Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout | Brooklyn Brewery

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours pitch black with small 1 finger head. The aroma is dark roasted malt, cocoa, and just a little dark fruit. On the taste I mostly get a dry bitter dark chocolate with a good amount of dark malt. The roast really doesn't come through until the finish where it finishes bitter with a very nice warming. The mouthfeel is a little thinner than I'd like, but it's still thick enough to coat the mouth. Overall this is a solid stout, not one of my favorites but I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to see how the other 3 cellar.

★ 528 characters

4.24/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle served just above fridge temperature and served into a tulip. Purchased while visiting the US.

Appearance - pours almost the darkest of dark blacks with a small half finger of tam head on top. Good head retention and the color eradicates light. Small cap of tan foam lingers for a good duration on top.

Smell - dark chocolate and some surprisingly cherry aroma too to add some complexity. Some mild earthiness with just a hint of vanilla and coffee on the nose, but sweetish on the nose with dark chocolate and cherry being the stars.

Taste - loads of dark chocolate, a prevalent but restrained bitterness. Some mild sweetness with a brief cherry intermission before a fine coffee ground flavor shines through as well. Complex with multiple levels of flavor there's even a coffee, vanilla and caramel troika to close. Yum. Enough other flavors to make me think this is an American stout as opposed to a Russian imperial stout.

Mouthfeel - smooth with a heavy but slick body, creamy feel and adequate carbonation. Just right for the style.

Overall - while Brooklyn's Dark Chocolate stout is not quite the pinnacle of the style, it is a delicious, flavourful stout loaded with dark chocolate and cherries that is certainly worth any beer advocates time. Highly recommended for this top notch brew.

★ 1,317 characters

4.68/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

I love my imperial stouts and I also love Brooklyn, so I had to try this one. This is an amazing sipping beer and is not for your run of the mill beer drinker. I mostly like my beer like I like my coffee, nice and dark; so this is well within my wheel house. Overall the smell is spot one and second to none for an imperial stout. The taste is also very good and gives it a feel of drinking dark chocolate. Overall I am quite pleased with this Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout and will be partaking of it through out this fall and coming winter.

★ 543 characters

4.04/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured a winter 15-16 bottling into a Nonic. Color was ink black with a full tan head with good retention. The aroma is of roasted malt and coffee. On the palate very minimal carbonation with a rich creamy mouthfeel with the flavor of coffee and dark chocolate with deep roasted malt and fruity back notes of plum and raisin. Bitter on the front end which gave way to a subtle but discernible sweet finish which became more prominent as the beer warmed while drinking. the high ABV does not come across as boozy but does make you take notice. Very good.

★ 553 characters

4.68/5  rDev +12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I have enjoyed this stuff occasionally for years. Bought 8 bottles last week and 4 are gone already. Almost perfectly black with a reasonable head retention which can easily be brought back to life with a gentle swirl of the glass releasing the gorgeous aromas anew. Had a bottle head to head with Founders Breakfast Stout. No clear winner but a slightly fuzzy head this morning!

★ 379 characters

3.54/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Pours a black colour, with a small brown head that fades too soon, leaving a thin layer and aring, and a creamy lace. Aroma of prunes, chocolate, notes of coffee. Creamy, thick and brandy alike palate, good carbonation. taste of prunes, chocoalte, coffee.

★ 255 characters

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Great black color and smooth pour. Love the chocolate flavor and ease of drinkability. Great to sip on a cold winters evening with your favorite person.

★ 153 characters

4.58/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pours a gorgeous dark black with a 1 finger malty brown looking head. The smell comes off a little boozy with lots of bready? flavor coming through no chocolate that I can detect though. The taste changes a lot as it warms starting out like a strong and good guinness-ish simple stout flavor. Ends up tasting deliciously chocolatey but not too much or fake at all imo. Overall one of my favorites also makes a damn good black flip if youre into cocktails at all

★ 462 characters

4.24/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Excelente imperial stout, porem, por conter o "chocolate" no proprio nome, falta um pouco daquele aroma marcante de chocolate que outras imperials tem, sente-se muito um aroma de cefe torrado do que cacau.
Na boca, sente-se um peso marcante, viscosidade que remete licor, sabot adocicado, amargor nao persistente.
Aftertasting fica o aroma e sabor, porem sutil, nao pesiste como esperado ao primeiro gole.

