Youngs Double Chocolate Stout

Brewed by Wells & Youngs
Style: Stout
Bedford, England

Very smooth taste of chocolate. Wonderful head and great overall stout. Not much aroma. Little chocolate.

I had this at Bukowski’s in Boston. Poured from a can. It poured very cloudy and turbid, took a while for the body to settle down. Quite fun watching it swirl around, actually. Off-white head moderate, but consistent and permanent in the true stout way. Initial deep brown changes to a thick brown/black. Very nice looking indeed. Aroma was a chalky, clean chocolate. Palate was good, not too thick as in some stouts. Flavor a mixture of coffee and a faint bitter chocolate. Lovely smoky tail. Strong kick--this is a stout. I loved this to pieces, and I am not a fan of stouts in general. That tells you something. This is on my list forever.

Bottle: Outstanding! Poured a picture perfect black. Strong hint of dark chocolate aroma. Flavor to match! Goes down smooth and leaves you wanting more.

Bottle from Friar Tuck in Champaign, IL. Pours almost opaque black, with a beautiful beige head. Aroma is strongly dominated by chocolate, with hints of malt, hops and coffee. Taste is a delicious chocolate and malt extravaganza. If you don’t like chocolate, don’t drink this beer. Very heavy mouthfeel with a dry finish.

Pours black with creamy thick brown head. Strong chocolate aroma of malt, coffee and a hint of hops. The flavor is chocolate and espresso wonderfully balanced with hops and burned malt. Very creamy, full and smooth. Dry smoky and slightly bitter finish.

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout ABV: 5.2% Calories: estimated at 200 C Volume: 16.9 fl oz Glass: footed tapered 8 fl oz Purchased at: Towne Wine and Liquor Price per fl oz: $4.39 / 16.9 fl oz = $0.25 per fl oz Consumed at: home sensory first impression: A dark and opaque beauty with a lacy, rich thick brown head. Luxurious chocolate flavor and not too heavy like many other chocolate stouts. Highly drinkable. Amber at the edge. Aroma is smoky, chalky, and very nice. Aroma/Olfactory: 9 out of 10 Malt flavor is: chocolate, wine, coffee, roasted, and oak. Hop flavor is: resin, leaves, and orange. Yeast flavor is: doughy, dark hearth bread. Pretzels. Other flavors include: dark cherries, lemon peel, alcohol, solvent, malty. Visuals/Appearance: 5 out of 5 Color is: black, brown, and amber at the edge. Beautiful Guinness-like rushing effect upon pour. Liquid is: opaque. Head and lace are: brown, thick, and lacy. Taste/Flavor: 9 out of 10 Maltiness or Sweetness level is: chocolate and medium sweet. Hoppiness or Bitterness level is: moderately bitter. Sour level is: low. Palate/Tactile: 4 out of 5 Body or Mouthfeel is: medium to heavy. Texture is: dry, crisp, creamy. Carbonation is: medium. Finish is: long, dark, and very good. Overall experience: 18 out of 20. I liked the flavor, appearance, head, color, depth, signature flavors, longevity, alcohol, and packaging. A very nice beer.

"Young’s Double Chocolate is better in the can (the oatmeal is better in the bottle...too boring on nitro), but this one is incredibly smooth, deceptively strong in flavor, and makes a perfect float. Although Rogue Chocolate Stout is this beers polar opposite within the style, they are my two favorite chocolate stouts."

Pours BLACK. No light comes through this one. Beautiful. Massive dense head that looks like frothed coffee. A steady hand can pour this so that the head rises in a column right out of the glass. Smells of very good chocolate, sweetened grains (rice or oatmeal, maybe), and malty goodness. Tastes of a heavy chocolate dose in a cup of very light coffee. Just sweet and tasty goodness. Like you squeezed beer out of a chocolate bar. Very nice and creamy in the mouth. I like a little creamier taste, though. Took a little off of the rating for this. It’s very good, just not great. This remains one of my all-time favorite beers. It can be enjoyed on a special occasion, as a dessert beverage, or as a session beer (at least for me, personally, it can).