REVIEW 5: ROGUE DOUBLE CHOCOLATE STOUT

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:  USA

BREWERY:  Rogue Ales

STYLE:  Chocolate Stout/Imperial Stout

ABV:   9.0%

PURCHASE:  25.4-oz. bottle, $13.99

SERVING:  Said bottle, poured into Guinness-branded imperial pint glass. Heady at first (over three full inches). After topping off, settled at roughly an inch and a half, with average retention.

APPEARANCE:  Beautiful, deep espresso color bordering upon black. Mocha-tan crown and lacing. Densely opaque. Could almost pass for something from Starbucks--visually speaking.

BOUQUET:  Richly malty (like malted milk to an extent) and oozing with almost confectionery-like chocolate notes; more specifically, reminiscent of Swiss chocolate to degree. Complementary essences of yeast, honey, toasted grains (mainly oats), and a possible whiff of tobacco, of all things. One of the most euphoric aromas of any beer I have had the privilege of sampling. Made me forget my financial woes.

PALATE:  Medium-heavy body with subtle carbonation, so subtle it's merely an afterthought. To the nose, the chocolate notes were of a Swiss, confectionery quality. Not so to the mouth. After all, this is BEER, dammit. If beer has chocolate as a prominent ingredient, then it shall be bitter! Cacao-like. Mouthfeel is bittersweet overall, which is no surprise. The sweet marks the entry, while the bitter slowly gains ground and takes over at the finish, but without becoming overpowering. Malty mid-palate. One of the longest lasting aftertastes you will ever encounter in a beer, but an excellent one: An intoxicating mesh of roasted malt and bitter cacao, joined by a tease of hops, oats, and honey. In fact, as great as this tastes, the aftertaste may actually be the best part. Highly drinkable for a 9% ABV stout.

MUSINGS AND METAPHORS:  From Newport, Oregon, we have our first American microbrew entry, and it's a winner. Ever want something after dinner, or late at night before bed, but not an actual dessert or snack? Ever want a dessert drink? Something with chocolate? But not, say, a mudslide or a chocolate martini, because, well, you're not a pussy? Then this is for you. Does chocolate belong in beer? Sure, why not, so long as it's utilized properly. As far as nightcaps go, chocolate stouts serve as a more than happy medium between hard liquor and a late-night snack. They will fill you up without knocking you out--at least not right away. Rogue produces one of the best on the market, an offering that pairs very well with regular foods--particularly beef, in the form of steaks, burgers, or prime rib--but also stands triumphantly on its own. 




GRADE:  A