Zonker Stout
Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub

Zonker StoutZonker Stout
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From:
Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
 
Wyoming, United States
Style:
Foreign / Export Stout
Ranked #2
ABV:
6%
Score:
93
Ranked #3,483
Avg:
4.18 | pDev: 8.61%
Reviews:
278
Ratings:
554
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 27, 2023
Added:
Dec 26, 2001
Wants:
  167
Gots:
  47
A rich, well-balanced foreign style stout with a huge amount of roasted barley as well as chocolate, black, and caramel malts. The intense roast character is the main attribute of this black colored beer. The alcohol content is 6.0%. Zonker has been recognized time and again as one of the top foregin style stouts.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RJUGA03:
Photo of RJUGA03
Reviewed by RJUGA03 from Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
A- Poured a used motor oil colored body with a slight medium-brown head.
S-Aromas of coffee, chocolate, nut, and malts.
T-On the draw it offered flavors to the coffee and chocolate smells. The sip finished smoothly.
M-At first it was quite viscous and flowed into a lingering coffee bittered aftertaste.
D-This is a great year round stout beer and I do enjoy it. It has a bit of a hard time standing apart from other stouts in my humble opinion.
Dec 17, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of NCSapiens
Rated by NCSapiens from Indiana

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Just a straight down the plate roasty stout.
Dec 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.23 by funku2 from Colorado

Dec 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Nyoder

Nov 26, 2023
Photo of Harrison8
Reviewed by Harrison8 from Missouri

4.19/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Notes are a blend from nitro draft and regular cans.

Pours black with two fingers of khaki foam. Great retention. Head is more fluffy and taller out of the can vs nitro. Aroma is heavy roasty and toasty malts with mild caramel and earthy behind. Nice roastiness that gives it depth, but not harshness. Nitro smells a touch thin vs the can. Flavor profile is roasty and toasty malts with caramel, chocolate and bready, earthy malts. Nice malt presence and oomph without being overly heavy. Mouth feel is medium in thickness with a creamy, decadent texture. The texture on nitro is even more decadent and creamy, effectively the difference between a cozy comforter and a pair of thick fuzzy wool socks on a bitter cold winter night. Overall, really lovely stout. Nothing overly complex or heavy - it's sippable, but forgiving if those sips turn into gulps.

Served on nitro draft and out of a 12oz can. Reviewed from a collection of notes during my WY visit.
Nov 03, 2023
Photo of NorsemanOne
Reviewed by NorsemanOne from Utah

4.17/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12oz can poured into a can-esque glass at about 50 degrees

Canned on 5.7.23

Pours a very deep and slick oily black with a fair 2F head that settled into a suitable ring

Dark and dark roast coffee aroma but not overwhelming at all

A delightful mix of dark chocolate/semi-sweet chips, and big roasty dark coffee, and just a hint of creaminess

Nice moderately filling body and similar carbo

Overall a very good stout and one I'm glad I got a sixer of!
Aug 02, 2023
Photo of JerzDevl2000
Reviewed by JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This was another beer that I picked up at the Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming when I was out that way not too long ago. Don’t have this style much but when you come across something this highly rated, it’s worth a go!

Indeed, this lived up to its lofty rating a land description as this was dark, varied, and well-balanced. Plenty of mocha head topped the liquid out although the spotty lacing left behind should have been more extensive. That was the only underwhelming aspect of this brew as the roasted, rough nose was enough to draw me in. Lots of barley and dark chocolate in it as the taste contained hints of milk chocolate, raisin, currant, and licorice. Nuanced, varied, and a bit mysterious, this was dark without being burnt, full-flavored without being rich, and full bodied without being strong. Certainly, that was no easy feat!

The carbonation was light as the flavors lingered and this was nicely roasted without being thin or sweet like espresso and coffee. I wouldn’t change the amount of alcohol in this as it was spot on, and the aftertaste was neither dry nor overtly strong. No date was written anywhere as it was a treat to see a map of the Snake River on the can once I peeled the label off. This held up well and was a clear-cut winner for it’s style as it deserved it’s rating on here. Indeed, I was glad to put this river through my liver!
Jan 26, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a 12-oz can into a tulip glass.

