Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock | Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Brewed by:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Massachusetts, United States | website
Style: Bock
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.80%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by TinusTime on 11-20-2003
Reviews: 1,169 | Ratings: 2,883
3.59/5 rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Has a surprisingly strong chocolate flavor. Creamy, smooth mouth feel. Described as a bock, and is labeled am ale, so it is somewhat confused. Enjoyable, but a definite divergence from a typical beer.
★ 204 characters
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Has a surprisingly strong chocolate flavor. Creamy, smooth mouth feel. Described as a bock, and is labeled am ale, so it is somewhat confused. Enjoyable, but a definite divergence from a typical beer.
★ 204 characters
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Rating this and the rest of the Winter series, someone gave me a sixer or Christmas :). Poured from bottle into Tulip, 1 finger tan head that recedes into a ring. Smells of Chocolate and orange, kinda different. Taste of chocolate and a lingering orange after taste. Not sure this is a bock. Doesn't have the traditional malt profile. That said it is a pretty easy drinking beer. This kind of reminds me of the Shiner Chocolate Stout, but not as sweet. Great after dinner beer if you want to skip out on dessert
★ 519 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Rating this and the rest of the Winter series, someone gave me a sixer or Christmas :). Poured from bottle into Tulip, 1 finger tan head that recedes into a ring. Smells of Chocolate and orange, kinda different. Taste of chocolate and a lingering orange after taste. Not sure this is a bock. Doesn't have the traditional malt profile. That said it is a pretty easy drinking beer. This kind of reminds me of the Shiner Chocolate Stout, but not as sweet. Great after dinner beer if you want to skip out on dessert
★ 519 characters
3.7/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: The beer is black when viewed from afar—when held up to a bright light the bottom of the glass is clear dark red in color. It poured with a short beige head that quickly died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface, a narrow collar around the edge, and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of sweet chocolate are present in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has sweet flavors of chocolate, similar to what you might expect from a dessert sauce. Some hints of cream are also perceptible.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is sweeter compared to other bocks but makes for a good dessert beer. It also fills you up to a certain degree.
Serving type: bottle
★ 812 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A: The beer is black when viewed from afar—when held up to a bright light the bottom of the glass is clear dark red in color. It poured with a short beige head that quickly died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles on the surface, a narrow collar around the edge, and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light to moderate aromas of sweet chocolate are present in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has sweet flavors of chocolate, similar to what you might expect from a dessert sauce. Some hints of cream are also perceptible.
M: It feels a bit more than medium-bodied and a little smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is sweeter compared to other bocks but makes for a good dessert beer. It also fills you up to a certain degree.
Serving type: bottle
★ 812 characters
3.69/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle from the Winter Classics mixed pack.
Deep brown with a small light tan head. Some sparse lacing on the glass. Very mild aroma of chocolate and roasted malt. Milk chocolate dominates the flavor. A touch of vanilla in there too. No bitterness at all, in fact it is rather creamy and smooth. Medium bodied and lighter on its feet than you would expect based on its appearance. Overall, a fairly one note beer, but that one note is not all that bad.
★ 466 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle from the Winter Classics mixed pack.
Deep brown with a small light tan head. Some sparse lacing on the glass. Very mild aroma of chocolate and roasted malt. Milk chocolate dominates the flavor. A touch of vanilla in there too. No bitterness at all, in fact it is rather creamy and smooth. Medium bodied and lighter on its feet than you would expect based on its appearance. Overall, a fairly one note beer, but that one note is not all that bad.
★ 466 characters
3.57/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I swear I rated this years ago, maybe I'm mixing up my memory with the Michelob version.
12 oz. bottle notched Apr. from the winter case (Costco) poured into a mug.
A- An assertive pour makes a huge, brown head atop a near black body. Held to light, deep red tones and light carbonation are visible. The head drops to 1/4 finger and leaves awesome lacing on the glass.
S- A good deal of chocolate (like the powder for chocolate milk). A little vanilla and some nutty aromas too. Overall, a little muted.
T- A lot of chocolate without going over the top. It's on the sweeter side, like milk chocolate with characteristics of vanilla and light roast coffee.
