Rhinelander Brewing Co. -- Boatswain Chocolate Stout

Tonight's beer comes from Rhinelander Brewing Co.  Trader Joe's has tons of this Boatswain Chocolate Stout so I figured I would give it a try.  I think it was only $2.  I've never heard of Rhinelander Brewing, but apparently there is a town in northern Wisconsin named Rhinelander.  The town had a brewery until 1967 when it closed.  A new company was formed recently that bought the trademarks and recipes of the old brewery.

The bottle claims "Boatswain (bo'sun) beers are unique beers made in small batches.  Our chocolate stout has aromas and flavors of dark chocolate, and roasted malt with a tangy hop bitterness."  Like most stouts, this beer is black in appearance.  It's 5.4% ABV and 66 IBU.  At first it seems smooth, but then the taste is bitter at the end, and the aftertaste has a chalky-bitterness.  Many stouts have a chocolate flavor, but this one is actually brewed with cocoa powder which blends well with the malts and contributes to the aftertaste.

At first I thought that Boatswain was just a typical stout in a crowd.  I think what sets it apart is a subtle real chocolate flavor.  Good beer for a good price!