Appearance: Very dark brown, nearly black, with a dark tan head so large that it required the beer to be poured in two stages; the head lingered long and left plenty of lacing.

Nose: Dark roast, chocolate, mixed with sweet

Mouthfeel: Wonderfully thick

Attack: Follows the nose; remarkable balance of dark roast bitter, chocolate, and coffee

Finish: Continues the attack, slight hop bitterness.

This is the ur-craft beer for me — the one that was my real introduction to craft beer many years ago, at the brewery in Jackson, Wyoming. It’s still one of my favorite beers ever — I’m ashamed that I’m just now getting around to rating it — and I bring home multiple sixes of it each summer vacation after we backpack in the Wyoming mountains. I’m not going to pretend to be unbiased; still, other reviewers seem to agree it deserves a very high rating.
Dec 17, 2022
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.24/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz can. Unreadable stamp on can bottom for canning date.
Black colored body, with thin mahogany back lit edge. One finger of dark tan head. Left lacing on non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma of dark roasted malts which express caramel, toffee, and molasses. Some chocolate and minor coffee notes.
Taste is slightly sweet with a later bit of bitterness. Dark roasted malts exude cocoa, coffee, and caramel/molasses. Avoids char, is still very dark in flavors. Has a touch of dark fruit hops.
Medium mouth feel. Silky texture. Very dry finish. Leaves some numbness on the tongue. Very good carbonation.
Classic stout that does the job with malts and no added adjuncts.
Dec 14, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by bpfrush from Wisconsin

Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by Samnem from Pennsylvania

Jul 28, 2022
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
cant believe i have not rated this one until now, one of their classics and one of the best straight up stouts in the region, absolutely famous for a reason, no frills, old school extraordinarily well crafted, somehow still flies under the radar. black and shiny and frothy from the tap, looks gorgeously refined and silky, good body but not overly viscous for what it is. the nose is earthy and dry, no attempt at too much middle malt richness, dark chocolate, an almost irish thing to the yeast, some toasted breadiness, fresh ground coffee, and minerals, just a little alcohol, more at temperature, maybe oats or dark wheat in the mash here too, more nuance than most on the grain side without any real sweetness. the flavor has some charcoal character, an almost oak aged decadence and smoothness, but is yet still dry. more coffee, dark chocolate, light raisin, and mocha character, along with a silky texture than hangs around just long enough on the swallow and isnt quite neutral on the ferment, right on. subtle almost rye spice to this too, just a little more going on than in most of these, but all real subtle. they really dont make beer like this anymore, nowadays this would have vanilla and milk sugar in it, be 9% abv, and be bastardized beyond recognition. credit to snake river for a world class beer and for not feeling the need to make it trendy. if you built it they will come. it doesnt get much better than this in the style. i would love to try the nitro edition...
Jul 19, 2022
Photo of WunderLlama
Reviewed by WunderLlama from Massachusetts

4.27/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Can poured into a Smog City snifter

In the year 2000 and again in 2001 they were named “Small Brewery of the Year” at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado.

Ranked #2 for Stout foreign/ export on BA

Brewers Notes: A rich, well-balanced foreign style stout with a huge amount of roasted barley as well as chocolate, black, and caramel malts. The intense roast character is the main attribute of this black colored beer. The alcohol content is 6.0%. Zonker has been recognized time and again as one of the top foregin style stouts.handcrafted in Jackson hole , Wyoming. Named for a big fly to attract big fish, Zonker is a rich and roasty foreign style stout, crafted for those among us with the biggest personalities. Anchored in a silky chocolate and caramel malt finish, this black colored beer has been recognized time and time again as one if the worlds best stouts

Dark brown cola liquid capped by a massive , three finger creamy brown foam top. Spotty lacings and good retention , settles to a fluffy one finger layer after five minutes

Aroma is roast malts, chocolate, coffee

Taste is roast malts, smooth with no char, chocolate notes, hint of coffee

Smooth flavorful mouthfeel

Great beer, recommended, worth seeking out. Put this river thru your liver
Jun 05, 2022
 
Rated: 3.96 by shreead from Michigan

May 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4.59 by DannyBoy15347 from Missouri