★ 405 characters

4.23/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Vintage 2014
A: Deep black with a brown tight head.
S: Dark roast, malt...a little brine. A little copper.
T: Intense bitter roast and cocoa powder up front. Stays on the tongue forever then eases into a long slightly sweeter finish. You breathe out the dark malt.
M: Silky smooth yet sticky for flavors.
O: More intense and noticeably better after a few years, but maybe pushing it a little with oxidation. A really delicious and alkaline stout; a nice departure from the sugar bombs nowadays. Pairs predictably well with artisan flavored chocolates.

★ 554 characters

4.09/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

An excellent imperial stout that embraces its chocolate notes most fully. A bit too sweet to be a beer that I'd put on my rotation regularly, but definitely a beer to respect as one that chooses its flavor target and hits it square on.

★ 236 characters

4.21/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a dark brow, minimal brown head fades quickly. Smells of bitter chocolate. Flavor is bitter chocolate, dark fruits. Bitter finish. Expected this to be sweeter. Big warming finish. Very well done.

★ 204 characters

4.49/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Look: Pours a dark cola brown. Looks almost pitch black in the glass, with a big, creamy tan head.

Smell: Dark chocolate, baking cocoa, dark roast coffee, caramel, vanilla, burnt toast, and soy sauce.

Taste: More sweet than bitter, but balances nicely on the finish. You get toffee, caramel, milk chocolate, and dark roast coffee upfront. Toasted bread and a touch of butterscotch in the middle. Finishes with dates, figs, tobacco, black licorice, bitter cacao, and more coffee.

Feel: The lighter side of full-bodied, but feels silky and velvety in the mouth. Lightly carbonated.

Overall: A sweeter example of a Russian Imperial Stout, it lives up the "chocolate" name. A delicious dessert stout.

★ 706 characters

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Ordered a 9 oz. pour of the 2012 release at Pizzeria Paradiso in Georgetown, Washington DC.

Look: Black with little to no head.

Smell: Roasty, boozy.

Taste: Nicely well rounded flavor, bitter chocolate, booze, roasted malt. Reminds me of 2012 Stone Imperial Russian Stout.

Feel: Coats the mouth.

Overall: Very enjoyable. It aged very well, I think.

★ 353 characters

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A very good friend of mine gave me a few bottles of the Brooklyn Black Chocolate as a gift. The date on this bottle said:" LIMITED BOTTLING WINTER 11-12". It really can't get any better. A nice solid stout aged 4 years . When the bottle was popped open for a special occasion, I was in heaven !!! A nice black thin pour . Super smooth !
A semi-sweet chocolate with coffee and malt in the background like taste. The taste almost changes with each sip.
I am bummed out my glass is almost empty, but I have a few more in the basement ! I put this offering from Brooklyn right up there with Old Rasputin as two of the better Imperial Stouts for sure !!!

★ 651 characters

3.86/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Black, oily appearance with minimal head in the range of 1/5", beige. Aroma was chocolate, sticky, and some bourbon barrel.

Taste hit up lots of chocolate impressions coming from the malt moreso than an adjunct usage. Finished chalky and dry.

A good beer, but there are plenty of other options for spending $20 for a barrel aged stout, but its nice that this one usually sits on shelves.

★ 395 characters

4.35/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very solid offering, this pours black with a thin, but persistent and clingy top of brown head. Aroma is not overwhelmingly chocolate, but it's there among vanilla, roast, and slight booze. Flavor follows the nose well, and that's a good thing. Nice notes of dark cocoa, some sweetness in the middle, and a somewhat dry, slightly bitter finish. Will definitely have this again.

