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Black Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Brewery
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🌍 United States · Imperial Stout · One of 120 Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Black Chocolate Stout has been brewed since 1994 and began as brewmaster Garrett Oliver's calling-card beer. The Russian imperial stout returns every winter and draws its character from a blend of six malts and three separate mashes. Dark chocolate leads the flavour, backed by espresso, roasted grain and an earthy, cocoa-like edge. The body is dense and full, the alcohol shows as gentle warmth, and a firm roasted bitterness keeps the finish dry. With time in the bottle the beer softens and can pick up notes of vanilla, leather and soy.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter51 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
See all Imperial Stout alternatives →
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Moderate bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

The weight carries the beer on its own, leaving the aromatics free to lead.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Imperial Stout.
Hop character
earthy
Malt character
chocolate
coffee
roasted
Distinctive notes
vanilla

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Black Chocolate Stout

◎ Appearance

Deep ebony black with an impenetrable opacity that reveals the beer's substantial malt bill. A thick, creamy tan head forms and persists admirably, indicative of the rich body and carbonation level. The viscous coating on the glass suggests excellent mouthfeel to come.

jet blackcreamy headopaqueviscous

◌ Aroma

The nose is dominated by rich dark chocolate and roasted cocoa powder, with underlying notes of dark roasted malt and espresso. Subtle warming alcohol vapors emerge beneath the dominant chocolate character, creating an inviting and dessert-like bouquet. There's a gentle cocoa butter sweetness that balances the roasted grain complexity.

dark chocolateroasted maltcocoa powdercoffee

◐ Taste

The palate opens with deep roasted malt flavors that transition seamlessly into smooth dark chocolate and cocoa notes on the mid-palate. The full body provides excellent texture, while the 75 IBUs deliver a measured bitterness that complements rather than overwhelms the chocolate character. Warming alcohol notes emerge gracefully without harshness, enhancing the dessert-like experience.

rich chocolateroastedfull-bodiedbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and lingering, with dark chocolate and cocoa powder notes persisting on the palate well after swallowing. The warming alcohol provides a satisfying conclusion without excessive heat, leaving a sophisticated, bittersweet aftertaste.

lingeringwarmingbittersweet
88
hopIQ score
Aroma
87
Taste
90
Appearance
85
Finish
88
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Black Chocolate Stout

Serve at 13–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Black Chocolate Stout

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, roasted, coffee character as Black Chocolate Stout will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Imperial Stouts in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →