Young's Double Chocolate Stout | Wells & Young's Ltd
Brewed by:
Wells & Young's Ltd
England, United Kingdom
wellsandyoungs.co.uk
Style: Milk / Sweet Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.20%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 02-06-1999
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers
Ratings: 5,833 | Reviews: 2,384
Reviews by Raebies:
4.12/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a very nice stout with a subtle hint of cocoa flavouring, with prominent notes of malty caramel and coffee. It has a thick, creamy mouth feel and a very slight touch of sweetness. I would definitely buy it again and recommend it to friends who wouldn't normally appreciate beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is a very nice stout with a subtle hint of cocoa flavouring, with prominent notes of malty caramel and coffee. It has a thick, creamy mouth feel and a very slight touch of sweetness. I would definitely buy it again and recommend it to friends who wouldn't normally appreciate beer.
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More User Reviews:
3.75/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
500 ml bottle, Hort's bar, Bristol - Pours blakc with a large tan head which disapates fairly quickly. Nice lacing. Smell - light chocolate, roasted coffee. Taste - slight sweet choocolate feel, not overpowering, roasted malts. Nice easy drinking stout.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
500 ml bottle, Hort's bar, Bristol - Pours blakc with a large tan head which disapates fairly quickly. Nice lacing. Smell - light chocolate, roasted coffee. Taste - slight sweet choocolate feel, not overpowering, roasted malts. Nice easy drinking stout.
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4.9/5 rDev +21.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Nose is dark cocoa bean espresso. Appearance is dark night molasses. Its a beautiful looking stout. Head is tan about a finger. Taste is dark chocolate bean and some toasted malt, in no way overpowering , just perfect. This is a world class stout. Enjoyable through and through. I had this beer with fresh caught striper cooked in beer batter breading. Pure greatness together. I was surprised that it paired with seafood so well. Stoked.
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look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Nose is dark cocoa bean espresso. Appearance is dark night molasses. Its a beautiful looking stout. Head is tan about a finger. Taste is dark chocolate bean and some toasted malt, in no way overpowering , just perfect. This is a world class stout. Enjoyable through and through. I had this beer with fresh caught striper cooked in beer batter breading. Pure greatness together. I was surprised that it paired with seafood so well. Stoked.
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4.09/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from 440 ml/14.9 fl oz nitro can into a conical pint glass. Pours a dark brown to black with typical pattern of clearing with a solid and lasting 1/2 inch head. Nose: bitter chocolate, toffee, banana; palate: remarkably dry with nice balance of dark roasted malts and dark chocolate, with anise notes. Medium bodied with full, creamy mouthfeel. Really a impressive drinking experience.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Decanted from 440 ml/14.9 fl oz nitro can into a conical pint glass. Pours a dark brown to black with typical pattern of clearing with a solid and lasting 1/2 inch head. Nose: bitter chocolate, toffee, banana; palate: remarkably dry with nice balance of dark roasted malts and dark chocolate, with anise notes. Medium bodied with full, creamy mouthfeel. Really a impressive drinking experience.
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4.47/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a clear pint glass. Black and faintly brown color with a dark tan foamy head.
The most obvious smell is roasted coffee beans and other toasted malts, alongside with the chocolate/cocoa scents to the brew. There's a hint of vanilla in there too. All of it smells very rich and sweet, the flavors dancing in the scent.
The taste has a prominent chocolate flavor, most notably milk chocolate however it's not overly sweet. Vanilla also is another key flavor. Others include cream, a staunch coffee presence, and slightly bitter hops. The myriad of different sweet flavors balance with the hops. Feels smooth and creamy going down.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured into a clear pint glass. Black and faintly brown color with a dark tan foamy head.
The most obvious smell is roasted coffee beans and other toasted malts, alongside with the chocolate/cocoa scents to the brew. There's a hint of vanilla in there too. All of it smells very rich and sweet, the flavors dancing in the scent.
The taste has a prominent chocolate flavor, most notably milk chocolate however it's not overly sweet. Vanilla also is another key flavor. Others include cream, a staunch coffee presence, and slightly bitter hops. The myriad of different sweet flavors balance with the hops. Feels smooth and creamy going down.
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4.03/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Poured black with a tan-colored head. It's very difficult to see through this beer when holding it up to a light but there appears to be a moderate level of carbonation based on the amount of bubbles rising to the surface.