M- Medium body and carbonation. Pretty creamy with just a hint of chalky feel.
O- A favorite from this year's variety pack, probably the best of the bunch really. It straddles that line of a smooth nightcap and something I could put back in a session. Mind you, it's not something I'm going to go out of my way to find. It's just a really solid, drinkable beer.
★ 1,032 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I swear I rated this years ago, maybe I'm mixing up my memory with the Michelob version.
12 oz. bottle notched Apr. from the winter case (Costco) poured into a mug.
A- An assertive pour makes a huge, brown head atop a near black body. Held to light, deep red tones and light carbonation are visible. The head drops to 1/4 finger and leaves awesome lacing on the glass.
S- A good deal of chocolate (like the powder for chocolate milk). A little vanilla and some nutty aromas too. Overall, a little muted.
T- A lot of chocolate without going over the top. It's on the sweeter side, like milk chocolate with characteristics of vanilla and light roast coffee.
M- Medium body and carbonation. Pretty creamy with just a hint of chalky feel.
O- A favorite from this year's variety pack, probably the best of the bunch really. It straddles that line of a smooth nightcap and something I could put back in a session. Mind you, it's not something I'm going to go out of my way to find. It's just a really solid, drinkable beer.
★ 1,032 characters
4.2/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
DATE TASTED: January 21, 2016... GLASSWARE:Celebrator Doppelbock pokal... OCCASION: Cavs/Clippers on a Thursday... APPEARANCE: velvet black body wihth a brown head that rings out to an uneven smear; tracings are coral and fingers... AROMA: heavy chocolate beans are empowered by heavy toasted malts... vanilla and bread make this a beer worth breathing in over and over... PALATE: medium-bodied, enjoyable start with a smooth texture over the tongue... the finish is equally agreeable, smooth and lingering in its flavor... TASTE: toasted malts and cocoa beans, with vanilla, some vegetable notes, and peat--the overriding flavors agree with one another to a lactic consistency; among the better chocolate beers I have had... OVERALL: I recall sipping this with brother Jer in Morristown at the St. Patrick's Day parade--and loving it....now, having it again, the drinkability is its most respectable quality, the flavor, its second--a quality pair, indeed...best compliment I can give is that it belongs in this Ayinger Celebrator glass...
★ 1,041 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
DATE TASTED: January 21, 2016... GLASSWARE:Celebrator Doppelbock pokal... OCCASION: Cavs/Clippers on a Thursday... APPEARANCE: velvet black body wihth a brown head that rings out to an uneven smear; tracings are coral and fingers... AROMA: heavy chocolate beans are empowered by heavy toasted malts... vanilla and bread make this a beer worth breathing in over and over... PALATE: medium-bodied, enjoyable start with a smooth texture over the tongue... the finish is equally agreeable, smooth and lingering in its flavor... TASTE: toasted malts and cocoa beans, with vanilla, some vegetable notes, and peat--the overriding flavors agree with one another to a lactic consistency; among the better chocolate beers I have had... OVERALL: I recall sipping this with brother Jer in Morristown at the St. Patrick's Day parade--and loving it....now, having it again, the drinkability is its most respectable quality, the flavor, its second--a quality pair, indeed...best compliment I can give is that it belongs in this Ayinger Celebrator glass...
★ 1,041 characters
3.83/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light walnut color from the bottle and then turns dark chocolate brown (surprise?) into the glass. It's actually darker and thicker than their Holiday Porter. The head is almond colored and 2 fingers.
Aroma of melted chocolate, roast malts, and whipped cream. Could be stronger, but nothing off here.
Taste is roasted, dark, flavorful, and rich. Chocolate takes a back seat, and then very faintly a bit of fish oil on the finish, but it's so faint and so quick that it doesn't destroy the beer. Nevertheless, it's still a flaw.
Feel is highly carbonated, but that's okay because it's a Bock. A roasty feel, chocolatey, velvety, and a dry parch on the finish.
Chocolate Bock has been the best offering I've tried from the Holiday Pack so far. Whether that's saying much I'm not sure, but I'd have THIS one again.
