Tag Archives: milk chocolate

Xocoveza – Stone Brewing

by Mike

From Stone Brewing in Escondido California comes their “Xocoveza” an Imperial Stout inspired by Mexican Hot Chocolate.  The beer pours a deep black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of milk chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla, coffee, spices and some sweetness.  The flavour is of milk chocolate, toffee, coffee, cinnamon, roasted malts, spices and some sweetness.   The alcohol content comes in at 8.1% with an IBU of 50.  This is my first every chance to try this beer and I really liked it.  I had once smelled it as a bottle jumped out of my car and smashed on the ground.   That was a sad day indeed!

Commercial Description:  There’s nothing like making a beer so beloved that people feel compelled to campaign for its return. So, in the spirit of the holiday season, we are very pleased to give our fans the number one item on their wish lists. As illustrated by the avalanche of social media requests, that is Stone Xocoveza, an insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe won our annual homebrew competition, this imperial stout is layered with smooth roastiness, semisweet chocolate and a touch of spice. Thanks entirely to you, this creamy, mocha stout has gone from initially being a one-time offering to a yearly tradition. Happy holidays from all of us to all of you…and feel free to continue enjoying it long into the spring and summer, as this gem will age beautifully and is definitely not exclusive to the winter season!

For food and cigar pairings head to Stone Brewing’s site.

Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged 2017 – Steamworks Brewing

by Mike

From Steamworks Brewing in Burnaby BC comes their latest release the “Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged”  part of their 2017 Barrel Aged series.  The beer pours an opaque black with a brown head.  The aroma consists of bourbon, chocolate, treacle, anise, oak, vanilla, roasted malts and alcohol.  The flavour is of bourbon, milk chocolate, anise, treacle, toffee, roasted malts, burnt coffee, ash, oak, vanilla, mild bitterness and alcohol.  The alcohol content comes in at 9.5%.  Julia knocked it out of the park once again with this release!  This is exactly what I want out of an Imperial Stout.

Commercial Description:  Aged for months in Kentucky Bourbon barrels., This Imperial Stout pours near black with a thick tan head.  It’s a powerful beer perfect for immediate enjoyment or further maturing.

Bell Cow Milk Chocolate Porter – Jdub’s Brewing Company

by Mike

From Jdub’s Brewing Company in Sarasota Florida comes their “Bell Cow Milk Chocolate Porter”.  The beer pours a deep brown colour with a brown head that dissipates quickly.  The aroma consists of sweet milk chocolate, roasted malts, lactose, malt and some sweetness.  The flavour is of roasted malts, milk chocolate, molasses, lactose, some earth and bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.6%.  This is definitely a dessert beer but you can never go wrong with a good dessert beer!

Commercial Description:   Think of a sweet milk chocolate candy bar, dessert.

33rd Anniversary Vannilla Truffle Wheat Ale – Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub

by Mike

From Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub in Victoria BC comes the “33rd Anniversary Vannilla Truffle Wheat Ale”.  The beer pours a dark cloudy orange colour with lots of sediment and a white head.  The aroma consists of vanilla, milk chocolate, wheat and sweetness.  The flavour is of vanilla, milk chocolate, mango, bubble gum, wheat and yeast.  The alcohol content comes in at 5.2% with an IBU of 15.  While very different this is a very tasty beer.  If you can find a bottle I recommend that you grab it.  Happy 33rd Anniversary to Spinnakers!

 

Commander Imperial Stout 2017 – Dead Frog Brewery

by Mike

From Dead Frog Brewery in Aldergrove comes their 2017 vintage of the “Commander Imperial Stout”.  The beer pours a deep opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of roasted malts, chocolate, toffee, caramel, earth and a sweet finish.  The flavour is of roasted malts, milk chocolate, toffee, caramel, mild coffee, ash, earth, very mild oak, alcohol and bitterness in the finish.  The alcohol content comes in at 10.5% with an IBU of 60.  I wish the beer had been aged in a barrel and not just on oak for 60 days as that would have taken this really tasty Imperial Stout to the next level.  But there is no doubt this is a great vintage of this beer.

FOOD PAIRINGS AS PER BREWERY:  ROAST BEAST WITH THICK GRAVY, CHOCOLATE CAKE AND ICE CREAM

Commercial Description: A DARK ROASTED STOUT FEATURING A DEEP, LAYED MALT PROFILE WITH FLAVOURS OF WHITE OAK AND WHISKEY.  AGED FOR 60 DAYS BEFORE BOTTLING.

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