S: There's a gentle aroma of chocolate with some notes of roasted malts.
T: The taste is both creamy and somewhat sweet and filled with flavors of milk chocolate. There are also some hints of roasted malts. The finish is slightly bitter.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, smooth and a bit thin on the palate; the finish feels somewhat dry.
D: It's very easy to drink and goes down very smoothly; this is definitely a sessionable beer.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Poured black with a tan-colored head. It's very difficult to see through this beer when holding it up to a light but there appears to be a moderate level of carbonation based on the amount of bubbles rising to the surface.
S: There's a gentle aroma of chocolate with some notes of roasted malts.
T: The taste is both creamy and somewhat sweet and filled with flavors of milk chocolate. There are also some hints of roasted malts. The finish is slightly bitter.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied, smooth and a bit thin on the palate; the finish feels somewhat dry.
D: It's very easy to drink and goes down very smoothly; this is definitely a sessionable beer.
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3.57/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Figured it was time to give it a try. 16.9 oz. bottle poured into stout glass.
L: Pour gives you 2+ finger very light tan head, very strong retention, lacing, ring. Beer is very dark.
S: Roasted coffee, roasted malts, unsweetened cocoa. All weakish.
T: Follows nose with creamy dairy addition per its style. Weakish and watery. For something labelled double chocolate, you really don't get a whole lot of it.
F: Light to medium bodied (too light). Watered down taste. Low ABV gives watery finish, though moderate carbonation (too high) tries to help with that. Definitely not what you like in a stout.
O: So I tried it and now I don't have to do so again.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Figured it was time to give it a try. 16.9 oz. bottle poured into stout glass.
L: Pour gives you 2+ finger very light tan head, very strong retention, lacing, ring. Beer is very dark.
S: Roasted coffee, roasted malts, unsweetened cocoa. All weakish.
T: Follows nose with creamy dairy addition per its style. Weakish and watery. For something labelled double chocolate, you really don't get a whole lot of it.
F: Light to medium bodied (too light). Watered down taste. Low ABV gives watery finish, though moderate carbonation (too high) tries to help with that. Definitely not what you like in a stout.
O: So I tried it and now I don't have to do so again.
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3.99/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
First things first...how did I get almost 1300 beers into BA without having tried this classic? Shame on me.
Pours a pitch black color with a nice thumb and a half of root beer head. Retention is excellent and there is some fantastic lacing. The smell is sweet fudgy chocolate, malty goodness and some vanilla. The taste follows the nose fairly closely with the chocolate being dominant. Feel is much thinner than expected, not a bad thing just not expected, and the carbonation is fine.
A good sweet stout. Would pair nice with some cookies or a plain donut at dessert. A classic, and now I understand why.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
First things first...how did I get almost 1300 beers into BA without having tried this classic? Shame on me.
Pours a pitch black color with a nice thumb and a half of root beer head. Retention is excellent and there is some fantastic lacing. The smell is sweet fudgy chocolate, malty goodness and some vanilla. The taste follows the nose fairly closely with the chocolate being dominant. Feel is much thinner than expected, not a bad thing just not expected, and the carbonation is fine.
A good sweet stout. Would pair nice with some cookies or a plain donut at dessert. A classic, and now I understand why.
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3.8/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Classic velvety nitro pour with lush head. Medium dry baker's chocolate on the nose with a little wet malt behind it. Taste is just some medium roasted malt and some milk chocolate. Understated, maybe to a fault as none of the flavors really assert themselves. That said, there is nothing off about it and it checks all the boxes, Could have been creamier on the feel.
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look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Classic velvety nitro pour with lush head. Medium dry baker's chocolate on the nose with a little wet malt behind it. Taste is just some medium roasted malt and some milk chocolate. Understated, maybe to a fault as none of the flavors really assert themselves. That said, there is nothing off about it and it checks all the boxes, Could have been creamier on the feel.
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4.18/5 rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From 12oz glass bottle.
Look - pretty much opaque black, even in front of a bright light source. Sturdy 0.75" foam head forms from the pour into a stout glass.
Smell - Bitter-sweet chocolate tied with maltiness.
Taste - Bitter-sweet chocolate tied with maltiness, a tiny bit of sweetness, a fair amount of dryness.