★ 827 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a light walnut color from the bottle and then turns dark chocolate brown (surprise?) into the glass. It's actually darker and thicker than their Holiday Porter. The head is almond colored and 2 fingers.
Aroma of melted chocolate, roast malts, and whipped cream. Could be stronger, but nothing off here.
Taste is roasted, dark, flavorful, and rich. Chocolate takes a back seat, and then very faintly a bit of fish oil on the finish, but it's so faint and so quick that it doesn't destroy the beer. Nevertheless, it's still a flaw.
Feel is highly carbonated, but that's okay because it's a Bock. A roasty feel, chocolatey, velvety, and a dry parch on the finish.
Chocolate Bock has been the best offering I've tried from the Holiday Pack so far. Whether that's saying much I'm not sure, but I'd have THIS one again.
★ 827 characters
3.5/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Part of a variety 12 pack $14.99 Safeway. Dark black color, chocolate smell, creamy chocolate taste, heavy mouthfeel, overall an ok beer for the style. I wouldn't drink a 6 pack of it, but to have one on occasions is fine.
★ 224 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Part of a variety 12 pack $14.99 Safeway. Dark black color, chocolate smell, creamy chocolate taste, heavy mouthfeel, overall an ok beer for the style. I wouldn't drink a 6 pack of it, but to have one on occasions is fine.
★ 224 characters
4.27/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
It pours a nice, rich black with a foamy creme colored head, which leaves behind traces of laces. I pick up mostly a solid malt aroma with a small sniff of chocolate. The taste opens up and closes as chocolate. A pretty darn good chocolate flavor here. This one feels rather smooth, and is easy to drink. Overall, I enjoy this beer quite a bit. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised. Glad I picked it up!
Served in a 12oz snifter.
★ 441 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
It pours a nice, rich black with a foamy creme colored head, which leaves behind traces of laces. I pick up mostly a solid malt aroma with a small sniff of chocolate. The taste opens up and closes as chocolate. A pretty darn good chocolate flavor here. This one feels rather smooth, and is easy to drink. Overall, I enjoy this beer quite a bit. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I was surprised. Glad I picked it up!
Served in a 12oz snifter.
★ 441 characters
3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Very dark brown with creamy beige top.
Toasty, chocolate and a little malty taste.
Smells like milk and chocolate.
I would say the body isn't dry and light.
★ 157 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Very dark brown with creamy beige top.
Toasty, chocolate and a little malty taste.
Smells like milk and chocolate.
I would say the body isn't dry and light.
★ 157 characters
3.68/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark chocolate color: A bit of lacing. 1 finger or so of beige foam.
Smell: Not coming up with much. Perhaps a little cocoa sweetness.
Somewhat non-descript.
Taste: A little sweetness upfront, with some chocolate flavor in
the middle (once the beer warms), followed by some slight bitterness
in the close. It hedges towards something like a milk stout, but without
the depth of flavor and thickness.
Feel: Decent; somewhat creamy.
Overall: Had one at a holiday party in mid-Dec and another just recently. Recall
"more love" for the holiday party version (seemed sweeter - more festive) vs. the
recent pour. (Perhaps the 1st was "environmentally enhanced!") I had thought
initially that this one might be motivation enough to buy the SA Holiday pack,
but would probably 2nd-guess that. Interesting, but not sure I'd call it memorable.
★ 852 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look: Dark chocolate color: A bit of lacing. 1 finger or so of beige foam.
Smell: Not coming up with much. Perhaps a little cocoa sweetness.
Somewhat non-descript.
Taste: A little sweetness upfront, with some chocolate flavor in
the middle (once the beer warms), followed by some slight bitterness
in the close. It hedges towards something like a milk stout, but without
the depth of flavor and thickness.
Feel: Decent; somewhat creamy.
Overall: Had one at a holiday party in mid-Dec and another just recently. Recall
"more love" for the holiday party version (seemed sweeter - more festive) vs. the
recent pour. (Perhaps the 1st was "environmentally enhanced!") I had thought
initially that this one might be motivation enough to buy the SA Holiday pack,
but would probably 2nd-guess that. Interesting, but not sure I'd call it memorable.
★ 852 characters
3.7/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "enjoy before" date April 2016.
