Chocolate and beer? Not only do these two comestibles stand proudly on their own, but My! how they deliver when combined. Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is probably the most globally revered of its kind (along with an American counterpart brewed by Rogue Brewery in Oregon). The chocolate flavors are achieved by the use of darker, more aromatic chocolate malts. And in the case of Young’s, actual chocolate is also used. Very cool.

This was my first chocolate stout. Really, it was. I’d been told about Young’s many times, and decided to review it since what I’ve heard and read about the stuff is so consistently positive that it felt like the most logical place to start.

It pours a thick, milky, dark opaque with a two-finger head. I noticed the chocolate aroma from the moment I opened the bottle. This made me extremely eager. The smell is not as chocolatey as I thought it would be, but is still very strongly roasted and rich. As the head dwindled and became a froth, I stepped back from the glass one more time, hardly believing that what I was looking at was actually beer. Really, it doesn’t look like beer at all.

I remember rummaging through kitchen cabinets as a child and happening upon bricks of unsweetened baking chocolate. You’ve seen them before … wrapped in their paper bundles, looking oh so tasty, like remnants of a treasure trove. I can still remember crunching down on one, the first (and definitely last) time I’d ever make that mistake. Back then, my face twisted into all sorts of funny angles when I realized that it wasn’t sweet. But now, as I drink down this glass of Young’s, I am reminded of the depth and decadence of chocolate, and I can taste why hundreds of years ago, the stuff was used as currency.

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is classified as a Milk / Sweet Stout, but don’t make the mistake of thinking you’re gonna be drinking chocolate milk. It is only faintly sweet. And WOW! is it chocolatey. Honestly, people. There’s a reason this ain’t called “Young’s Single Chocolate Stout.” There is definitely a double in there. It’s nicely carbonated, though I will admit that I looked forward to the last third of the glass the most, which I allowed to warm substantially. It really mellows out, and you’re left with a fantastic finish. The aftertaste is not unpleasant at all, and seems more coffee-like than chocolate. I don’t think I would want to drink more than one of these in a sitting. I think if this beer was actually sweet, it would be really good.

After finishing this brew, I am very interested in tasting Rogue’s Chocolate Stout to compare tastes. I’ve been told these two beers are neck and neck for the top spot. We’ll see how that plays out.