Bison Organic Chocolate Stout | Bison Brewing
Brewed by:
Bison Brewing
California, United States | website
Style: American Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Todd on 01-02-2002
Reviews: 299 | Ratings: 595
2.52/5 rDev -28.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Poured from a bottle into a Guinness pint glass.
Appearance: Light brown head, two fingers or so, and goes away pretty quickly. Body is near-black and doesn't react to light at all.
Smell: I'm hoping I can control for a stuffy nose here. I smell sweet grains, not a ton of chocolate per se. Pleasant but restrained. Maybe a little bit of herbal hops.
Taste: Not a fan. Very bitter and raw. Ashy and unbalanced. Desperately lacking malt sweetness, not to mention chocolate. Overall there's hardly any real flavor. I've had very few beers disagree more than this one between the nose and the taste.
Mouthfeel: Carb is pretty light, body is fairly full. No lasting feeling. Strangely it's a little bit refreshing.
Overall: I've had a lot of stouts, and this easily was one of the least flavorful I've ever had. No chocolate, no coffee, no real malt substance at all. This is the first time I'm having it. If I have it again and experience the same thing, I will avoid it in the future.
★ 987 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.25
Poured from a bottle into a Guinness pint glass.
Appearance: Light brown head, two fingers or so, and goes away pretty quickly. Body is near-black and doesn't react to light at all.
Smell: I'm hoping I can control for a stuffy nose here. I smell sweet grains, not a ton of chocolate per se. Pleasant but restrained. Maybe a little bit of herbal hops.
Taste: Not a fan. Very bitter and raw. Ashy and unbalanced. Desperately lacking malt sweetness, not to mention chocolate. Overall there's hardly any real flavor. I've had very few beers disagree more than this one between the nose and the taste.
Mouthfeel: Carb is pretty light, body is fairly full. No lasting feeling. Strangely it's a little bit refreshing.
Overall: I've had a lot of stouts, and this easily was one of the least flavorful I've ever had. No chocolate, no coffee, no real malt substance at all. This is the first time I'm having it. If I have it again and experience the same thing, I will avoid it in the future.
★ 987 characters
3.98/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into one of my pint glasses, this beer pours a very dark brown/black color that hints at having traces of some deep ruby highlights when held up to the light, but practically lets in no light whatsoever. Has a nice tan/light brown head that is a good 1/3 inch thick when first poured, settling quickly to a nice surface layer of foam along with a good medium to thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Pretty good lacing. Aromas of some roasted/smoked caramel malt sweetness and certainly some hints of cocoa are present. Has a good smokey/roasty caramel malt sweetness upfront that gives way to cocoa sweetness and hints of black coffee bitterness. Good mix of flavors. No real discernible hop flavors here. Good solid taste profile nonetheless. Has a crisp, yet smooth and frothy, creamy, slightly prickly, light to medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. To be honest I thought the body was a bit too thin for a stout, to me this drinks more like a porter than a stout. I guess if this beer has any real flaw, that'd be it. A good solid beer all around, but not anything super spectacular.
Eric
★ 1,141 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured out of a 12 oz bottle into one of my pint glasses, this beer pours a very dark brown/black color that hints at having traces of some deep ruby highlights when held up to the light, but practically lets in no light whatsoever. Has a nice tan/light brown head that is a good 1/3 inch thick when first poured, settling quickly to a nice surface layer of foam along with a good medium to thick ring lining the inside of the glass. Pretty good lacing. Aromas of some roasted/smoked caramel malt sweetness and certainly some hints of cocoa are present. Has a good smokey/roasty caramel malt sweetness upfront that gives way to cocoa sweetness and hints of black coffee bitterness. Good mix of flavors. No real discernible hop flavors here. Good solid taste profile nonetheless. Has a crisp, yet smooth and frothy, creamy, slightly prickly, light to medium bodied mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. To be honest I thought the body was a bit too thin for a stout, to me this drinks more like a porter than a stout. I guess if this beer has any real flaw, that'd be it. A good solid beer all around, but not anything super spectacular.
Eric
★ 1,141 characters
3.73/5 rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
There isn't much not to like about the appearance of this beer. The slow thin brown pour eventually becomes a dark black with slightly lighter shades around the edges. The head is a dark tan color and resembles an IPA head with its cloud-like features. Decent retention and a nice lace left behind.
You can really pick up the cocoa in the nose. There's a gentle roasty smokey scent that follows. Slight coffee aroma.
The taste is a slight letdown in that the chocolate is of the bittersweet variety when the smells makes you expect a sweetness. Still, it's a stout and there's nice flavor, it's just bittersweet with some roasted grains tossed in.
