YOUNG’S DOUBLE CHOCOLATE ~ STOUT CHARLES WELLS BREWERY

Young’s is the UK’s largest privately owned brewery.  They make a number of beers and their name is on 200+ tied houses.  They have been brewing as a family owned business for 130 years.  Though they are a big production they are still considered a microbrewery. 

The bottle poured a very dark brown with a slight ruby hue.  The nose had notes of dark chocolate, coffee and a touch of vanilla.  The beer smelled boozier than it actually is.  The beer, which is brewed with real chocolate and chocolate essence among other things, (“Pale Ale and Crystal malt, Chocolate Malt, a special blend of sugars, Fuggle and Golding hops) was not as richly chocolaty as I was anticipating.  The chocolate taste was minimal at first but became more predominant as the beer warmed.   I was expecting the beer to have a creamier mouth feel and be more full bodied.  It was nicely bittered and had a dry finish.  Not disappointing but not the best chocolate stout I have had either. 

5.2% from Bedford, Bedfordshire, England