Beer Review: Breckenridge Brewery ’72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout

Brewery: Breckenridge Brewing Company
Beer: ’72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout
Style: Milk/Sweet Stout
ABV: 7.2%
Character: Brewed with dark chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
Metal Connection: DEEP PURPLE – Highway Star

I have been a real fan of some beers from Breckenridge Brewing Company, so when I saw this beer at the local beer store, I was thrilled to be trying something new from them. I also, really enjoy a nice classic car, like the good ol’ 1972 Imperial LeBaron, with it’s imposing-looking front end. It is a nice treat to see this beast of a car grace the bottle of this beer, respectfully named ’72 Imperial.

Using a Deschutes Brewing Black Butte Porter pint glass for this session. ’72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout poured a very dark brown, near black, coffee color. There was a thin layer of tan colored bubbly head at first pour, but it quickly vanished, leaving no lacing down the glass.

The nose is heavy on the lactose, or cream-like scent. The chocolate aroma reminds me of cocoa powder. Roasted malts are also present in the aroma. There is a slight caramel aroma, dark fruit, and a bit of nuttiness.

The taste is of rich milk chocolate first of all, which then takes a back seat to the malts, which has a subtle caramel flavor. This beer beer also showcases a dark fruit body as well, mild coffee notes, nuttiness,and finishes with a cocoa powder, and brown sugar taste and feel.

The body is surprisingly thinner than I thought it would be, but it’s not too thin, though. The mouthfeel is creamy, leaving a nice smooth film on the tongue, but then it finishes with a very dry feeling when that cocoa powder taste comes in.

Overall, I was pleased with this beer, and would definitely be buying another pack or two when it’s released again. I was expecting a thicker body to this beer though, but that’s not that much of an issue to make me hate this beer or anything. You should definitely pick up a pack if you are able to get this beer in your area.

Metal Connection: Beer named after a classic car, easy for me to choose a good ol’ Classic Rock/Metal song that fits with the theme of this beer. This song is a popular song, and probably one of the most well known songs I have featured here on BMD. This is the opening track on the 1972 album, Machine Head by none other than Deep Purple. I give you “Highway Star.”