Chocolate Gateau
Commonwealth Brewing Company

 

 

Pint can pours dark brown, moderately thick but with a hint of light penetration--muddy on account of the unfiltered fruit. An imperial chocolate stout with blackberry, mulberry, vanilla, and lactose. As someone who actually knows what mulberries taste like, thanks to years of southern California farmers' markets, this is a lovely treat. A dessert beer, for sure, but not cloying or tooth-fuzzingly sweet, thanks to the brightness of the berries and a very light yogurt tartness from the lactose. Well balanced.

Update March 2020: Bought a can a while back and finally got around to drinking it. Poured moderately hard into a snifter glass, forming just a bit of head that faded to a ring of lacing. Smell is dark fruit and chocolate, almost like a Russian imperial stout. Taste is more blueberry now, followed by pleasant chocolate. Medium to thick bodied with minimal carbonation.

Ordered at Churchkey, served in a goblet. very dark color, but hard to tell more in the dim lighting. Smelled primarily of chocolate. Taste was primarily chocolate as well. Sweet from the first sip, but not too sweet. Very tasty without being a dessert beer (i.e. have to drink slowly due to extreme sweetness), definitely will be on the lookout for more of this.

 

L: Poured from a tallboy can to a pint glass. Had a dark, mahogany brown color and a thick, opaque consistency. There was a quarter inch of creamy, tan-colored head that lasted an average amount of time. Good lacing.

S: A very good aroma of chocolate, malt, vanilla, coffee, and berries.

T: Tasted of a tinge of vanilla (kind of lingers around), some light coffee notes (not a huge factor), a good shot of berries (blackberries), a decent amount of chocolate, and some malt (present throughout. An interesting and subtle flavor. The berries give it an interesting dynamic; they mix well with the chocolate.

F: An average amount of carbonation with a silky smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A solidly made stout. Worth a look.