Beer of the Weekend #1,146: Coco Stout

The good thing about never having reviewed a beer from West O before is I knew for sure I had never tried their awarding-winning stout. So, the beer of the weekend is Coco Stout, brewed by West O Beer of West Okoboji, Iowa.

Serving type: 12-ounce can. “PACKAGED ON 11 13 25” is printed on the label.

Appearance: Pours a just-about-opaque black in my Number One Pint Glass. (I should have used my snifter.) A dense, bubbly, and tan head sticks around for a little while.

Smell: Roasted, chocolaty, an enticing. Dark malt, dark chocolate, a touch of molasses, dark fruit, a hint of black licorice, vanilla, sugar, and whipped cream.

Taste: Dark and chocolaty with a hint of roast. Roasted malt leaves a nice bitterness. Dark chocolate, a touch of black licorice, dark fruit, vanilla, a hint of Band Aid, molasses, and a little bit of chocolate mousse.

Fun facts about Coco Stout:

• Style: West O calls it chocolate milk stout.

• Price: $10.99 for a sixer of 12-ounce cans at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

• Alcohol content: 6 percent ABV.

• Coco Stout won the gold medal in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category at the 2014 and 2015 Great American Beer Festival.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.