Dubious Ruffian Chocolate Stout
Badger State Brewing Company

 

 

 

From the can poured into a glass at The Cookery in Fish Creek, WI on 8/10/17. No date on the can. Review from notes. Appears black with a medium sized head. Smells/tastes of roasted malt, cocoa, earthy hops, and dark fruit; weak intensity. Moderate bitterness, dryness, and tartness in the finish. Below average body and above average carbonation. Overall, it's not a very tasty stout. There are much better options available.

 

 

 

I had to order this one for a multitude of reason. 1) The name. 2) It's a chocolate stout. 3) It was a nice brisk, fall day which called for a heavier beer. This beer pours an opaque, black hue with ruby edges and a dark khaki head that is creamy and dissipates quickly to a thin lacing. I cannot see the carbonation due to the opacity. 3.5/5 The aroma is typical of the stout style with dark chocolate and espresso coming to the fore along with herbal hops. There are undertones of oak and leather as well, but they are faint. The chocolate and coffee smell rather bitter. 3.75/5 The flavor is sweet but has a fair amount of bitterness to it. Notes of molasses, char, tobacco, espresso, dark chocolate, and herbal hops come through rather nicely with the espresso providing a moderate hit of bitterness that lingers for quite some time. The chocolate may also contribute to this bitterness as well since it comes across more as baker's chocolate than milk chocolate. 3.75/5 This is a medium bodied beer that is quite a bit lighter than many stouts that I have had and is dry with a lingering dryness after swallowing. A bit of light carbonation burn is noticeable prior to the beer warming up. 3.75/5 I was expecting a bit of a heavier beer than this turned out to be, although it still is not light by any stretch of the imagination. The balance and flavors are typical and true to style. In the end, a straightforward stout. 3.75/5

 

i agree with the other reviewer here that this one needs a little reworking. i didnt get a whole lot of chocolate on it, aside from what comes from the malt there. it has a good roast profile, but it seems a little overcooked to me, thinned out, slightly tannic or sharp, and more bitter than it needs to be for what its trying to accomplish i think. i too get the smoke, like the wort got a little burnt or something. not bad, but interesting and possibly unintentional. where is the chocolate? maybe a bitter darker chocolate in here, but definitely not the rawness and earthy aspects of cacao nibs, and not the sweet thickness of milk chocolate either, whatever they have done, there needs to be more of it for it to be appreciable i reckon. also a little on the thin side for a stout, not watery, just not rich. good carbonation though for sure. this all sounds so negative, its not a bad beer, but it doesnt live up to the potential its name projects, and it ends up being a little bit of a disappointment for me. will have to revisit in the future...

 

 

Meh... sorry team, this one was underwhelming. Absolutely love the look and smell (motor oil that smells like yeasty chocolate). However, this one was phoned in on the flavor profile. I'm actually getting a smokey flavor from this which is overpowering, and the mouthfeel is watery. I prefer something thicker, smoother, and sweeter when having a chocolate stout.