Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout 550ML

Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout 550ML is an organic English stout brewed with real cocoa and chocolate malt, bottled at 5% ABV in a 550ml format. This beer earned a Gold Medal at the 2013 World Beer Championship and consistently scores above 90 from major rating platforms, including a 95 on RateBeer and 94 on BeerAdvocate — placing it among the most celebrated chocolate stouts in the world.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England  |  Style: Organic Chocolate Stout  |  Brewery: Samuel Smith Old Brewery

Production & Heritage

Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster is Yorkshire's oldest brewery and the last in England to employ the classic Yorkshire Square fermentation system, using stone squares constructed from Welsh slate. Water is drawn from the brewery's original well, sunk 85 feet deep in 1758. The Chocolate Stout is brewed with gently roasted organic chocolate malt and real organic cocoa, certified by both the UK Soil Association and the USDA. Fermentation relies on the Samuel Smith yeast strain, which dates to the early 1900s and remains one of the oldest unchanged brewing yeasts in the country — a living link to the brewery's heritage that imparts distinctive fruity esters found in no other producer's beer.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Milk chocolate arrives immediately on the nose, supported by layers of roasted cocoa and a hint of toffee sweetness. The proprietary yeast strain lends a subtle fruity undertone that keeps the aroma from becoming one-dimensional.

Taste: The entry is plush with chocolate milk-like sweetness — cream, cocoa, and gentle sugar working in tandem. At mid-palate, roasted barley and coffee flavors emerge to balance the sweetness, while caramel and toffee notes add complexity. The body is lighter than many imperial stouts, making it approachable despite the depth of flavor.

Finish: Slightly dry with lingering chocolate and a whisper of roasted grain. The finish is clean and moderate in length, inviting the next sip rather than overwhelming the palate.

How to Drink Chocolate Stout

Pour into a tulip glass or English pint glass at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the cocoa and malt complexity to fully open up. The stout pairs naturally with dessert cocktail builds: try it as a float in a Chocolate Espresso Martini for a layered textural experience, use it to replace the stout component in a Black Velvet for a cocoa-forward twist, or blend it into a Stout Flip with egg yolk, simple syrup, and a grating of nutmeg for a rich after-dinner drink.

Best For

• Dessert course pairing at a dinner party
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who values Old World brewing tradition
• Cold-weather evening sessions by the fire
• Introducing stout newcomers to the style with an accessible, chocolate-forward example

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout taste like? It tastes remarkably like chocolate milk, with dominant cocoa sweetness balanced by roasted barley, coffee, and toffee — finishing slightly dry with a clean chocolate fade.

How does Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout compare to Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout? The Oatmeal Stout leans toward roasted grain, coffee, and a silkier mouthfeel from oat additions, while the Chocolate Stout foregrounds cocoa and dessert-like sweetness from real organic cocoa. Both share the brewery's signature yeast character and Yorkshire Square fermentation, but they occupy different ends of the stout flavor spectrum.

Is Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout good for beginners? Yes — its lighter body, moderate 5% ABV, and approachable chocolate-milk sweetness make it one of the most accessible entries into the stout category.

Where is Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout made? It is brewed at Samuel Smith Old Brewery in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England — a brewery that has operated on the same site since at least the mid-18th century and draws water from a well sunk in 1758.

What foods pair well with Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout? Chocolate lava cake mirrors its cocoa richness; aged Gouda offers a salty-sweet contrast; smoked brisket complements the roasted malt character; fresh strawberries cut through the sweetness; and vanilla ice cream creates an instant beer float dessert.

What sizes does Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout come in? The standard bottle is 550ml (the traditional British pint bottle), which is the primary format available in most markets.

Is Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout worth the price? It positions as a premium imported craft stout, and the combination of certified organic ingredients, real cocoa, Yorkshire Square slate fermentation, and century-old yeast delivers genuine production complexity that justifies its standing above mass-market alternatives.

Why Samuel Smith Chocolate Stout?

Very few chocolate stouts on the market are brewed with both organic chocolate malt and real organic cocoa — most rely on flavoring or extracts. Fewer still are fermented in Welsh slate Yorkshire Squares using a yeast strain that predates World War I. The Gold Medal at the 2013 World Beer Championship and a 95-point RateBeer score confirm what the brewing method suggests: this is a benchmark chocolate stout built on irreplaceable heritage rather than trend-chasing ingredients. For drinkers seeking a chocolate stout with genuine provenance, Samuel Smith's version remains the reference point.