APPEARANCE: pours a very dark brown color that let's very little light penetrate, one-finger tan head that quickly dissipated until a ring of small bubbles remained around the glass, lighter carbonation, there is almost no lacing on the glass.
SMELL: the nose is very faint, roasted malt and cocoa.
TASTE: initially sweet cocoa then roasted malt, I'm not picking up much of a hop profile but that would be appropriate for this style.
PALATE: lighter carbonation, the bottle says velvety texture and that about sums it up, it's very smooth.
OVERALL: this is a good beer for what it is, a good novelty beer during the season, perfect for a sampler pack, I would not want to have more than one in a sitting, I would have this during the season but would not go out of my way to seek it out on it's own.
★ 897 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a Shaker pint glass, "enjoy before" date April 2016.
APPEARANCE: pours a very dark brown color that let's very little light penetrate, one-finger tan head that quickly dissipated until a ring of small bubbles remained around the glass, lighter carbonation, there is almost no lacing on the glass.
SMELL: the nose is very faint, roasted malt and cocoa.
TASTE: initially sweet cocoa then roasted malt, I'm not picking up much of a hop profile but that would be appropriate for this style.
PALATE: lighter carbonation, the bottle says velvety texture and that about sums it up, it's very smooth.
OVERALL: this is a good beer for what it is, a good novelty beer during the season, perfect for a sampler pack, I would not want to have more than one in a sitting, I would have this during the season but would not go out of my way to seek it out on it's own.
★ 897 characters
4.19/5 rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- dark almost black. looks alittle amber in the light. nice head that dissipates and leaves a nice creamy layer on top.
S- chocolate smell for sure. getting a sweetness from malts in the nose also.
T- read the smell description lol.
F- very nice thick creamy feel. low carbonation as you would expect.
O- very good. just for fun I drank this one on the back porch and its about 45F here in Georgia in December. this beer really did the trick for me tonight, and it doesn't get much better than a nice glass of one of these on a somewhat cold holiday night.
★ 558 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A- dark almost black. looks alittle amber in the light. nice head that dissipates and leaves a nice creamy layer on top.
S- chocolate smell for sure. getting a sweetness from malts in the nose also.
T- read the smell description lol.
F- very nice thick creamy feel. low carbonation as you would expect.
O- very good. just for fun I drank this one on the back porch and its about 45F here in Georgia in December. this beer really did the trick for me tonight, and it doesn't get much better than a nice glass of one of these on a somewhat cold holiday night.
★ 558 characters
3.78/5 rDev +3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Velvety mouthfeel, dark chocolate, sweet but not TOO sweet. Perfect for a roaring fire on a winter's night. Part of a winter sampler pack, poured into a goblet, darkest brown with minimal lacing. Smells of chocolate. Tastes of chocolate, black berries, caramel. Back to the mouthfeel, it coats the throat in a warm hug. Overall, quite good.
★ 355 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Velvety mouthfeel, dark chocolate, sweet but not TOO sweet. Perfect for a roaring fire on a winter's night. Part of a winter sampler pack, poured into a goblet, darkest brown with minimal lacing. Smells of chocolate. Tastes of chocolate, black berries, caramel. Back to the mouthfeel, it coats the throat in a warm hug. Overall, quite good.
★ 355 characters
2.77/5 rDev -24.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Re-review. Pours a very dark brown color, topped off by a finger worth of pale yellow-colored head. While its creamy, it doesn't have the best retention. Small amounts of lacing stick to the glass.
Hey, how about them apples, Sam Adams didn't overdo the chocolate. The aroma clearly reveals it, but also reveals the bock underneath. I get notes of subtle roast, caramel, molasses, and brown sugar, which pairs well with its chocolaty qualities. There's even a faint note of noble hops to break up the monotony! Hardly showstopping, but hey, at least it's not offensively chemical.
The flavor also reveals chocolate in a somewhat subtle manner. No, I'm wrong, actually - this is a chocolate bomb. I do catch fringe notes of tart cherry, caramel, and brown sugar on the aftertaste. Otherwise, this is pure baker's chocolate, and it's pretty tiring.