Feel - Perfect carbonation level IMO. Feel is medium thickness, tingly and dry.
Overall - Pretty OK chocolate stout, nothing too special about it to separate it from other chocolate stouts. I prefer chocolate stouts to be sweet, and this one doesn't have that level of sweetness I look for. But if you prefer dryer, less sweet stouts, then more power to ya and this is definitely something you might like.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
From 12oz glass bottle.
Look - pretty much opaque black, even in front of a bright light source. Sturdy 0.75" foam head forms from the pour into a stout glass.
Smell - Bitter-sweet chocolate tied with maltiness.
Taste - Bitter-sweet chocolate tied with maltiness, a tiny bit of sweetness, a fair amount of dryness.
Feel - Perfect carbonation level IMO. Feel is medium thickness, tingly and dry.
Overall - Pretty OK chocolate stout, nothing too special about it to separate it from other chocolate stouts. I prefer chocolate stouts to be sweet, and this one doesn't have that level of sweetness I look for. But if you prefer dryer, less sweet stouts, then more power to ya and this is definitely something you might like.
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4.16/5 rDev +3.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a black color with a creamy tan head; tiny bubbles galore, great retention and good lacing
Smell: Smells like...chocolate milk
Taste: Starts out with a sweet milk chocolate flavor; after the swallow some modest bitter elements kick in, providing a slightly balancing effect
Mouthfeel: Rich and creamy; very low carbonation
Drinkability: Extremely drinkable, although the flavor is not as interesting as the bottled version
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look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Appearance: Pours a black color with a creamy tan head; tiny bubbles galore, great retention and good lacing
Smell: Smells like...chocolate milk
Taste: Starts out with a sweet milk chocolate flavor; after the swallow some modest bitter elements kick in, providing a slightly balancing effect
Mouthfeel: Rich and creamy; very low carbonation
Drinkability: Extremely drinkable, although the flavor is not as interesting as the bottled version
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4.15/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L: Loos very dark-brown almost black, with light brown head.
S: Smells like chocolate, dark fruits, some acid notes, coffee, sherry and wood.
T: Tastes like dark bitter chocolate, the bitterness of the chocolate is not very pleasant, not as smooth as the hops, so I found it hard to drink, aftertaste is aggressive.
F: Has medium body and low carbonation. Not as creamy as other milk stouts.
O: This is a good example of a double chocolate stout that you can find at the super market here in Mexico. You can find much better chocolate stouts in specialty stores.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
L: Loos very dark-brown almost black, with light brown head.
S: Smells like chocolate, dark fruits, some acid notes, coffee, sherry and wood.
T: Tastes like dark bitter chocolate, the bitterness of the chocolate is not very pleasant, not as smooth as the hops, so I found it hard to drink, aftertaste is aggressive.
F: Has medium body and low carbonation. Not as creamy as other milk stouts.
O: This is a good example of a double chocolate stout that you can find at the super market here in Mexico. You can find much better chocolate stouts in specialty stores.
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3.87/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
**
10/11/2012
AROMA: Coffee Chocolate
LOOK: Dark Pour with a big thick head
TASTE: Dark Chocolate; Coffee
FEEL: Great carbonation. Bubbles make for a great mouthfeel. A favorite.
**
04/12/2016
Update. Had this on tap at Blend in a sampler and it was on Nitro. I have to say I was pretty disappointed considering I really liked this beer in the past and I've had great experiences with nitro added to beers. Nitro gave it kind of a odd chemical aftertaste. Ratings adjusted to average.
**
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look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
**
10/11/2012
AROMA: Coffee Chocolate
LOOK: Dark Pour with a big thick head
TASTE: Dark Chocolate; Coffee
FEEL: Great carbonation. Bubbles make for a great mouthfeel. A favorite.
**
04/12/2016
Update. Had this on tap at Blend in a sampler and it was on Nitro. I have to say I was pretty disappointed considering I really liked this beer in the past and I've had great experiences with nitro added to beers. Nitro gave it kind of a odd chemical aftertaste. Ratings adjusted to average.
