I bought...

Yes.

Why not open the bottle? Maybe you could form an opinion.

--Jeff Frane

I'm waiting for it to warm up a bit. The one bad thing about my fav local retailer is that he keeps his cooler at ridiculously low temps so I have to keep on waiting and waiting. Still, he does do his best to bring me some unusual products when he sees them available so I won't complain out loud.

If I were to be prejudgemental, I'd say that it can't be any better than Young's Double Chocolate Stout...

Best regards, Bill

I had it yesterday at Max's on Broadway in Baltimore. I was prepared to be repulsed; I was delighted beyond my wildest expectations. The bock portion is medium sweet/dry, just as a bock should be, with a strong malt presence. But the chocolate (more a cocoa flavor) both complements the flavor and adds to it, as well as adding a lingering bittering effect that substitutes for typical hop bitterness. All in all, the numerous flavors and effects are incredibly well balanced; it finish is also two-toned, starting as a long bock finish and ending with a light flair of semi-sweet cocoa. Magnificent. It's chocolate beer as a skilled homebrewer would want it to turn out--not clobbering its victim over the head with chocolate, but quietly coming in and introducing you to it.

Put it another way: This beer can inspire one to write like Bob Klein does for every beer.

Well said, Alexander! I, too, was surprised but since the bottle cost me US$19.95, I thought to myself...surely, they can't have the gall to sell complete crap at that price. If it *did* turn out that way, I would have sworn off everything Sam Adams right there and then. I'm glad that they didn't disappoint me. Still...I'd like to see that stuff put in 12oz bottles and sold in 6 packs. Maybe US$10 to 12 a sixer. My local retailer ONLY picked up

Best regards, Bill