The feel is similar to Guinness in that it's closer to light-bodied than it is to full-bodied. A lightening, loose, watery feel offsets some of the bitterness, which is actually kind of pleasant. There's no sign of sweetness, just an earthy char and a grainy feel in the swallow. Bitterness lasts throughout and sort of makes your mouth water while you wait for the next sip and because this borders on a session beer at only 5% ABV, you can keep sipping for a while.
Overall, it's very stout-like and reminds me a lot of Guinness. Depending on whether or not you like Guinness, that's either good or bad.
★ 1,258 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
There isn't much not to like about the appearance of this beer. The slow thin brown pour eventually becomes a dark black with slightly lighter shades around the edges. The head is a dark tan color and resembles an IPA head with its cloud-like features. Decent retention and a nice lace left behind.
You can really pick up the cocoa in the nose. There's a gentle roasty smokey scent that follows. Slight coffee aroma.
The taste is a slight letdown in that the chocolate is of the bittersweet variety when the smells makes you expect a sweetness. Still, it's a stout and there's nice flavor, it's just bittersweet with some roasted grains tossed in.
The feel is similar to Guinness in that it's closer to light-bodied than it is to full-bodied. A lightening, loose, watery feel offsets some of the bitterness, which is actually kind of pleasant. There's no sign of sweetness, just an earthy char and a grainy feel in the swallow. Bitterness lasts throughout and sort of makes your mouth water while you wait for the next sip and because this borders on a session beer at only 5% ABV, you can keep sipping for a while.
Overall, it's very stout-like and reminds me a lot of Guinness. Depending on whether or not you like Guinness, that's either good or bad.
★ 1,258 characters
2.48/5 rDev -29.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Appearance- Pours up a minimal amount of head which seems to have poor retention. The head is a dark golden beige while the body is an opaque, dark chocolate black. No lacing is left behind.
Nose- Chocolate and roasted malts. Very strong from the bottle, a little weaker from the glass. The glass, however, shows a bit of nuttiness. Hints of tomato and red wine start to appear.
Taste- Very sour for a beer that isn't really supposed to be sour. It's a blend of tomato juice, white wine with an acerbic finish. Roasted notes intermittently play in the flavor profile but not enough to clean up the all that mess. There is some lemon and an underlying cloying sweetness. Close to a green tea bitterness on the finish. This beer has no integration and no balance and way too much presence. In addition to all this, it is bit thin and watery. The palate is dominated with off flavors. The cocoa is minimal and does little confront the negative aspects of this beer.
Mouthfeel- Very thin and light bodied for a stout. Carbonation is very weak as well.
Drinkability- Almost a drain pour. And I've never drain poured a beer in my life. Enough said.
Overall- This beer is gross. The flavor would have to become a lot smoother to even approach mediocrity. I would probably rather have some BMC. I cannot recommend this beer at all.
★ 1,332 characters
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
Appearance- Pours up a minimal amount of head which seems to have poor retention. The head is a dark golden beige while the body is an opaque, dark chocolate black. No lacing is left behind.
Nose- Chocolate and roasted malts. Very strong from the bottle, a little weaker from the glass. The glass, however, shows a bit of nuttiness. Hints of tomato and red wine start to appear.
Taste- Very sour for a beer that isn't really supposed to be sour. It's a blend of tomato juice, white wine with an acerbic finish. Roasted notes intermittently play in the flavor profile but not enough to clean up the all that mess. There is some lemon and an underlying cloying sweetness. Close to a green tea bitterness on the finish. This beer has no integration and no balance and way too much presence. In addition to all this, it is bit thin and watery. The palate is dominated with off flavors. The cocoa is minimal and does little confront the negative aspects of this beer.
Mouthfeel- Very thin and light bodied for a stout. Carbonation is very weak as well.
Drinkability- Almost a drain pour. And I've never drain poured a beer in my life. Enough said.
Overall- This beer is gross. The flavor would have to become a lot smoother to even approach mediocrity. I would probably rather have some BMC. I cannot recommend this beer at all.
★ 1,332 characters
3.59/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.
How does he brew with those hooves of his? Anyway, this stuff pours a deep, dark black-brown topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises cocoa powder, mild roasted malts, and a hint of coffee. The taste brings in more of the same, with the chocolate a tad milder and coming across as dark chocolate powder. There's a light acridity in there, not unlike when you bite into the darkest of chocolates. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth-ish feel. Overall, a solid stout that delivers what it promises without tasting artificial. Not bad.