**
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3.5/5 rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Black pour with a generous tan head. The nose is nicely highlighted by cocoa and mild chocolate. The taste is of cocoa and light, un-sweetened chocolate. Semi-bitter finish. The mouthfeel was very light and lacked body & richness. As for being a "double chocolate stout" i would say that Rogue and Storm King live up to that name sake more so than this beer. The drinkability is poor b/c if i want a stout, i don't really want something this light and easy drinking.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Black pour with a generous tan head. The nose is nicely highlighted by cocoa and mild chocolate. The taste is of cocoa and light, un-sweetened chocolate. Semi-bitter finish. The mouthfeel was very light and lacked body & richness. As for being a "double chocolate stout" i would say that Rogue and Storm King live up to that name sake more so than this beer. The drinkability is poor b/c if i want a stout, i don't really want something this light and easy drinking.
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3.65/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This one is very dark in color and creamy-looking. The head is rather modest but showed excellent retention.
Smell The good, solid, dark malts are very pleasing and well-accompanied by the promised chocolate notes.
Taste The dark chocolate flavor is right on for the style. It is slightly sweet and noticeably bitter. The big malt from the nose eases up at the taste but is still prominent.
Mouthfeel This one is almost medium-bodied but doesnt quite make it. The lasting bitter character though makes it seem a little bigger than it is.
Drinkability This is a nice, low-ABV stout that can be enjoyed several times over in a night.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This one is very dark in color and creamy-looking. The head is rather modest but showed excellent retention.
Smell The good, solid, dark malts are very pleasing and well-accompanied by the promised chocolate notes.
Taste The dark chocolate flavor is right on for the style. It is slightly sweet and noticeably bitter. The big malt from the nose eases up at the taste but is still prominent.
Mouthfeel This one is almost medium-bodied but doesnt quite make it. The lasting bitter character though makes it seem a little bigger than it is.
Drinkability This is a nice, low-ABV stout that can be enjoyed several times over in a night.
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3.77/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Once you've had Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout everything else is second fiddle. I had Young's Double Chocolate Stout and I thought it was much more bitter and watered down compared to Samuel Smith. There seemed to be a lot more coffee flavor in it too. If I had the choice between the two I'm taking SS.
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Once you've had Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout everything else is second fiddle. I had Young's Double Chocolate Stout and I thought it was much more bitter and watered down compared to Samuel Smith. There seemed to be a lot more coffee flavor in it too. If I had the choice between the two I'm taking SS.
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4.12/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes I made on 3/29/11.
Poured into a snifter, this stout appears very dark brown with a giant, fluffy, dark tan head. Lacing left on the glass is clumpy, splotchy, and streaky.
A lightly roasted single stout aroma blends with a not-overpowering dark chocolate/cocoa aroma. To me, it smells a lot like cocoa powder. A little bit of toffee and a chocolate-banana bread that I once enjoyed jump out of the glass, too.
A slightly twangy, roasty malt flavor lands on my palate at first, followed by a cocoa and toffee, and finished off with a good balance between decadent dark chocolate and a slightly acidic roasted malt flavor. Solid.
The mouthfeel is mostly roasty and acidic- just slightly biting, but with a nice medium-bodied creaminess to counteract. It's a pleasant, soft feel with just enough of a bite.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable, sessionable stout. I don't think it would be my first chocolate stout choice, but it wouldn't be too far behind in the pack.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes I made on 3/29/11.
Poured into a snifter, this stout appears very dark brown with a giant, fluffy, dark tan head. Lacing left on the glass is clumpy, splotchy, and streaky.
A lightly roasted single stout aroma blends with a not-overpowering dark chocolate/cocoa aroma. To me, it smells a lot like cocoa powder. A little bit of toffee and a chocolate-banana bread that I once enjoyed jump out of the glass, too.
A slightly twangy, roasty malt flavor lands on my palate at first, followed by a cocoa and toffee, and finished off with a good balance between decadent dark chocolate and a slightly acidic roasted malt flavor. Solid.
The mouthfeel is mostly roasty and acidic- just slightly biting, but with a nice medium-bodied creaminess to counteract. It's a pleasant, soft feel with just enough of a bite.
Overall, I found this to be an enjoyable, sessionable stout. I don't think it would be my first chocolate stout choice, but it wouldn't be too far behind in the pack.
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Young's Double Chocolate Stout from Wells & Young's Ltd
Beer rating:
4.02 out of
5 with
5,833 ratings
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