Because it's so chocolaty, it's sweet and hard to drink. It's also creamy on the palate, however, with its carbonation helping it seem more so. This beer really coats the mouth almost like an imperial stout. Sounds nice, but I still want more drinkability.
A fun novelty, that's for certain. But that's all it is: I wouldn't buy 6 packs of this beer in a million years. This is the perfect SA winter 12 pack filler - fun to try once a year, MAYBE twice (I'd be more likely to pawn it off to a significant other that likes chocolate and doesn't like beer), and then forget about it until next year. I'd even suggest it's the worst beer in the aforementioned 12 pack.
2.77/5: Chocolate with a splash of bock, more like
★ 1,568 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Re-review. Pours a very dark brown color, topped off by a finger worth of pale yellow-colored head. While its creamy, it doesn't have the best retention. Small amounts of lacing stick to the glass.
Hey, how about them apples, Sam Adams didn't overdo the chocolate. The aroma clearly reveals it, but also reveals the bock underneath. I get notes of subtle roast, caramel, molasses, and brown sugar, which pairs well with its chocolaty qualities. There's even a faint note of noble hops to break up the monotony! Hardly showstopping, but hey, at least it's not offensively chemical.
The flavor also reveals chocolate in a somewhat subtle manner. No, I'm wrong, actually - this is a chocolate bomb. I do catch fringe notes of tart cherry, caramel, and brown sugar on the aftertaste. Otherwise, this is pure baker's chocolate, and it's pretty tiring.
Because it's so chocolaty, it's sweet and hard to drink. It's also creamy on the palate, however, with its carbonation helping it seem more so. This beer really coats the mouth almost like an imperial stout. Sounds nice, but I still want more drinkability.
A fun novelty, that's for certain. But that's all it is: I wouldn't buy 6 packs of this beer in a million years. This is the perfect SA winter 12 pack filler - fun to try once a year, MAYBE twice (I'd be more likely to pawn it off to a significant other that likes chocolate and doesn't like beer), and then forget about it until next year. I'd even suggest it's the worst beer in the aforementioned 12 pack.
2.77/5: Chocolate with a splash of bock, more like
★ 1,568 characters
4.25/5 rDev +15.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Rich and chocolatey, with caramel malt flavors. Foamy and frothy with a smooth, velvety finish. Not something I could have more than one of at a time, but very nice for a special occasion.
★ 190 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Rich and chocolatey, with caramel malt flavors. Foamy and frothy with a smooth, velvety finish. Not something I could have more than one of at a time, but very nice for a special occasion.
★ 190 characters
4.35/5 rDev +18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pour Looks like root beer in a glass. Lots of head, tight bubbles, dissipates quickly. Dark brown/black looks amber in the light. Smell is mostly chocolate. Almost chocolate milk. Taste is dark chocolate. Like drinking a dark melted chocolate bar, but not too thick and not unpleasant. Very nice for what it is. Thought it would be a forced, fake flavor, but I Like it a lot. Smooth feel.
★ 388 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Pour Looks like root beer in a glass. Lots of head, tight bubbles, dissipates quickly. Dark brown/black looks amber in the light. Smell is mostly chocolate. Almost chocolate milk. Taste is dark chocolate. Like drinking a dark melted chocolate bar, but not too thick and not unpleasant. Very nice for what it is. Thought it would be a forced, fake flavor, but I Like it a lot. Smooth feel.
★ 388 characters
4.24/5 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
Here's my little spiel before I review this one..feel free to skip ahead. I haven't reviewed in a while. I first started drinking beer about 2 and a half years ago, and before deciding on what to get for my first beer, I stumbled across this one on the internet and it was one that I wanted to try before ever drinking a beer. It had not been released since then, and I finally came across it in the new winter packs. I almost skipped it, because now with my experience, SA tends to be lackluster, but this is really a different story. This one was surprisingly great. I'm very happy to have tried it.
L: Poured into a goblet, Dark brown, rich in color. Moderate lacing left behind, dense foamy head.
