Chocolate Stout
Presentation: Poured from a 22 oz bomber into an Imperial pint glass. The label has the standard Rogue theme of someone holding a beer up. In addition, it has the always useful information about the beer ingredients and specifications. This one is 15 degrees Plato, 69 IBU, 77 AA, and 135.45 degrees L. Appearance: Pours with a dark tan, 1 inch head. This settles slowly, leaving some lacing on the glass, a thin coat of foam, and a few random islands spread throughout the top. The beer itself is dark, black except for a little hint of ruby/brown around the edges. Smell: Sweet chocolate, with a strong undertone of roasted barley. The smell is an amazing blend of sweet and bitter. Taste: This beer has many complex layers of chocolate and stout flavor. Initially, you pick up what I would term bitter, baker's chocolate, this blends well with the bitterness from the roasted barley. Next, there is a subtle hop, flavor, lightly citrus with a hint of bitterness, Finally, a sweet chocolate aftertaste, without being to sweet or cloying. Mouthfeel: Average level of carbonation with a decent bite. Helps to blend the varying flavors well. God body. Drinkability: In a world of so many Imperial this and double that, it is nice to find a full bodied and flavorful stout that only clocks in a 6% alcohol. This is a great drink and one that you can have a few of. Plenty of complexity, while still demonstrating the fine art of restraint.