Right now is a super exciting time to be a beer lover living in Chicago. In the last few…months…several local breweries have sprung up and started pumping out (or will) excellent burr: Metropolitan, (the forthcoming) Revolution and Half Acre.
I’ve been following the last of the group pretty closely and was excited when they announced this American Chocolate Rye Stout in celebration of their new brewery. I had lots of great responses when I brought this baby to Dark Lord Day (that review is coming soon, we promise with many good stories) but little sense of mind to a comprehensive review. Luckily I grabbed two bottles!

Brewery Home: Chicago, IL

Serving Style: 22oz bomber into a frosty pint glass

Beer Style: American (Chocolate Rye) Stout

Appearance: Before we talk about the beer, I have to mention the bottle label is awesome. I only wish they would throw more stats on there like Goose does on their special releases. Anyway to the beer itself; dark, DARK brown, opaque. Pours with light head that maintains good lacing, tan in color. Looks lovely coming out of the bottle.

Aroma: Rich bouquet of chocolate, wonderfully roasted malts with a tail of spicy hops. The chocolate is on the dry side (think a dark, bittersweet chocolate) that mingles nicely with the roasted malts; I only get a hint of rye, but I’m not completely sure what I am looking for. As the bottle notes, this is ‘handsomely hopped’ for a stout, but it all works for me. Love it.

Taste: Dark and moody with the roasted malts and dry chocolate – reminds of bakers chocolate I eat from the cabinets I eat when Jenny isn’t looking – hitting first. The light carbonation (noted from my first pour) makes sense now, rounding out the big and boastful flavors. The rye is more apparent now then it was in the aroma, and it works well. Handsomely hopped indeed! The spicy and highly bitter hop finish attacks your tongue; again surprising for a stout but I love it. The hop bite eases as the beer warms and the entire character seems to sweeten slightly (that is if you even let it warm, glug glug glug).

ABV: 6.50%

Drink one or all?: One bomber will make you very happy.

Cost: $8/bomber? (cant remember)

Overall: 18/20 A big, bold beer that I think everyone here could enjoy.