★ 626 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Served in a Devil's Backbone willibecher.
How does he brew with those hooves of his? Anyway, this stuff pours a deep, dark black-brown topped by a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises cocoa powder, mild roasted malts, and a hint of coffee. The taste brings in more of the same, with the chocolate a tad milder and coming across as dark chocolate powder. There's a light acridity in there, not unlike when you bite into the darkest of chocolates. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a smooth-ish feel. Overall, a solid stout that delivers what it promises without tasting artificial. Not bad.
★ 626 characters
2.91/5 rDev -17.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
A: Very dark brown, with just a hint of red-brown on the edges. Head was less than a finger of light-brown froth that faded without a trace of lacing.
S: Less potent than most stouts, but including the familiar burnt grain and dark fruit aromas, plus some white pepper and perhaps cocoa.
T: No malt sweetness here, it's all variations on bitter: acrid, over-toasted grain, a touch of cocoa, some directly, and just a touch of hops at the end to remind you that it's beer.
M: Not good. Pretty flat, and lacks the density of a typical stout.
O: Not quite a drain pour, but way less than I was hoping for. I've had some excellent organic beers, this isn't one of them.
★ 669 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.75
A: Very dark brown, with just a hint of red-brown on the edges. Head was less than a finger of light-brown froth that faded without a trace of lacing.
S: Less potent than most stouts, but including the familiar burnt grain and dark fruit aromas, plus some white pepper and perhaps cocoa.
T: No malt sweetness here, it's all variations on bitter: acrid, over-toasted grain, a touch of cocoa, some directly, and just a touch of hops at the end to remind you that it's beer.
M: Not good. Pretty flat, and lacks the density of a typical stout.
O: Not quite a drain pour, but way less than I was hoping for. I've had some excellent organic beers, this isn't one of them.
★ 669 characters
1.93/5 rDev -45%
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
A - Nearly opaque, dark ruddy red brown along edges. Thin froth around edges of glass, otherwise, no head. No lacing.
S- Chocolate, that's good. Salt, soy sauce, mesquite, hmm. Very rich, toffee, maple syrupy, dense aroma, not particularly inviting.
T - Watery. Smoke, more of that mesquite sensation through the nose. Some bitter cocoa. Hops show up just long enough to wave goodbye.
M - Very thin. Carbonation outlasts the hops, making this feel like a possibly decent beer which someone decided to thin out with club soda. Who is this person, and why did they do such a horrible thing?
O - This is an underwhelming, watered-down disappointment. Avoid.
★ 655 characters
look: 2 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1
A - Nearly opaque, dark ruddy red brown along edges. Thin froth around edges of glass, otherwise, no head. No lacing.
S- Chocolate, that's good. Salt, soy sauce, mesquite, hmm. Very rich, toffee, maple syrupy, dense aroma, not particularly inviting.
T - Watery. Smoke, more of that mesquite sensation through the nose. Some bitter cocoa. Hops show up just long enough to wave goodbye.
M - Very thin. Carbonation outlasts the hops, making this feel like a possibly decent beer which someone decided to thin out with club soda. Who is this person, and why did they do such a horrible thing?
O - This is an underwhelming, watered-down disappointment. Avoid.
★ 655 characters
3.09/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
650ml brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap acquired at a local SoCal beer store for $4.49 plus tax and served into a Mitchell's of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, Los Feliz, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average given its current ratings. 5% ABV confirmed. "Stout brewed with cocoa."
Served after a brief period of rest following its removal from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor and allowed to warm over the course of consumption.
A: Pours a 2.5 finger khaki-tan colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good (4-5 minute) retention. Body colour is a solid dark black; nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not quite a jet black. Generally appealing for the style.
Sm: Cocoa dusting, truffle, chocolate malt, dark malts, and appealing roast. An attractive, inviting aroma - if a simple one. A mild strength aroma. I'm excited to try it.
T: Dark malts, chocolate malt, and thin cocoa. Caramel, poorly executed roast. No floral or yeast character comes through. The third act is weak and bland. Imbalanced. Underwhelming. I'm not big on this one. Boring and poorly put together. Simple. Why brew this?
Mf: Thin and weak. Poor body. Bad presence on the palate. Far too smooth and wet. Borderline watery. Very poorly executed. Doesn't suit the flavour profile hardly at all.
Dr: A poorly executed chocolate stout that likely remains profitable because of nutty California types who only buy organic. Forgettable pedestrian stuff. I wouldn't get it again. I won't be jumping to buy Bison Brewing's beers in the future. Underwhelming but drinkable. I do like some elements of the cocoa flavour.
