The Black Chocolate Stout from Brooklyn Brewery is a long-standing favorite of mine. Since I happened to pick up a six-pack recently, I thought I’d share my thoughts on it.

Here’s what they have to say:

In the last century, British brewers made strong stouts for the Czar’s Court. They were called Imperial Stouts. Our Black Chocolate Stout, brewed once yearly for the winter season, achieves a chocolate aroma and flavor through the artful blending of six varieties of black, chocolate and roasted malts.

Its color is black. I’m not talking a very, very dark brown. Black. Hold it up to the brightest light in the room and you cannot see through it. It forms a nice, creamy head that is itself rather dark and laces nicely on the glass. It’s got a nice, hearty malty taste with some nutty highlights. This is another one of those beers that you have one of, at most two, and savor. Not only is it very rich in flavor, but at 10.6% ABV this is not something to just quaff indiscriminately.

Boy, this is good stuff. I don’t know if Brooklyn has ever made anything I haven’t liked. Recommended.