S: Roasted malts and woody notes, fermented fruit, and of course cocoa
T: This was quite chocolatey, but not obnoxiously so. It was assertive and semi-sweet, but didn't taste like carbonated chocolate milk. There were plenty of complimentary notes of tannic woodiness and just enough hop balance to not be out of place but to offset the possibility of being overly desserty. This was incredibly enjoyable.
M: This was the weak point of the beer. Overall, it wasn't a bad mouthfeel, but maybe a little too carbed. Not to say it drank like soda water though. There was just enough density to not make it too offputting, but it was by no means viscous, and I guess it shouldn't be so either as that wouldn't be very true to the bock style.
O: Super enjoyable. This is my favorite release in a seasonal pack since Hazel Brown in the fall pack of 2013. I hope to see this one around next year again.
★ 1,596 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25
Here's my little spiel before I review this one..feel free to skip ahead. I haven't reviewed in a while. I first started drinking beer about 2 and a half years ago, and before deciding on what to get for my first beer, I stumbled across this one on the internet and it was one that I wanted to try before ever drinking a beer. It had not been released since then, and I finally came across it in the new winter packs. I almost skipped it, because now with my experience, SA tends to be lackluster, but this is really a different story. This one was surprisingly great. I'm very happy to have tried it.
L: Poured into a goblet, Dark brown, rich in color. Moderate lacing left behind, dense foamy head.
S: Roasted malts and woody notes, fermented fruit, and of course cocoa
T: This was quite chocolatey, but not obnoxiously so. It was assertive and semi-sweet, but didn't taste like carbonated chocolate milk. There were plenty of complimentary notes of tannic woodiness and just enough hop balance to not be out of place but to offset the possibility of being overly desserty. This was incredibly enjoyable.
M: This was the weak point of the beer. Overall, it wasn't a bad mouthfeel, but maybe a little too carbed. Not to say it drank like soda water though. There was just enough density to not make it too offputting, but it was by no means viscous, and I guess it shouldn't be so either as that wouldn't be very true to the bock style.
O: Super enjoyable. This is my favorite release in a seasonal pack since Hazel Brown in the fall pack of 2013. I hope to see this one around next year again.
★ 1,596 characters
4.5/5 rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Straight "4.5 out of 5" for me. Sampled this past Saturday on 12/19/15. Had this once before back in 2011. Hard to come by as it is part of a 'Winter Sampler" 12-pack only in a 12-ounce bottle. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and poured in to a vintage "Sam Adam's" pint glass.
Brew pours a very deep mahogany in color that is almost pitch-black with a good creamy/foamy 1-finger beige head. A good amount of sticky lacing is seen when sipped that stuck to the sides of the glass after each sip. Aroma is of cocoa powder, dark roasted malt with a hint of caramel. Pretty much can be said for the taste along with some dark fruits. Very smooth and goes down easy with no bitterness at all. Very tasty brew! Medium-bodied with perfect carbonation. Love this one!
★ 783 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Straight "4.5 out of 5" for me. Sampled this past Saturday on 12/19/15. Had this once before back in 2011. Hard to come by as it is part of a 'Winter Sampler" 12-pack only in a 12-ounce bottle. Bottle chilled down to 36 degrees F in my beer cooler and poured in to a vintage "Sam Adam's" pint glass.
Brew pours a very deep mahogany in color that is almost pitch-black with a good creamy/foamy 1-finger beige head. A good amount of sticky lacing is seen when sipped that stuck to the sides of the glass after each sip. Aroma is of cocoa powder, dark roasted malt with a hint of caramel. Pretty much can be said for the taste along with some dark fruits. Very smooth and goes down easy with no bitterness at all. Very tasty brew! Medium-bodied with perfect carbonation. Love this one!
★ 783 characters
4.02/5 rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I opened the bottle, pour it in a pint. The color is dark brown with little carbonation, and a white brown head. I get little bit of chocolate, almost like a 'Hershey dark chocolate' smell. The chocolate is stronger on the taste. Again, It sorta tastes like Hershey's dark chocolate, but more natural. I would say the body is medium-light, very smooth. Nice and sweet, which I like.
I really think this beer is underrated. This easily deserves a 'very good' rating.