Low C+
★ 1,732 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
650ml brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap acquired at a local SoCal beer store for $4.49 plus tax and served into a Mitchell's of Lancaster flared stem-tulip in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, Los Feliz, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are average given its current ratings. 5% ABV confirmed. "Stout brewed with cocoa."
Served after a brief period of rest following its removal from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor and allowed to warm over the course of consumption.
A: Pours a 2.5 finger khaki-tan colour head of nice cream and thickness, and good (4-5 minute) retention. Body colour is a solid dark black; nontransparent and opaque. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Not quite a jet black. Generally appealing for the style.
Sm: Cocoa dusting, truffle, chocolate malt, dark malts, and appealing roast. An attractive, inviting aroma - if a simple one. A mild strength aroma. I'm excited to try it.
T: Dark malts, chocolate malt, and thin cocoa. Caramel, poorly executed roast. No floral or yeast character comes through. The third act is weak and bland. Imbalanced. Underwhelming. I'm not big on this one. Boring and poorly put together. Simple. Why brew this?
Mf: Thin and weak. Poor body. Bad presence on the palate. Far too smooth and wet. Borderline watery. Very poorly executed. Doesn't suit the flavour profile hardly at all.
Dr: A poorly executed chocolate stout that likely remains profitable because of nutty California types who only buy organic. Forgettable pedestrian stuff. I wouldn't get it again. I won't be jumping to buy Bison Brewing's beers in the future. Underwhelming but drinkable. I do like some elements of the cocoa flavour.
Low C+
★ 1,732 characters
3.55/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured out of a 22oz bottle into my brand new teku glass. Decided to try this one for the Easter weekend!
Pours a dark, truly opaque brown black-brownish color with an off khaki 2 finger head that eventually settles down into a modest ring at the top of the glass. Carbonation does seem plentiful, nevertheless. Not too much stickiness on the glass, and no lacing, but there are some slight alcohol legs overall. It's not very viscous in character, but it definitely looks thickened in the sense of retaining the chocolate backbone that it's aiming for. Almost resembles coffee overall, but there's definitely hefty malts and cocoa nibs at play here.
The aroma, on the other hand, smells absolutely delicious, with a combination of upfront dark chocolate flavors combined with vanilla beans, sugary syrupy texture, and off-flavors that can even be found in bourbon (?!). Don't think it's unbelievably complex, however - it's instead very pleasant and sweetened without being cloying. It resembles a vanilla-coated brownie, actually! There's some roasted barley flavors, as well as a slight hop bitterness, but the chocolate focused flavor is working out really well here.
Rather than get the sweetened vanilla-filled cocoa that was in the aroma, the taste is a little bit more on the bitter, unsweetened side - think baker's chocolate nibs and you're on the right track. It definitely still tastes full-bodied and hearty, despite the change in flavor. There's a roasted malt presence that melds well with the chocolate, as well as slight coffee aromas, but sadly, as this warms up, a bit of a soy saucy finish that can occur with such beers. There's a bit of grassy hop finish too, which balances things out. I must agree with other fellow reviewers that this is a little too watery for a stout that is intended to be this hearty. The flavor is definitely decent, but it lacks the thickness that would otherwise make this resemble a dessert such as pudding. It's not too off-putting, but it's horribly underwhelming.
For a little over $4 a bomber, this is definitely a good budget option for a stout this kind. I wish I'd have someone to split this with, as it's a bit too rich (yet thinned) to make this an easy drinking experience. It's luckily not too sweet, but it's not creamy enough to hold my interest in the long run. I'll definitely be drinking this for the next day... However, when it comes to introducing people to more complex beers, this should do no harm. Not my favorite, but at least there's that.
★ 2,518 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Poured out of a 22oz bottle into my brand new teku glass. Decided to try this one for the Easter weekend!
Pours a dark, truly opaque brown black-brownish color with an off khaki 2 finger head that eventually settles down into a modest ring at the top of the glass. Carbonation does seem plentiful, nevertheless. Not too much stickiness on the glass, and no lacing, but there are some slight alcohol legs overall. It's not very viscous in character, but it definitely looks thickened in the sense of retaining the chocolate backbone that it's aiming for. Almost resembles coffee overall, but there's definitely hefty malts and cocoa nibs at play here.
