Granville Island Brewing Co. – Cocoa Loco Chocolate Imperial Stout Review

In Vern Lambourne’s Black Note Book series of Granville Island beers comes the Cocoa Loco, a Chocolate Imperial Stout which is labelled as featuring “Mellow Homes, 4 Malt Varieties and Crazy Cocoa”. This big and strong beer pours from the bottle and appears a very deep and dark brown colour but is actually rather light looking for an imperial stout. Topped with a single finger of head as it settles it leaves thick and prominent lacing on the glass’ sides. On the nose is a big malt aroma along with a bittersweet chocolate tone. Again for being an imperial stout this beer seems rather light with no boozyiness whatsoever in the smell. The body is quite thick with a light carbonation as an imperial Stout should be. The flavour is stronger than the aroma and with this comes a strong toasted malt flavour and a nice, semi-sweet chocolate tone. The beer does not come across as boozy but it is apparent that the beer is packing a punch. In the finish a cocoa bitterness takes charge and leaves a bittered, chocolate flavour on the tongue and a warmth in the throat. This is not a typical Imperial Stout and for just that reason it is delicious and worth giving a try!

Alcohol – 8.7%
Size – 650ml Bottles
IBU – 45
Price – $7.80 (Private Liquor Store)
gib.ca