Belgian Chocolate Ale
Outlaw Brewing

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – The beer is served a deep brown color, nearly black, with a one finger head of a cream colored foam. The head has a decent level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a bit of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is strongest of a sweeter caramel and yeasty smell with only a moderate showing of a chocolate aroma. Mixed with these smells comes notes of a spice of cinnamon and coriander with a little bit of clove mixed within. Some roasted malt and coffee round out the aroma, giving it a yeasty roasted Belgium smell overall.

Taste – The taste begins with a roasty and slightly bready taste mixed with a lighter cocoa and roasted malt base. Right from the start there is a good level of yeast which is mixed with a decent showing of clove and coriander. As the taste moves forward the cocoa and roasted malt grow stronger in nature with a little bit of a coffee flavor developing on the tongue as well. A lighter caramel and vanilla flavor develop throughout the taste sweetening the brew a bit more than it was originally. With the increase in sweet and roast as well as the higher level of yeast and spice, one is left with a still rather drier, but rather easy drinking dark and cocoay taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the slightly thinner side for a darker porter like brew with a carbonation level that is average. A little thicker of a body may have been slightly nicer for the darker flavors, but with that said, and taking into account the more yeasty and spice flavors of the brew, the feel is not too shabby.

Overall – This was a rather nice slightly drier and very easy drinking chocolate beer that was certainty not overly sweet, but was rather easy drinking. A good brew overall.