The aroma, on the other hand, smells absolutely delicious, with a combination of upfront dark chocolate flavors combined with vanilla beans, sugary syrupy texture, and off-flavors that can even be found in bourbon (?!). Don't think it's unbelievably complex, however - it's instead very pleasant and sweetened without being cloying. It resembles a vanilla-coated brownie, actually! There's some roasted barley flavors, as well as a slight hop bitterness, but the chocolate focused flavor is working out really well here.
Rather than get the sweetened vanilla-filled cocoa that was in the aroma, the taste is a little bit more on the bitter, unsweetened side - think baker's chocolate nibs and you're on the right track. It definitely still tastes full-bodied and hearty, despite the change in flavor. There's a roasted malt presence that melds well with the chocolate, as well as slight coffee aromas, but sadly, as this warms up, a bit of a soy saucy finish that can occur with such beers. There's a bit of grassy hop finish too, which balances things out. I must agree with other fellow reviewers that this is a little too watery for a stout that is intended to be this hearty. The flavor is definitely decent, but it lacks the thickness that would otherwise make this resemble a dessert such as pudding. It's not too off-putting, but it's horribly underwhelming.
For a little over $4 a bomber, this is definitely a good budget option for a stout this kind. I wish I'd have someone to split this with, as it's a bit too rich (yet thinned) to make this an easy drinking experience. It's luckily not too sweet, but it's not creamy enough to hold my interest in the long run. I'll definitely be drinking this for the next day... However, when it comes to introducing people to more complex beers, this should do no harm. Not my favorite, but at least there's that.
★ 2,518 characters
2.49/5 rDev -29.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
The first thing you notice with this one is the pitch black pour with a great head, from there is it all down hill for me. The chocolate was faint. It got a bit stronger as it warmed but not enough. When I read chocolate on the bottle that is what I want to smell and taste. This one had a very unpleasant aftertaste with really turned me off. Plus there was not a whole lot to chew on for a stout, I felt it was quite thin. I was really disappointed with this beer. It took a lot for me to finish it to keep it from being a drain pour.
★ 536 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
The first thing you notice with this one is the pitch black pour with a great head, from there is it all down hill for me. The chocolate was faint. It got a bit stronger as it warmed but not enough. When I read chocolate on the bottle that is what I want to smell and taste. This one had a very unpleasant aftertaste with really turned me off. Plus there was not a whole lot to chew on for a stout, I felt it was quite thin. I was really disappointed with this beer. It took a lot for me to finish it to keep it from being a drain pour.
★ 536 characters
3.1/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Overall, its disappointing. Super watery for a stout. Very mild chocolate notes in the flavor. The smell makes you think there'd be more chocolate and roasty flavors. The price point is great at $4, but I'd gladly spend more for a better beer next time.
★ 253 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Overall, its disappointing. Super watery for a stout. Very mild chocolate notes in the flavor. The smell makes you think there'd be more chocolate and roasty flavors. The price point is great at $4, but I'd gladly spend more for a better beer next time.
★ 253 characters
4.06/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Drank from a bottle. Nice tan head.
Aroma is more malty and the chocolate is pretty tame.
Not at all overpowering as some stouts can be. If you think your stout should be closer to "imperial" this is not of you. If you like stouts that are malty and chocolatey this may be a good option. You almost keep looking at it to make sure it is a dark stout which it is. Very drinkable and a little bit of fizzy carbonation. Not overly boozy.
Good middle of the road chocolate stout
★ 477 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Drank from a bottle. Nice tan head.
Aroma is more malty and the chocolate is pretty tame.
Not at all overpowering as some stouts can be. If you think your stout should be closer to "imperial" this is not of you. If you like stouts that are malty and chocolatey this may be a good option. You almost keep looking at it to make sure it is a dark stout which it is. Very drinkable and a little bit of fizzy carbonation. Not overly boozy.
Good middle of the road chocolate stout
★ 477 characters
3.81/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A finger and half of tan head on a pitch black body.
The aroma is roasted malt and a hint of chocolate.
The taste is a robust roasted malt with the chocolate balancing but not surpassing the malt. great balance.
Slick texture with moderate carbonation and medium to heavy body.
A solid stout.
★ 292 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A finger and half of tan head on a pitch black body.
The aroma is roasted malt and a hint of chocolate.
The taste is a robust roasted malt with the chocolate balancing but not surpassing the malt. great balance.
Slick texture with moderate carbonation and medium to heavy body.
A solid stout.
★ 292 characters
3.37/5 rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
Poured on tap into a pint glass at The Green Dragon in SE Portland. Reviewed from notes.
A- One-finger thick mocha head. Thick fluffy lacing. Black, smooth body.
S- Smells like baker's chocolate, smooth and toasty malts. Some toffee and sweet scents.