★ 377 characters

4.1/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours black with a medium-thin foamy desert tan head. Fair retention. No lacing left behind. Roasted malts, chocolate, and alcohol on the nose. Taste is sublime levels of chocolate and roasted malts. Well balanced and delivered. Mouth feel is full, with a little bit of a grainy feeling. Overall, an outstanding stout that delivers. Very happy to try it!

★ 355 characters

3.92/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

It looks like a barrel-aged stout. Minimal head, thick legs, nice lacing.
Smells malty and boozy.
It delivers on the chocolate. It's pretty cool that they can make that flavor only with the malt.
Nice sweetness without being cloying. Finish is bit on the hoppy and bitter side.
Despite not having much visible carbonation, it feels light on the tongue.
Overall: Good stout!

★ 373 characters

4.29/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

This beer changes with every sip. As it aerates it's flavour varies from a chocolaty finish to a more alcoholic taste. A beautiful drink that I will continue to purchase and try over time

★ 187 characters

4.19/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours jet black with a one and a half inch tan head that leaves decent lacing. Smells of chocolate, coffee and malts. Taste is dominated by semi-sweet chocolate with coffee and malt in the background. Finishes with a little bitterness. Mouthfeel is creamy with minimal carbonation. Very good chocolate stout.

★ 311 characters

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

We got a great beer here.
Listed in the "1001", it seems like this recipe got Garrett Oliver his job at Brooklyn. (He had been working in a brewpub in Manhattan.) And beer history took a very big step.
Unlike many of the others in this category, Brooklyn's contribution uses no cocoa... but tastes like chocolate. You have to know lots about malts and, apparently in 1994, Garrett Oliver knew lots more than just about everyone.

I bought a 4 pack... which I no longer regret. Two years later, I just drank the last one now and it was worth holding as it clearly had improved... less edge, more smooth.

Reviewed in Roger Protz' " 300 Beers To Try Before You Die!"
MJ's 1999 edition gave this 3.5 stars of 4 and called it "the world's answer to a waring malted milk with a shot of bourbon. It achieves an astonishing black-chocolate flavour through malt alone"

★ 861 characters

3.67/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout %10 ABV. 51 IBU's?
I had this out at a Freezepop(electro, synth pop)music show in a 12 ounce pilsner style glass.
Look: blackout, letting no light through at all.
smell: Not much smell, a small amount of roasty, bready smell, some chocolate
taste: sweet chocolate, coffee, roasty biterness. It was a bit too bitter for me and a kind of gluey aftertaste that I find in breakfast style stouts.
Feel: a tad heavier, but pretty o.k. for an imperial American stout.
Overall: The beer was not even close to what I am looking for in a stout. That weird aftertaste of glue and too charred and roasty for my tastes. I mean it didn't reach ash tray levels of burnt taste, but it wasn't very likeable for me. It wasn't absolutely horrible, just not great and not my thing. The one thing that I noticed was that it hides the alcohol taste very well. In that department they were good. I didn't know the ABV level before I bought the beer and only found out afterwards. I was quite surprised. I haven't normally liked Brooklyn Brewery in the past, but I figured I would give them another shot. Oh well.

★ 1,133 characters

3.91/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

5 month old 12 oz bottle poured into generic belgian glass. I really like this beer. The pour is nice and dark and the brown head goes away fairly quickly. The sweet smell is not over powering. The taste is thin in the mouth but still full of the chocolate flavor. The positive flavor lingers for a bit as well. Is warm going down without being painfully hot. This is a very sold example of a sweet chocolate stout. Will get this again.

★ 444 characters

3.95/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into Dogfish Head pint glass. Color is jet black with 1 finger khaki head that slowly dissipates and leaves moderate lacing. Smell is roasty malts and dark chocolate. Dark chocolate dominates the taste with a lingering sweetness. Creamy, full bodied mouthfeel. Alcohol emerges as beer warms but the 10% ABV is well hidden. Enjoyable beer overall, especially as "dessert" after a satisfying meal.

★ 415 characters