As usual, when visiting the Long Island Joyces, (and Joyce adjacent folks) I stop in at Port Jefferson Beverage for some local beer. The guys at Port Jefferson Beverage are always very friendly and knowledgeable and willing to ply me with samples! My Dad was the first one to reveal the location of this jewel, and as the picture indicates, I convinced him to try some black lager.
Brooklyn Brewery has been around for a few years and brews a variety of ales and lagers.
Black Chocolate Stout is an Imperial Russian Stout, a style that had its origins in the 18th century when English brewers sent some stout to Catherine the Great of Russia, jacking up the hops and alcohol content so that it would survive the long trip. But don't let the "chocolate" in the title confuse you: there's no actual chocolate. The masterful blending of American malts, including some malted wheat, give us some subtle chocolate notes.
Black Chocolate Stout pours a deep, dark, impenetrable black with a frothy tan head. The mouthfeel is thick and creamy. I couldn't find the IBUs, but it has a nice hoppy bite. The 10% ABV provides a comfortable heat. In addition to the dark chocolate, there are hints of dark fruits, like figs, raisins, black cherries and plums, finishing of with some brown sugar and molasses.
This is an incredible brew, great for the cold winter months!