T- Light flavor in the first third, then rich smoky malts in the second. Finishes clean. Pretty tasty.
M- Overcarbonated, light bodied and wet. Not great.
O- Looks great, but the mouthfeel is totally wrong.
★ 466 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3
Poured on tap into a pint glass at The Green Dragon in SE Portland. Reviewed from notes.
A- One-finger thick mocha head. Thick fluffy lacing. Black, smooth body.
S- Smells like baker's chocolate, smooth and toasty malts. Some toffee and sweet scents.
T- Light flavor in the first third, then rich smoky malts in the second. Finishes clean. Pretty tasty.
M- Overcarbonated, light bodied and wet. Not great.
O- Looks great, but the mouthfeel is totally wrong.
★ 466 characters
2.71/5 rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance - Pours near black with brown edging. The head is about a finger thick, light cocoa colored, and shows fair retention. Very little, if any, lacing.
Smell - Predominant bittersweet dark cocoa aroma. Notes of earth. Hints of caramel.
Taste - More earthy than chocolate. Dirt. Lightly touches on caramel. Finishes with mild earthy bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Light in body. Almost watery. Weak carbonation. Slight tingle on the lips.
Overall - Stout? Hardly. Chocolate? Barely. This is a poor beer, even weaker as a stout, and a shame to be called a chocolate stout. I've had this beer a few times in the past. This will be my final time.
★ 646 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Appearance - Pours near black with brown edging. The head is about a finger thick, light cocoa colored, and shows fair retention. Very little, if any, lacing.
Smell - Predominant bittersweet dark cocoa aroma. Notes of earth. Hints of caramel.
Taste - More earthy than chocolate. Dirt. Lightly touches on caramel. Finishes with mild earthy bitterness.
Mouthfeel - Light in body. Almost watery. Weak carbonation. Slight tingle on the lips.
Overall - Stout? Hardly. Chocolate? Barely. This is a poor beer, even weaker as a stout, and a shame to be called a chocolate stout. I've had this beer a few times in the past. This will be my final time.
★ 646 characters
3.9/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: extremely dark brown with a little bit of light let through when held up to a light source. Head is a thick finger of frothy tan foam. An attractive stout.
Smell: very nice chocolatey aroma without any harsh undertones. As smooth and creamy as a smell might be considered to be; I like it.
Taste: chocolate, roastiness and a hint of coffee are present in the flavor. A little bit less chocolate and a little bit more roasty harshness than the aroma, but still a very tasty beer.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a good level of carbonation and a very satisfying creaminess. Good stuff.
Overall: this is a basic but tasty and overall quite satisfying and drinkable stout. I'd definitely have this again.
★ 763 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: extremely dark brown with a little bit of light let through when held up to a light source. Head is a thick finger of frothy tan foam. An attractive stout.
Smell: very nice chocolatey aroma without any harsh undertones. As smooth and creamy as a smell might be considered to be; I like it.
Taste: chocolate, roastiness and a hint of coffee are present in the flavor. A little bit less chocolate and a little bit more roasty harshness than the aroma, but still a very tasty beer.
Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a good level of carbonation and a very satisfying creaminess. Good stuff.
Overall: this is a basic but tasty and overall quite satisfying and drinkable stout. I'd definitely have this again.
★ 763 characters
3.13/5 rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours pitch black with a tiny off white head.
The smell is coffee, not much else.
The taste is coffee slightly watery.
The mouthfeel pretty light with medium carbonation.
Overall I'm not impressed at all, very bland and watery. If yhe flavours were stronger this would be so much better.I'm regretting buying 6 of these.
★ 324 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pours pitch black with a tiny off white head.
The smell is coffee, not much else.
The taste is coffee slightly watery.
The mouthfeel pretty light with medium carbonation.
Overall I'm not impressed at all, very bland and watery. If yhe flavours were stronger this would be so much better.I'm regretting buying 6 of these.
★ 324 characters
3.65/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this bottle sitting around for quite some time so time to give it a try. The color is pretty much solid black. The light brown head is near two fingers high and leaves generous lacing. The nose includes a very nice, deep nutty malt with milk chocolate sweetness. I get some sweet herbal hop and light charcoal-coffee. Very nice by my senses. The first taste brings a fairly tart citrus-grass bite quickly followed by decided charcoal and subtle chocolate. This is medium bodied with a pretty aqueous feel with a chalky edge. It has modest, but adequate carbonation. The flavor leans a little too close to ash tray at times but generally is fine and provides a somewhat bitter malt brew with a chocolate kiss. Not overly sweet, reasonably drinkable if you enjoy the style. Definitely worth trying.
