviewed by janubio from Spain
3.69/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.69/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a balloon glass.
Black colour, dark brown medium head with short retention, creamy lacing.
Aroma of chocolate, pharmacy alcohol, coffee, some varnish, a bit of smoke, dried fruits.
Medium body, creamy texture, normal carbonation. Cognac like finish.
In the mouth is more smokey, chocolate, coffee, varnish and booze.
Warming beer.
Oct 07, 2019Black colour, dark brown medium head with short retention, creamy lacing.
Aroma of chocolate, pharmacy alcohol, coffee, some varnish, a bit of smoke, dried fruits.
Medium body, creamy texture, normal carbonation. Cognac like finish.
In the mouth is more smokey, chocolate, coffee, varnish and booze.
Warming beer.
Reviewed by Jeffrey1701 from Netherlands
3.73/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
3.73/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Bought a bottle at Brewdog seven dials in London and took it home with me. When pouring this imperial stout it looks very thick and velvety, the body is black and it has a pretty dark brown head. When smelling it i think i smell something faintly woody, maybe leathery, dried fruit, hard to place for me. When tasting there is no sweetness and a bitter that's not too intense but lingers for a (short) while. When tasting i get a retronasal aroma of coffee. Also has a high ABV but doesn't feel boozy to me.
Jul 07, 2019
Reviewed by Treyliff from West Virginia
3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12oz can poured into a snifter
A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki colored head that has good retention
S- rich dark roasted malt mixes with notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, dark fruits, fruit cake, caramel, licorice, vanilla & a hit of coffee to close it out
T- dark and roasty, with notes of charred malt, chocolate syrup, cocoa nibs, fig, raisin, caramel & anise. The finish brings out a hint of coffee, as well as more dark fruits and chocolate
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish
O- big and bold, my only complaint is that I would have preferred a thicker mouthfeel
Jul 04, 2019A- pours jet black in color with a one-finger creamy khaki colored head that has good retention
S- rich dark roasted malt mixes with notes of cocoa, dark chocolate, dark fruits, fruit cake, caramel, licorice, vanilla & a hit of coffee to close it out
T- dark and roasty, with notes of charred malt, chocolate syrup, cocoa nibs, fig, raisin, caramel & anise. The finish brings out a hint of coffee, as well as more dark fruits and chocolate
M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a slightly creamy mouthfeel that continues into a slightly warming finish
O- big and bold, my only complaint is that I would have preferred a thicker mouthfeel
Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida
3.72/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Reviewed from (very) long-standing notes. Poured from the 11.2 oz. bottle into an El Catador Barrel-Aged glass. 2015 vintage bottle, consumed on 9/21/17.
A: Very dark brown, nearly black. Opaque. Forms a half-finger of dense tan head that fades to a ring of foam. Minimal visible carbonation, though that's not unexpected.
S: A punch of dark chocolate and cacao nibs up front. A good bit of vanilla as well, with dark roasted malts, caramel, and pipe tobacco. Necco wafers and a modest coffee roasted malts. Hints of toffee, anise (though not obnoxious), and more European dry dark roasted malts.
T: Chocolate – big dark chocolate, cacao nibs, baker’s dry bitter chocolate. Vanilla, caramel, and more chewing tobacco. Some coffee, and a sweet-ish fruity cherry flavor with more dry cacao nibs and 99% cacao. Dark roasted malts. Sweet and boozy vanilla (like vanilla extract) mixes with the chocolate in the hang.
M: Heavy-bodied, but probably about average for a Russian Imperial Stout. Low but again as-expected carbonation sensation. It does seem a touch boozy but pretty restrained for the listed 10%.
O: I can’t quite place, nor reconcile, the sweet to almost tart “cherry” flavor near the swallow here. It doesn’t seem like yeast esters, but this otherwise doesn’t seem infected at all. But if intentional, it’s not on the label nor does it seem to fit the beer particularly. And I think it clashes with the dry chocolate flavors. Perhaps it could be some overly sweet vanilla mixed with the chocolate. Either way, I’m not digging that flavor. Otherwise decent.
Mar 24, 2019A: Very dark brown, nearly black. Opaque. Forms a half-finger of dense tan head that fades to a ring of foam. Minimal visible carbonation, though that's not unexpected.
S: A punch of dark chocolate and cacao nibs up front. A good bit of vanilla as well, with dark roasted malts, caramel, and pipe tobacco. Necco wafers and a modest coffee roasted malts. Hints of toffee, anise (though not obnoxious), and more European dry dark roasted malts.
T: Chocolate – big dark chocolate, cacao nibs, baker’s dry bitter chocolate. Vanilla, caramel, and more chewing tobacco. Some coffee, and a sweet-ish fruity cherry flavor with more dry cacao nibs and 99% cacao. Dark roasted malts. Sweet and boozy vanilla (like vanilla extract) mixes with the chocolate in the hang.
M: Heavy-bodied, but probably about average for a Russian Imperial Stout. Low but again as-expected carbonation sensation. It does seem a touch boozy but pretty restrained for the listed 10%.
O: I can’t quite place, nor reconcile, the sweet to almost tart “cherry” flavor near the swallow here. It doesn’t seem like yeast esters, but this otherwise doesn’t seem infected at all. But if intentional, it’s not on the label nor does it seem to fit the beer particularly. And I think it clashes with the dry chocolate flavors. Perhaps it could be some overly sweet vanilla mixed with the chocolate. Either way, I’m not digging that flavor. Otherwise decent.
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