Texas Beer Nerd

I haven’t always liked chocolate stouts. The first one I tried, years ago, was Young’s and it wasn’t my cup of tea at the time. I like it now as my beer palate has become more sophistimacated. If Young’s is basically the Guinness of chocolate stouts, being the most well-known and the standard for which all others are judged, than Brooklyn Brewing Co.’s Black Chocolate Stout leans towards a more rebellious fringe. First of all, this beer is 10 percent ABV. This is a lot for a stout. Most are around the five to six range, unless they are classified as imperial. I’d be inclined to say Black Chocolate Stout is, even though it’s maltier than most imperial stouts I’ve had. And even for an imperial stout, 10 percent ABV is high. I’m used to seeing that style in the 8 to 9 range. But thankfully, the alcohol isn’t overpowering but it’s bite does manifest when swallowing a sip and in the aroma somewhat. Black Chocolate Stout has a great flavor. While there’s certainly a dark chocolate bitterness going on, it’s coupled with coffee-like hues to make a mocha of sorts. The toasty, bready malt taste that stouts are known for is the backbone between the two aforementioned flavors. The beer’s name is an accurate one too because it is very black in color, like black hole black. Black Chocolate Stout is a very tasty beer. The only improvement I would make is possibly to tone down the alcohol content slightly and maybe increase the chocolate and coffee flavors slightly. But as is I would definitely still drink this beer again. It’d be great in the winter time especially.