I’ve often said that if you think you don’t like beer then, well, you just haven’t had the right beer yet. Like Chocolate? Then you’re sure to love Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout, a beer made with real dark chocolate from The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Like Breckenridge Brewing, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is from Colorado, and it’s always heartening to see microbreweries using local ingredients in their beers.

Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout is part of the company’s small batch series, and isn’t always available on store shelves. For that reason, it’s wise to try it when you see it, and buy more of it if you like it. The beer is named for the 1972 Chrysler Imperial, and since this is a luxury beer, why not name it for a luxury car?

Just as the 1972 Imperial was pricey in its day, so is Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout today. The beer will run you about $8.99 for a four-pack, which strikes me as being shorted two bottles. I don’t mind four-packs if the price is reduced commensurately; here that is not the case, and a more appropriate price would be $6.99 or $7.49 perhaps.

Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout has an alcohol content of 7.2% by volume, quite apropos, wouldn’t you say? That’s not really all that much for “imperial” beers these days, but considering that most cream stouts run in the 5% range I think it seems about right. Mind you, it's not an imperial stout; just an imperialized cream stout.

In addition to the aforementioned dark chocolate, Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout is brewed with Victory, Caramel, Pale, and Munich malts. It is hopped exclusively with Fuggles.

Breckenridge 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout pours to a jet black color with a moderate creamy tan head formation and a deep, dark, and delicious nose of roasted malt and bitter cocoa. Taking a sip, the beer is firm in body with a smooth, velvety creaminess in texture. I get a little espresso, a hint of licorice, and lots of bittersweet dark cocoa here.  Indeed, the chocolate is extremely prominent in the palate. The beer finishes slightly sweet but with some roastiness trying to balance it out. Overall, taking a sip is a lot like a bite of a fine dark chocolate bar.

An imperial cream stout? Tastes like one to me, with real chocolate flavor thrown in for good measure. There are hints at classic Imperial Stout flavors, but the beer retains the smooth, soft chocolate notes and sweetness cream stouts are known for. I just love the creamy texture of this beer and the genuine chocolate character. Highly recommended.

Hedonistically, I want to give this beer four and a half stars. The 4-packs at this price really bother me, though, so a half star off for that. I’d buy it again for sure, but not as often as I would were it in six-packs for the same price, or less expensive in packs of four.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 



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