★ 800 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this bottle sitting around for quite some time so time to give it a try. The color is pretty much solid black. The light brown head is near two fingers high and leaves generous lacing. The nose includes a very nice, deep nutty malt with milk chocolate sweetness. I get some sweet herbal hop and light charcoal-coffee. Very nice by my senses. The first taste brings a fairly tart citrus-grass bite quickly followed by decided charcoal and subtle chocolate. This is medium bodied with a pretty aqueous feel with a chalky edge. It has modest, but adequate carbonation. The flavor leans a little too close to ash tray at times but generally is fine and provides a somewhat bitter malt brew with a chocolate kiss. Not overly sweet, reasonably drinkable if you enjoy the style. Definitely worth trying.
★ 800 characters
3.65/5 rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed this 12oz bottle beer out of a pint glass.
A: Pours a black 1-finger tan head that ends in a wispy lace with no trail.
S: Chocolate, coffee and toasted malt aroma.
T: Similar to the smell sweet, chocolate, coffee, and malt flavor that finishes dry.
M: Medium body and medium carbonation.
O: Decent stout – slightly astringent buy overall very good.
★ 363 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Enjoyed this 12oz bottle beer out of a pint glass.
A: Pours a black 1-finger tan head that ends in a wispy lace with no trail.
S: Chocolate, coffee and toasted malt aroma.
T: Similar to the smell sweet, chocolate, coffee, and malt flavor that finishes dry.
M: Medium body and medium carbonation.
O: Decent stout – slightly astringent buy overall very good.
★ 363 characters
3.56/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Black. If I hold it up to some light it turns into a mildy translucent brown. Nice creamy looking head, sort a of a dirty brown, what I would expect from this really. This is a delicious looking chocolate stout.
Smell - The cocoa immediately hits you. It smells just like a bar of chocolate. I am getting a roasted malt hint behind the cocoa.
Taste - Tastes like cocoa, coffee, malts and a little smokiness. Taste isn't as strong and present as I thought it would be. It's very easy on the palette. When you first take a sip it starts out with a nice chocolate rounded flavor and a forward maltiness and ends slightly bitter.
Mouthfeel - A light to medium body here. I was expecting it to be thicker. I could drink a few of these back to back and not feel fatigued.
Overall - This is enjoyable, JUST enjoyable. I felt a little something was missing, and I think that something is complexity. For a stout, it's a little light and bland but this also bumps up the drinkability points. I can see myself pulling one or two of these out of the fridge when I'm wanting a decent stout but don't want to feel weighed down. I'd go for something else if I really wanted to treat myself though.
★ 1,201 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Black. If I hold it up to some light it turns into a mildy translucent brown. Nice creamy looking head, sort a of a dirty brown, what I would expect from this really. This is a delicious looking chocolate stout.
Smell - The cocoa immediately hits you. It smells just like a bar of chocolate. I am getting a roasted malt hint behind the cocoa.
Taste - Tastes like cocoa, coffee, malts and a little smokiness. Taste isn't as strong and present as I thought it would be. It's very easy on the palette. When you first take a sip it starts out with a nice chocolate rounded flavor and a forward maltiness and ends slightly bitter.
Mouthfeel - A light to medium body here. I was expecting it to be thicker. I could drink a few of these back to back and not feel fatigued.
Overall - This is enjoyable, JUST enjoyable. I felt a little something was missing, and I think that something is complexity. For a stout, it's a little light and bland but this also bumps up the drinkability points. I can see myself pulling one or two of these out of the fridge when I'm wanting a decent stout but don't want to feel weighed down. I'd go for something else if I really wanted to treat myself though.
★ 1,201 characters
2.3/5 rDev -34.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This beer was quite disappointing. Although it is very drinkable, the flavor profile is almost non-existent. When I read the words "chocolate stout" I expect deep, rich, and hopefully bold flavors. This brew has none of that. The chocolate/coffeeish aroma is actually stronger than the flavor profile, which is annoying because I keep smelling what I wish I were tasting!
★ 371 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
This beer was quite disappointing. Although it is very drinkable, the flavor profile is almost non-existent. When I read the words "chocolate stout" I expect deep, rich, and hopefully bold flavors. This brew has none of that. The chocolate/coffeeish aroma is actually stronger than the flavor profile, which is annoying because I keep smelling what I wish I were tasting!
★ 371 characters
3.48/5 rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served in tulip glass
A: Motor-oil black with small brown head.