Jan 09, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by rare_bird from Michigan

Aug 08, 2021
Photo of jkblr
Reviewed by jkblr from Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
12oz can stamped 03/02/21 poured into a tulip pint glass at fridge temp 6% ABV. The beer pours dense, black in color with generous and lasting mocha colored head. The head recedes slowly to a one inch cap and leaves a web of lacing covering the glass. The aroma is mild featuring dark cocoa & slight ash with a nutty, earthy undertone. The taste is more dark chocolate with a caramel balance not found in the aroma. Mild bitterness. The mouthfeel is silky & medium bodied with less than medium carbonation and a mostly dry finish. Overall, excellent. This is a superb example of a disappearing style. Export stouts, done well, offer the character of the imperials with much better drinkability. Would definitely acquire and drink again.
May 29, 2021
 
Rated: 4.84 by BMBCLT from South Carolina

Mar 20, 2021
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

4.02/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
CAN: 12 fl oz pull-tab with an understated label. Nabbed as part of a sixer from a Total Wine & More in Colorado - I think for $9.99 USD plus tax?

"Export Style Stout." Currently ranked #1 on the top Stout - Foreign / Export list with a 93 overall score.

6% ABV.

Served cold into an oversized pint nonic snifter hybrid glass thingamajigger (I don't know what to call this glassware but it's fancy).

APPEARANCE: Pours a gorgeous gilded tan head replete with loads of creamy softness. Robust...its starting ~6-7cm head height sticks around for a good 8 minutes or so, and rich thick lacing coats the sides of the glass as the head slowly recedes. Body colour is a true to style opaque black. No yeast/lees are visible within.

Looks as an export stout ought to. I guess the head could be still more gilded and could have more of an imperial stout-like golden sheen to better effect, if we're really picking nits. I see nothing wrong with this appearance and it looks rather good.

AROMA: Roasted barley is immediately obvious, buoyed by chocolate malt, dark malt sweetness, and burnt sugars. Hints of something from the licorice/fennel/aniseed family of herbs...I guess fennel. Burnt blackstrap molasses. Buried scintillae of caramelized sugars.

Seems perfectly attenuated for the style, with a big roasty bitterness balanced by specialty chocolate malts. Seems like a carafa-driven export stout that's impeccably balanced judging by the aroma.

I don't get any coffee-like aromatics, dark fruit, vanilla/vanillin, or actual chocolate (i.e. the chocolate aroma is solely chocolate malt-derived).

Aromatic intensity is average.

TASTE & TEXTURE: Big, roasty, and dry, with a nice undertone of burnt sugars and earthy fennel-like spice. No hop flavours are obvious...maybe some preservative-only herbal hop varietals. Chocolate malt joins with its dark malt backbone to give it some balancing sweetness without usurping the roast at the beer's heart. And the roast is lovely...this beer is chock full of carafa goodness, pleasing the roasted barley lover in all of us.

Has a subtle dryness and coarseness that helps coax out depth of flavour from the carafa/roasted barley without detracting from the gooeyness on the back end that complements the smooth chocolate flavours. Rich without tasting too sweet; robust without being too boozy or harsh. A flirtation with silky softness towards the back end helps surface a brief hint of fudge and chocolate syrup before the roast banishes that sweetness back under its depths.

Carbonation is perfect. Medium to full-bodied, which is apt for the style and this beer's flavour profile.

OVERALL: This is an impeccably balanced export stout with no flaws and few shortcomings...I will say the subtle coffee-like flavour carafa tends to impart is absent here to its slight detriment, and I can't help but imagine some vanillin or vanilla bean flavours would liven it up. But while I can imagine it better with subtle tweaks, I can't find any faults or flaws; it's tremendously well brewed.

Rivals Guinness' export stouts, which is no small feat in my book.

A- (4.13) / EXCELLENT

***
12/14/20 12 fl oz can:

Roasty with chocolate undertones. Boasts impressive depth of flavour. Balanced.

God, I love a nice roasty stout in the winter.

B+ / VERY GOOD
Nov 29, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by odenbr12 from New Jersey

Nov 21, 2020
Zonker Stout from Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub
Beer rating: 93 out of 100 with 554 ratings