Black Coal Stout
Railway City Brewing Company

Black Coal StoutBlack Coal Stout
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From:
Railway City Brewing Company
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American Stout
Ranked #288
ABV:
6%
Score:
85
Ranked #21,001
Avg:
3.76 | pDev: 11.17%
Reviews:
25
Ratings:
77
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 02, 2024
Added:
Dec 17, 2012
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  17
This medium to full body stout is Railway City’s signature dark ale: introduced with a deep brown hue, the stout pours a thick and frothy dark chestnut coloured head. The nose is dominated by coffee and toasted characteristics with underlying tones of rich dark chocolate. On the palate the stout begins with bitter-sweet chocolate leading into elegant toasted notes reminiscent of coffee and a slight undertone of freshly baked rye bread.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Orionigel:
Photo of Orionigel
Rated by Orionigel from Canada (ON)

4/5  rDev +6.4%

Aug 28, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of paylstep
Reviewed by paylstep from Canada (ON)

2/5  rDev -46.8%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
not bad! Extremely burnt roasted coffe notes. Very smooht texture however. can atste the dark chocolate but it's not very sweet. Not very bitter either. This is a great stout for coffee drinkers. One of the best american stouts i've ever had.
Feb 02, 2024
Photo of GreesyFizeek
Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.03/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

There’s lots of roasted malt here, with some heavily roasted coffee, a touch of dark chocolate, and a sort of herbal bitterness.

This is very old school, charred and ashy, but in a good way. There’s tons of roast here, definitely reminiscent of very dark roast coffee. There’s not a ton of sweetness, but that honestly doesn’t get me down here.

This is medium bodied, somewhat creamy, with a great drinkability.

Black Coal is definitely an apt moniker for this one. It was executed quite well.
Jul 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

Sep 20, 2022
Photo of TheDukeOfHamilton
Reviewed by TheDukeOfHamilton from Canada (ON)

4.52/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Blacker than black. Spinal Tap would be proud. I didn't think stouts were that high on my list of favourite styles, but it's December now and I've realized I've picked this up a couple of times this week. Strong for a stout, at 6% and more flavour-forward than most, with notes of espresso, dark chocolate and licorice.

Overall, a truly standout stout.
Dec 07, 2021
Photo of sandy_lang
Reviewed by sandy_lang from Canada (ON)

4.59/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Look - Black as coal, with a great tan head
Smell - Sweet caramel malts
Taste - Heaven in a glass
Feel - Medium body with a creamy carb
Overall - Excellent. This is the top of my stouts, right along side the Holy Grail, Guinness.
Mar 09, 2021
Photo of swim
Reviewed by swim from Canada (ON)

3.81/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: Opaque very very dark brown essentially black, like a black void no light passes through. Some broam foam and lacing, some bubbles on the surface
S: Faint floral citrus hops, bready malt
T: Pungent, deep flavour, coffee grinds, burnt molasses. doughy malt, medium bitterness more than the IBU would suggest, lingering bitter aftertaste
F: Medium body, a bit oily, dry finish
O: Bold and brash flavourful stout. I'm not a fan of the style but those who are will probably enjoy it.
Nov 26, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by Long813 from Canada (ON)

Sep 23, 2020
Photo of Mitchell_
Reviewed by Mitchell_ from Canada (ON)

3.75/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Absolutely beautiful color. If you're looking for a stout you really can't go wrong with this one. As for taste I can pick up notes of coffee mixed with chocolate. Really a must try for people who like stout.
Jun 28, 2020
Photo of Larryfunnell
Reviewed by Larryfunnell from Canada (ON)

4.31/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Black coal is an apt description, this one pours out the colour of coal, with a good thick brownish foamy head. It goes down smoother than expected, especially given the blackness of it. Almost a hint of licorice in the aroma, with a good hit of chocolate and hints of coffee.
Mar 05, 2020
Photo of InspectorHound
Reviewed by InspectorHound from Canada (ON)

3.44/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Pours dark brown with a 2 finger tan head.
Light on the nose with burnt coffee coming through.
Very dry mouth feel, finishes tart and slightly sour.
Dominant tastes of burnt coffee, dark chocolate, oats and black jubes.
This beer earns a B -
Feb 17, 2020
 
Rated: 3.71 by SteveWeiler from Canada (ON)

Jan 20, 2020
Photo of drdiesel9483
Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio

3.71/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Look - Black with a great tan head
Smell - really sweet caramel toasty malts
Taste - toasty malty
Feel - medium light body with a creamy carb
Overall - not bad
Feb 01, 2019
Photo of rapayn01
Reviewed by rapayn01 from Kentucky

3.96/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a standard 473 ml Canadian pint can. Bitterness prevails with this stout and I liked it. The flavor made me think of dark unsweetened chocolate or even mocha. It's quite black in appearance, as the name implies. I'd seek it out again.
Nov 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.28 by achepil from Canada (ON)

Oct 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.7 by bixby1971 from Canada (ON)

Apr 10, 2018
Photo of Arichuna
Reviewed by Arichuna from Canada (ON)

2.7/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
As a lover of room temperature Irish Stout especially the caramely Murphy's I was disappointed by my first experience with the Black Coal Stout - taking the rating factors in turn, (1) Look - the head getting flat in 5 minutes in the glass (3) Smell - an acrid back smell (3) Taste - Too bitter a throat and too "medicinal" a mouth (4) Feel - smooth at first but turning quickly stodgy flat as the residual carbonation disappears. I'll try it from a unrefrigerated fresh cask next time (if such a thing exists these days) for a second opinion rather than from an LCBO can where Canadian bars insist on chilling stout like a soft drink
Apr 08, 2018
 
Rated: 4.14 by shivtim from Georgia

Apr 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.98 by JamesBondGA from Georgia

Feb 11, 2018
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

3.89/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Almost black with a hint of ruby when held to the light. Topped with 4 fingers of dark brown, grey tinged head.

Smells of chocolate, plastic, smokey roasted notes, and vanilla.

The taste follows the nose with lots of cocoa and chocolate notes. A little bitterness, but overall pretty balanced. A lot like what I'd imagine cooled, carbonated hot chocolate to taste like.

Medium, foamy body with low carbonation.

The brew exceeded my low expectations and ended up being quite pleasant. Drinking in Muskoka, Jan 28th, 2018.
Jan 29, 2018
Black Coal Stout from Railway City Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 77 ratings