S: Coffee and chocolate malt smell with some hops
T: watered-down coffee and chocolate flavor. Not much taste overall. Bittersweet chocolate. It would have been better if the flavors were stronger.
M: plain, light bitterness. not very exciting to be honest.
Overall a pretty generic tasting stout, nothing exceptional about it. Shouldn't even be called chocolate stout because it's just kind of a side note like the coffee or hops.
★ 502 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Served in tulip glass
A: Motor-oil black with small brown head.
S: Coffee and chocolate malt smell with some hops
T: watered-down coffee and chocolate flavor. Not much taste overall. Bittersweet chocolate. It would have been better if the flavors were stronger.
M: plain, light bitterness. not very exciting to be honest.
Overall a pretty generic tasting stout, nothing exceptional about it. Shouldn't even be called chocolate stout because it's just kind of a side note like the coffee or hops.
★ 502 characters
3/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz. bottle served into a pint glass
Pours a, oh, you know, it's dark brown. It looks like a stout. The body doesn't appear to have a bunch of viscosity to it. The head was over a finger in size, but with loose, large bubbles.
The aroma is, as you might expect, pretty much dominated by chocolate. Milk chocolate mostly. It smells creamier than it looks. There's some vanilla bean here, as well as some generic maltiness. Pretty standard stuff for a sweet stout (not the style, but the description).
The taste follows the nose. You get the chocolate milkshake flavor right away, followed by some grainy malt flavors. Not much depth of malt flavor here, which is most disappointing. It's pretty much a one-trick pony. It tastes good, if you're wanting a sweet chocolatey drink. But it may not totally satisfy your beer needs.
The body is not as creamy as it needs to be for a beer like this. It's not egregiously thin, but the flavors call for a smooth creaminess that this beer doesn't deliver.
Overall, this is a very average chocolate stout. Nothing about it is bad or off-putting, it's just completely innocuous.
★ 1,121 characters
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
12oz. bottle served into a pint glass
Pours a, oh, you know, it's dark brown. It looks like a stout. The body doesn't appear to have a bunch of viscosity to it. The head was over a finger in size, but with loose, large bubbles.
The aroma is, as you might expect, pretty much dominated by chocolate. Milk chocolate mostly. It smells creamier than it looks. There's some vanilla bean here, as well as some generic maltiness. Pretty standard stuff for a sweet stout (not the style, but the description).
The taste follows the nose. You get the chocolate milkshake flavor right away, followed by some grainy malt flavors. Not much depth of malt flavor here, which is most disappointing. It's pretty much a one-trick pony. It tastes good, if you're wanting a sweet chocolatey drink. But it may not totally satisfy your beer needs.
The body is not as creamy as it needs to be for a beer like this. It's not egregiously thin, but the flavors call for a smooth creaminess that this beer doesn't deliver.
Overall, this is a very average chocolate stout. Nothing about it is bad or off-putting, it's just completely innocuous.
★ 1,121 characters
3.66/5 rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dark, almost black with a small head that dissipates quickly. Smells of dark chocolate. Nice and roasty. Taste is bitter dark chocolate up front. Very roasty, like the smell. A bit of bitter hop taste as well. Good balance. Medium body and carbonation.
A pretty tasty stout that seems to always be in stock at the local Whole Foods, making it a good option for when I'm in the stout mood.
★ 389 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Dark, almost black with a small head that dissipates quickly. Smells of dark chocolate. Nice and roasty. Taste is bitter dark chocolate up front. Very roasty, like the smell. A bit of bitter hop taste as well. Good balance. Medium body and carbonation.
A pretty tasty stout that seems to always be in stock at the local Whole Foods, making it a good option for when I'm in the stout mood.
★ 389 characters
Bison Organic Chocolate Stout from Bison Brewing
3.51
out of 5
based on 595 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 fl oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: Pours pitch black with a small yellow head. The head never dissipates during the tasting. Decent amount of lacing, but sporadic.
Smell: On the nose expect cocoa, roasted malt, and espresso. Maybe just a hint of hops.
Taste: Chocolate, espresso, and roasted malt develop in the taste as the beer warms. A mild hop presence blends into the taste. The alcohol does not detract but blends into the taste as well. I got a hint of a slight campfire smokiness in the taste that I really enjoyed.
Mouthfeel: Lite carbonation. Not exceptionally smooth over the palate. This beer finishes dry and bitter.
Overall: This beer gets better as it warms and both its flavor and nose fully develops. A beer of the month selection that I would not mind keeping in the refrigerator.
★ 827 characters