By Greg B. Many months ago, I read a book called The Brewmaster’s Table, written by Garret Oliver.  This man may be a beer/food pairing genius, but the book was extremely well written and at some point when I’ve gone through all my backlogged posts, I’ll get a review up!  But on top of being a great writer, he is the brewmaster for Brooklyn brewery, and really puts some thought into his beer.  This tends to show up in how well balanced the beers from Brooklyn are.  Even in this case, a Black Chocolate Stout, as you’ll soon read about.

The beer pours a jet black with a dark tan head that rises up slowly to a medium level, then slowly recedes… possibly because the lacing is so incredibly thick, the gases underneath cannot possibly escape!  I chose to use a crystal pilsener glass, in order to concentrate some of the chocolate aromas, and I think this was a wise choice.  At first the glass has some intense chocolate aromas, but then some dark fruit can be detected, though the aromas play well with each other.  Once you take a sip however, you realize what I was talking about with the balance.  This beer has a great stout body and flavor, the malt structure is solid, and on top of this ride the other flavors.  The balance of the chocolate and malts give you a dark chocolate flavor upfront that rapidly give way to dark roasted malts.  The taste will finish with a tart dark chocolate flavor, and as the beer warms a bit towards the 55F range, the chocolate really tends to stand out, and the body of the beer really becomes noticeable as well.  This beer hides the 10%abv well, though some of those alcohol aromas are probably mixed in with the fruit aroma, but I’m not complaining, since it uses it to it’s advantage!  A good solid stout with rather mild chocolate overtones.  If you’re in the mood for a chocolate beer, but not a super intense chocolate-beer, this is the beer for you.  3.8/5, 10% abv.

P.S. So Zella’s now has the Brooklyn Black Chocolate stout on tap!  I’ve just gotta say that if this beer in the bottle is a 3.8/5, the beer on tap is a 4.2/5.  It’s creamier, with intense head retention.  The chocolate aspect, while still brilliantly blended into the flavors of the beer/stout, actually stand out a bit more in all aspects, the aroma, the flavor and even the aftertaste.  Drop by and check it out!