Dark Chocolate Cherry Stout
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown

Good Imperial Stout. I drank it a little colder than the ideal and assumed that's why the cherry flavor was not very evident. The other reviewers stated that they didn't notice much cherry either. Other than that, very enjoyable. Poured from a 16 oz, can into a pint glass, this beer featured a milk-chocolate brown color with no light coming through. The medium sized head was frothy and poured a medium tan color that looked more light tan/cream colored as it settled. Head retention was better than average and there were some patchy, broken bands of lacing on the glass. Aroma and taste were very rich and malty with chocolaty flavors. There was some sweetness there but not enough to say that this was strictly a dessert beer. I had it with a meal of cheese, crackers and fruit and enjoyed it. Mouthfeel was rich and smooth with very little hint of alcohol. The amount of chocolate and sweetness was just right. Well done.

 

Dark Chocolate Cherry Stout (2025) from Victory. 16 fl oz can, purchased 26/02/26 from Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA. $3.00 (Including tax)/$ 0.187/fl oz. In reefer at store, stored at 40 degrees F at home. Reviewed 04/03/26, review 3697. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Printed on can bottom “BEST BY: APR. 23. 2026 .” Served at 52.8 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 57.0 degrees F.
Appearance – 4. Basically, looks like every other stout with a large head, but the rear-lit color is exciting!
First pour – Deep Amber (SRM 15), clear.
Body – Ruby Brown (SRM 24), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lit, clear ruby.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.5 cm, aggressive center pour). Biscuit lightening to wheat as it oxygenates. High density, short duration, rapidly becoming medium density as the head drops to an irregular 0.7 - 0.9 cm crown fed by spotty carbonation, and a complete, thin, rocky cap. As the level drops, lacing resembling Stonehenge remains.
Lacing – Fair. Near-microscopic to medium bubbles form a short wall topped by a couple of angry Cookie Monsters. The previously mentioned Stonehenge lacing has degenerated into Morse code.
Aroma – 3 – Weak roasted malt, no hops, no chocolate, no cherry. No alcohol.
Flavor – 3 – Slightly bitter. Weak chocolate malt, no cherry, no hops, no alcohol (8.0 % according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Barely noticeable gastric warming occurs. Ends slightly dry.
Palate – 3 – Medium: Approaching creamy: Soft carbonation.
Style: Sort of follows the BA style description.
Final impression and summation: 3.25 Uncredited label art. Basically, worth the low price point but certainly not one higher.

Best By: 4-8-26

A - Black pour with overly dense, toffee colored creamy foamy sticky lacing.

S - Chocolate malt with some light char and cherries over the top.

T - Chocolate malt with a slight bit of char, some cherry, and ends with just enough bitterness to scrub away any cherry sweetness. Some gravely chocolate char lingers on the palate after the sip.

M - Medium body that's a tad on the thin side (and around the edges).

O - The nose outplays the flavor, especially when first cracked. A decently solid Stout.

 

A: dark black in body with a tan head.

S: sharp cherry and dark chocolate.

T: a hint of cherry and almond up front. Dark chocolate cones next with a touch of brown sugar. This reads more like a brown to me, but tasty.

M: medium thin buddy, moderate carbonation, slightly dry finish.

O: pretty tasty overall.

Doesn't live up to expectations - there is some cherry on the nose (barely) but none in the taste. The chocolate and roast malt are earthy and dry. It's tasty enough but where's the cherry on top?

This episode began by emptying the entire contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. There was very little tan head produced by the action. The color of the brew isn't quite the black coffee brown of most Stouts, but more like a dark chocolate brown. Neither the cherry, nor the dark chocolate flavorings overwhelm the aroma, likely a good thing. There's a little more dark chocolate to smell, but that reference is often present even in Stouts that don't add it. There's enough roasted barley malt for the nose to expect a good Stout with modest flavors added. That's the case for the taste. There is a little extra added dark chocolate flavor here than in any unflavored Stouts. But, the cherry is hard to find. It's very tasty, as is, but the promised cherry is missing to a disappointing degree. Not that this should be a desert Stout, because it works nicely just as is. A better hint of the cherry, it wouldn't have to be much, would give this an extra taste layer and make it a very good one, instead of a good one. There's very little glass lacing and there's very little problem with that. The mouthfeel is no better than average for a Stout with this level of ABV. This is a reasonablely good Stout with a modest dark chocolate flavor addition. Perhaps it shouldn't matter that it comes up a little short delivering the advertised cherry.