Ivins' Famous Chocolate Creme Stout
Conshohocken Brewing Company

 

Except for the hydrogenated palm oil, this seems to have all the necessary ingredients of a decent chocolate creme cookie. Once poured from a pint can, which was emptied into a clear glass liter mug, its stoutlike characters can be observed. Maybe not the darkest stout to be encountered, probably the lactose to blame, but it's dark, dark brown enough to be perceived as a stout from the onset. The spare biege head is enduring, without providing much lacing inside the glass. The aroma is of a muted chocolate stout, not malt heavy, nor overly sweet. This drinks smoothly and with ample body, but it's bland for the expectations. The advertised chocolate creme is barely there. Although this falls short of replicating a chocolate creme cookie, it's a tasty brew on its own accord. Perhaps it's a good thing that it's not too sweet and that the chocolate and lactose are subtle. Don't think of this as a typical dessert beer, where it's usually one and done and you'll probably enjoy it. This is a very drinkable brew and you'll probably like it enough to quickly have a second.

 

Conshohocken Brewing Co. "Ivins' Famous Chocolate Creme Stout"
1 pint can, "CANNED ON 11/04/21 10:27". Sampled on 12/22/21.
$2 @ Acme #3711, Bala Cynwyd, PA

Notes via stream of consciousness: I've seen Ivins' cookies, and I know I've had their spicy ginger cookies, but I didn't know they made anything beyond that, so good for them in teaming up with Conshohocken to get their name out there. The label doesn't say anything about being brewed with cookies but it does note Madagascar vanilla beans and lactose. It's a very dark brown that's almost black but not quite, with clear notes of dark mahogany brown and ruby when held to the light. The head is a cap of densely creamy tan that holds quite well. The aroma is mainly of dark, grainy malt but there is a lightly chocolatey note to it. The flavor is much fuller and richer, and actually quite sweet. There's a chocolatey side to it, and a darker, more bitter, "chocolate" for lack of a better word, note. It reminds me of a Hydrox or Oreo cookie. I get the vanilla as well, and that makes it even more like a Hydrox (the original Oreo). It's sweetish, chocolatey, caramelish, vanilla-ish, and mildly bitter leading to a fading and gently passing finish. I won't say that this is a dessert beer, but it could serve as one. It could also be used as an ingredient in all kinds of chocolate confections. I think it would be a great base for a vanilla ice cream float. Back to the beer itself, it's medium bodied and gently crisp. The head held up pretty well, and it left decent enough lacing about the glass. I wasn't expecting much of this but it's actually damned good, and fairly unique as well.
Review #7,623

16 oz can poured into a pint glass

A- Black with a three finger mocha head.

S- Roasted malts, chocolate, some vanilla, hints of lactose

T- Chocolate, lactose, roasted malts, some vanilla.

M- Smooth, light to medium body.

O- A tasty cookie inspired stout, nose is a more bitter and balanced the taste.