★ 466 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I opened the bottle, pour it in a pint. The color is dark brown with little carbonation, and a white brown head. I get little bit of chocolate, almost like a 'Hershey dark chocolate' smell. The chocolate is stronger on the taste. Again, It sorta tastes like Hershey's dark chocolate, but more natural. I would say the body is medium-light, very smooth. Nice and sweet, which I like.
I really think this beer is underrated. This easily deserves a 'very good' rating.
★ 466 characters
3.66/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours black with a brown head that is large and lasts.
Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and caramel.
Taste: It has chocolate and caramle flavors with hints of dark fruits.
Feel: It is smooth and rich with plenty of carbonation and a moderately bitter finish.
Overall: It is full of chocolate flavors, rich, easy drinking.
★ 338 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours black with a brown head that is large and lasts.
Smell: It has aromas of chocolate and caramel.
Taste: It has chocolate and caramle flavors with hints of dark fruits.
Feel: It is smooth and rich with plenty of carbonation and a moderately bitter finish.
Overall: It is full of chocolate flavors, rich, easy drinking.
★ 338 characters
3.75/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sounds nice, as much as I like bock and chocolate both. This pours a dark brown with slight tan head. Minimal chocolate with light malt and caramel sweet aroma. Much more chocolate comes through in the taste, finishing fairly clean and a little dry. Not bad..
★ 259 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Sounds nice, as much as I like bock and chocolate both. This pours a dark brown with slight tan head. Minimal chocolate with light malt and caramel sweet aroma. Much more chocolate comes through in the taste, finishing fairly clean and a little dry. Not bad..
★ 259 characters
3.6/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
L- almost black with a thin beige head
S- very obvious chocolate smell
T- overwhelming chocolate taste, but that's about it
F- pretty thin, light body... if this were thicker/heavier, it could be a really good beer, but this took a lot away from it for me
Overall, I guess this about what i was expecting from a Sam Adams beer.
★ 332 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5
L- almost black with a thin beige head
S- very obvious chocolate smell
T- overwhelming chocolate taste, but that's about it
F- pretty thin, light body... if this were thicker/heavier, it could be a really good beer, but this took a lot away from it for me
Overall, I guess this about what i was expecting from a Sam Adams beer.
★ 332 characters
4.04/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased as part of the winter pack this year.
This one pours a dark mostly clear brown, with a foamy brown head, and not a whole lot of lacing.
Smells like sweet chocolate syrup, chocolate malt, and a little bit a lagery fruitiness.
This doesn't taste a whole lot like a bock underneath the chocolate assault here. The chocolate is definitely tasty, warm, slightly syrupy, and a little bittersweet. Reminds me of Swiss Miss powdered hot chocolate- not a bad thing in my book. I can catch some dark fruitiness on the back end that's pleasant and nice.
This is medium bodied, with a very sweet and creamy mouthfeel.
This one is pretty underrated, I definitely enjoyed it.
★ 683 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottle purchased as part of the winter pack this year.
This one pours a dark mostly clear brown, with a foamy brown head, and not a whole lot of lacing.
Smells like sweet chocolate syrup, chocolate malt, and a little bit a lagery fruitiness.
This doesn't taste a whole lot like a bock underneath the chocolate assault here. The chocolate is definitely tasty, warm, slightly syrupy, and a little bittersweet. Reminds me of Swiss Miss powdered hot chocolate- not a bad thing in my book. I can catch some dark fruitiness on the back end that's pleasant and nice.
This is medium bodied, with a very sweet and creamy mouthfeel.
This one is pretty underrated, I definitely enjoyed it.
★ 683 characters
Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
3.67
out of 5
based on 2,883 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown pour, leaves a brown thin head. Chocolate jumps, chocolate powder right out the gate aroma wise.
Becomes evident this is a one trick pony adjunct beer, but it works for me. There is a beauty in simplicity sometimes. This is one example. A bock? You really can't tell. Is that for the better? Depends. I like the clean finish here, it doesn't drop a bunch of esters and phenols, after a relatively sweet chocolate experience, the body whisks itself away from the palate and mouthfeel quite efficiently.
I know its gimmicky, but this really does do well with imparting chocolate without having to go to the tried and true porter or stout base. I like it.
★ 675 characters